NNSI Editorial Team

Notes
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: Communities That Care Coalition

The Communities That Care Coalition (CTC) was founded in 2002 in Franklin County, Massachusetts, in response to strong community concern for youth substance use, which had surpassed national averages. The initiative began with funding from Channing Bete, a publishing company in South Deerfield that initially supported the Communities That CareTM model, and a local business located in Greenfield matched their financing. Currently, much of their funding comes from federal, state

A child's notebook
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: Building Our Future Kenosha

Building Our Future Kenosha (BOF) was founded in 2016 by Kenosha County to align work among different organizations and sectors towards the goal of improving educational outcomes for children in Kenosha County. In 2015, before Building Our Future Kenosha was the network that it is today, the business community in Kenosha County began having conversations with the community envisioning a collective approach to issues and resources in Kenosha. These community

Child's hand
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: sparks!

sparks! is an emergent network in La Crosse County, located in western Wisconsin. The network was founded after receiving a grant from the State of Wisconsin in 2015. This funding came through a state-level initiative granting money to 10 communities across the state. Part of the inspiration for these grants was to encourage businesses to understand the importance of early childhood, to create relationships between public and private-sector organizations around

Family
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: Anne Arundel Partnership for Children, Youth and Families

Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families was created by the State Legislature in 1993, under the direction of the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children. Each of the 24 counties in Maryland was assigned to assemble a collaborative board (Local Management Board) to manage the implementation of a local, interagency, community-based human service delivery system for children, youth, and families. The Partnership is the Local Management Board for

photo of people holding each other-s hands
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: United Way of Miami-Dade

United Way of Miami-Dade, located in Miami, Florida, recently celebrated its 95th birthday! In 1924, the precursor to United Way of Miami-Dade, the Miami Community Chest, held its first campaign, which raised $136,095 to support 12 local agencies, including Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and the YMCA. The Community Chest became the United Fund of Dade County in 1957, and it was finally in 1972 when the United Fund became

men wriiting on blackboard with chalks
Better Know a Network

Better Know a Network: Westbrook Children’s Project

The Westbrook Children’s Project was formed in 2009 in Westbrook, Maine, just outside the city of Portland. The network’s founding goals and vision were mainly around high school graduation rates, specifically to have every student in Westbrook graduate high school prepared for their next steps, whether that be post-secondary education, the workforce, or military service. Some initial champions of the Westbrook Children’s Project included the mayor and other local municipal