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History
Tri-City Partners
(TCP) was formed in 1995 to carry out activities associated with a tobacco
grant. Known then as the Tri-City Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition, the
seventeen member group represented a diverse segment from the Bloomington,
Edina, and Richfield communities. Staffed by Bloomington Public Health,
members included Advisory Board of Health representatives, parents, school
officials, students, business and media representatives, hospital and
clinic staff, and police. Their primary focus was youth access to tobacco.
With the addition
of youth focused grants in other areas, TCP expanded its goals and changed
its name to Tri-City Partners for Healthy Youth and Communities. In 1998,
youth alcohol use became a focus area; the next addition was teen pregnancy
prevention; and most recently, physical activity and nutrition.
TCP's membership expanded
too, now consisting of three levels: steering committee, action groups
and an advocacy group. In 2000, TCP began producing a quarterly newsletter, Creating A Voice, that highlights advocacy efforts for youth by individuals, groups, and
communities in each of the four focus areas.
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Tri-City Partners'
Goals
- Reduce youth alcohol, tobacco, and other drug access and use
- Postpone youth sexual involvement
- Increase healthy eating and physical activity
- Decrease the incidence of violence and harassment
- Strengthen local policies and practices consistent with healthy youth
development
- Support healthy family and community guidelines
- Support community-based asset building initiatives
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Tri-City Partners' Activities
Policy Principles
People make decisions that are often influenced by formal and informal
policies that exist in their communities. The Tri-City Partners membership
uses a set of policy principles to guide their activities and support
initiatives in their local communities.
(Adopted October 6, 1998)
Training and
Education
The Tri-City Partners sponsors free or low cost training and community
forums on prevention-related topics. The range is broad and includes parent
education, advocacy workshops, and congregational substance abuse team
ministry training.
Working with
the Community
The Tri-City Partners works with organizations, groups and concerned citizens
on projects to reduce high-risk behaviors and enhance healthy youth development.
Community organizations are Edina's CWK (Connecting with kids); Bloomington's
BUY (Bloomington United for Youth) and Richfield READY (Residents Engaged
in Asset Development for Youth).
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Membership Information
The Tri-City Partners is made up of three levels
of involvement consisting of a steering committee, action groups, and
an advocacy group:
Steering Committee
Tasks (Guiding the Activities)
The Steering Committee consists of approximately 15 members, representing
the three communities of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield.
- Increase awareness about issues concerning youth health
- Provide direction and identify youth health priorities.
- Promote cooperation between school, city, and other community groups.
- Advocate to influence policy concerning healthy youth development and
supporting community efforts in achieving this goal.
- Act by assisting staff in identifying partner members and soliciting
additional resources.
Action Group
Tasks: (Implementing the Activities)
- Develop work plan, conduct activities, and evaluate;
- Report progress to steering committee and other community groups.
Advocacy Group
Tasks: (Supporting the Activities)
This group supports the coalition's activities by publicly speaking out
on issues concerning youth health. We communicate with this group through
an action alert system and quarterly newsletters.
- Monitor local youth health issues
- Inform Tri-City Partners of youth health issues
- Respond to youth health issues
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How To Get Involved
If you live or work in the communities of Bloomington, Richfield or Edina, you are invited to become a member of Tri-City Partners.
Give your name and contact information to a representative via e-mail (click here), or by phone (952-563-8904). Mention you want to be a member of Tri-City Partners.
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