Projects






Johnson County Projects in accordance with the goals of America's Promise


The Five Goals of America's Promise and our Projects:
  1. Ongoing Relationships With Caring Adults
    Mentoring
  2. Safe Places and Structured Activities
    Safe House Project
  3. A Healthy Start For A Healthy Future
    Talking to Kids book
    Kid Care Application Site
  4. Marketable Skills Through Effective Education
    Job Shadow Day
  5. Opportunities To Serve
    Volunteer Placement Project
    Kids Power

Mentoring

"Sunshine Kids"

An after school program that focuses on mentoring, developing leadership skills, encouraging community service, and building self-esteem meets every Thursday from 3:30 ‚ 5:00 p.m. at the Johnson County Library.

This is a new program that targets youth K-12 and is called "Sunshine Kids". It was developed by local Americorps VISTA volunteer Paige Saxbury, through Healthy Communities Healthy Youth of Johnson County. It will run through May 2001 with efforts in place to start again in September.

Each week the group begins with discussion and sharing time and a snack will always be provided. Weekly planned activities may include a craft, game, or a visitor from the community. Packets are sent home with each participant, which include fun things for kids and parents. Newsletters may include topics interesting to parents such as nutrition, asset building ideas, parenting tips, and safety. And for kids there are ideas for games, easy and fun recipes, short stories, and special coupons. Kids have opportunities to earn tickets that make them eligible to win prizes.

Mentors are an important part of the program. This is a great volunteer opportunity for community members and older youth. Everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy the children and contribute to this positive mentoring experience.

Future Community Involvement Ideas:

Funding for the "Sunshine Kids" after school program is generously provided by the Hazel Patterson Memorial Trust and the Homer A. and the Mildred S. Scott Foundation with meeting space donated by the Johnson County Library.

For more information please call the Community Resource Center at 684-7933.

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"Safe House Project"
Sponsored by the City of Buffalo, Criminal Justice Center and Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth of Johnson County

The Safe House Project is a city-wide effort to help our younger residents identify unfamiliar houses as a safe place to go if they should need a helping hand. For example, children sometimes need to use a phone if they get lost, disoriented, or even hurt. Knowing that they have many people near by that are willing to help will give them a better sense of security if such a situation should arise. This is a volunteer project and it is FREE to participate. A residence will qualify as a "Safe House" once the adult occupants have been cleared through a background check from the Buffalo Police Department.
Children in grade school will be educated about the "Safe House Project." Each qualified house will receive an 11" x 11" plastic sign to put in their window. The sign will reflect the Healthy Communities Ä Healthy Youth logo and the words "Safe House."
We know we can depend on the community's continued support for this worthwhile project. The goes is to have a minimum of one "Safe House" on each side of every city block.
Volunteers are needed to distribute applications in area neighborhoods. If you are interested in volunteering additional time please check the box on the application and a representative will call you.
For more information regarding the "Safe House Project" or Healthy Communities Ä Healthy Youth of Johnson County please call 684-7933.

"Safe House" Application

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Talking with Kids About Tough Issues Book

 This project has published a book for parents and kids. It is a parent guide for communicating with their children about the issues of AIDS, sex, violence, and drugs.
This book is available by calling the Community Resource Center at 684-7933 or coming to the office at 40 East Hart Street.

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Health Care for Wyoming's Uninsured Children
Children's Health Insurance Program
Healthy kids are happy kids. The Wyoming Kid Care is for children who do not have other health insurance. Wyoming Kid Care's focus is on cost-effective preventive health care. Thousands of Wyoming children qualify for this coverage.

Who's eligible for Kid Care?
  • Available to children from birth through age 18.
  • The child must be a U.S. citizen or eligible immigrant.
  • Wyoming residency is required.
  • Are not eligible for Medicaid.
  • The child cannot have had insurance during the past month unless insurance was involuntarily canceled.
  • Not be in a public institution.

For more details contact our office at 684-7933 or visit Wyoming Kid Care

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Job Shadow Day


Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth of Johnson County coordinates Groundhog Job Shadow Day with the Johnson County School District No. 1.

Job Shadowing provides an opportunity for students to be exposed to various career options that they may not have the chance to explore otherwise. Participating students will visit a work place and "shadow" a worker in a career they are interested in pursuing. This experience provides an up close look at how skills learned in school are relevant to the work place.

Funding and support for this project is provided by the Cloud Peak Schools to Careers Partnership with Buffalo High School, and Kaycee High School. Other partners have been PTA and the American Legion Auxillary.

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Volunteer Placement Project
This project is currently in the planning stages. Please check back soon to find out about this exciting project!


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Kids Power
The Power To Make a Difference
Empowered To Make a Difference


The Kids Power Project is a grassroots campaign designed to connect kids to volunteering. This project is co-sponsored with the Johnson County Family YMCA.

Kids Power in Action
  • Painting for the American Legion
  • Building and cleaning birdhouses along the walking path
  • Cleaning the cemetery for Memorial Day
  • Clean windows and plant flowers at the Senior Center
  • Painting benches and fire lane at the YMCA
  • Baking cookies for Meals-on-Wheels
  • Picking up trash along the banks of Clear Creek

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