Prevention Services
Rocky Mountain Development Council's Prevention Services Program operates in conjunction with the
local coalitions and groups that exist to:
- Empower Youth
- Prevent High-Risk Behaviors Amongst Youth
- Work with Education and environmental policies that contribute to the healthy development of youth
in Lewis & Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson Counties.
In Lewis & Clark County, Rocky Mountain Developoment Council's Prevention Services Program is strongly
partnered with the Youth Connections Coalition, which holds a vision of a community driven to empower
youth and promote positive youth development. The mission of Youth Connections is to engage all
sectors of the Helena community to identify needs, collaborate, educate, and create opportunities for
youth to thrive and succeed.
In conjunction with Youth Connections, RMDC Prevention Service staff assists with and participates in
the following activities:
Training in the 40 Developmental Assets
This is a program designed to include the entire community in focusing on what is right and good about our youth rather than what is wrong. It has been shown conclusively that this approach is considered a "promising practice" when it comes to preventing high risk behaviors.
Training in Media Literacy
Media literacy training is designed to assist youth in becoming critical thinkers when it comes to their exposure to media ads, television and film programming and any information coming their way through the multiple streams of media influence existing today. Media literacy training also teaches youth to use and understand media in positive ways for the expression of beneficial messages, better known as social marketing.
The Annual M Gen Fest
This is a yearly media literacy/social marketing showcase of the products produced each year by students in media literacy classes. Also, all youth in the community are encouraged to submit products to the juried showcase, which is judged by local media experts and prizes are awarded for individual and group excellence. This event is the result of additional partnering with Helena's newly opened science museum, the Exploration Works!
Alive at 5
The Helena community's warm weather social gathering event is also a venue for prevention activities in the form of youth programs sponsored by Youth Connections, the Prevention Specialist from RMDC and other partners in the Youth Connections Coalition. The intention here is to give youth an opportunity to interact with healthy activities geared to their interests.
Community Mobilizing for Change around Alcohol (CMCA)
The RMDC Prevention Specialist in Lewis and Clark County works with this committee of the Youth Connections Coalition to address social policies effecting access to alcohol by youth in the Helena Community. One of the current projects is called Parents Who Host Lose The Most, geared towards raising awareness of adults and working toward local ordinances to reduce and eliminate adult and parental hosting of parties for youth where alcohol is made available.
Health Fairs
RMDC Prevention Specialists team up with Youth Connections to participate in local health fairs, the Governor's Cup event and other tabling opportunities to spread the word about the prevention programs happening in the Helena area.
DUI Task Force
RMDC Prevention Specialist is currently an official member of the Lewis and Clark County DUI Task Force and assists with Responsible Alcohol Server Training (RAST) held throughout the year. The Prevention Specialist also meets with business owners, managers, and employees of establishments who fail to pass alcohol server compliance checks to give them individualized RAS Training.
Youth Connections Coalition
The RMDC Prevention Specialist currently serves on the YCC Board of Directors and the YCC Evaluations Committee.
Youth Connections Magazine
The RMDC Prevention Specialist contributes to Youth Connections Magazine and assists with distribution of the quarterly publication to places like the Head Start Program, professional offices around town and public distribution points.
Town Hall Meetings
The RMDC Prevention Specialist assists with the organization and presentation of periodic Town Hall Meetings to address the pertinent issues affecting the youth of Helena.
Youth Forums
The RMDC Prevention Specialist participates in Youth Forums offered at various times and locations in Helena to maintain public awareness and involvement in issues and programs that contribute to the health and well-being of our youth.
Early Intervention Program in partnership with Boyd Andrew Community Services
RMDC Prevention Specialist facilitates the last of the four Early Intervention Program classes for parents and the youth participating in this program. The topics for this interactive experience are The 40 Developmental Assets and an introduction to the various projects of the Youth Connections Coalition.
The Prevention Connection
The RMDC Prevention Specialist submits periodic articles to The Prevention Connectionm, a quarterly newsletter that discusses prevention practices, best practices and science based practices geared toward the state of Montana. The newsletter is sent out to keep professionals around the state up-to-date on current state procedures.
200 South Cruse
P.O. Box 1717
Helena, MT 59624
(406) 447-1680
1-800-356-6544
Fax (406) 447-1629
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