Status as of 11/01/2011

General AMOS Youth and Education Research Team information:

Purpose:Based on input from the 2009 AMOS Ames house meetings in Ames, to address problem of students who are at-risk dropping out of the system in our community through 1) researching and 2) defining an actionable issue within the problem and 3) enlisting the help of the community in supporting the action.

Current Efforts:

Actionable issues are defined and our current two goals are:

 We will continue to participate actively in the development of www.storycountyresouceguide.org, including assisting with content/connections for the youth page of the site through launch and at least 6 months into the live date.

1. It is LIVE!
2. If you have a service to Story County residents and are not listed yet, go to the site and click on “Click here to request that your organization/program be added to the Resource Guide”.
3. We will assure increased access to transportation for students who are at risk in Ames by 2013.
   1. We believe what we have here is a very inexpensive solution for a very expensive problem. After many listening sessions, we have proposed to CyRide that middle school and high school students ride CyRide for free in Ames, allowing for our youth at risk greater ability to participate in activities, school and jobs while easing the cost of transportation to families in Ames and without adding administration work to CyRide (MS & HS students have school ID’s).
   2. Initial estimates of the cost (and this is just preliminary as a simple, existing source of the specific numbers of middle and high school student riders does not exist) is $35,000.
   3. The more we studied the issue, the more we realized this is a community-wide issue and  have addressed the City of Ames for funding in the 2012-13 fiscal year through the October 4 City Council budget meeting, suggesting use of the transportation tax levy. In addition, we will be looking to youth for ideas on some funding and potentially others. See statement here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qBK19S3AGoTYAFicRrjG2icRahy6J9VqT57KGmTL-Qw/edit?hl=en_US

1. We also serve on the UWSC Transportation Collaboration since establishing this goal in June. Currently the Collaboration is working to do some transportation needs assessment in Story County.

1. We are currently seeking more team membersinterested in taking action on behalf of students at-risk in our district, particularly in connecting resources and working toward transportation solutions at this time. For information, contact Linda (info below).

Successes:

Current:

l  The StoryCountyResourceGuide.org is LIVE. Check it out!

l  Sept 1:Extra chairs had to set up to accommodate the large group of AMOS citizens attending the September 1st CyRide public meeting held in City Council Chambers where an AMOS Y&E leader presented the background and idea of no-fare ridership for middle and high school students and the positive affect that could have on our entire community. Along with AMOS, three teenage citizens of Ames presented the direct and immediate positive impact it would have on their lives for greater participation in activities and employment.

l  Coverage of the guide: http://ames.patch.com/articles/story-county-resource-guide-goes-online-in-ames-soon

Archive:

l  After reviewing input from youth and listening to a few parents who shared their experiences, we interviewed 20 education and service provider professionals in Ames who work with students at-risk, asking for input on barriers/gaps in services and ideas for addressing the ones identified as pivotal, we presented the results April 14 at an open meeting at Ames High School, attended by 54 school, community leaders and citizens.

l  Compiled results of small group discussions from the April 14 session. The top priorities identified in each category (Transportation, Broader Community Acceptance, Resource access and After-school Activities) are available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xYcFpE6Oe9F3BobnTFg0Cec5HP3FthMyitCNx4xbIGM/edit?hl=en

l  We have partnered with other organizations in the Ames community to turn www.storycountyresourceguide.org from a simple PDF file of MICA’s resource list, to a more comprehensive resource web site that will allow families and providers easy access to updated resources in the county.

Contact Person:

Linda Voit

lindavoit@gmail.com

Resources:

Results of small group discussions April 14

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xYcFpE6Oe9F3BobnTFg0Cec5HP3FthMyitCNx4xbIGM/edit?hl=en

Alternative Learning Program philosophy of Ames Community School District http://www.ames.k12.ia.us/Departments/ALP/ALPPhilosphy.html

Definition of at-risk students and applicable Iowa Codes and resources

http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=418&Itemid=1389

high-risk youth programs, non-traditional communities www.urbandreams.org