According to the Sutter-Yuba Mental Health Services vision statement, the organization is working toward a day when “the people of Sutter and Yuba Counties are empowered with the tools and support they need to promote strong mental health and resiliency within all of their communities, families and neighborhoods.” One of those tools is the framework of Developmental Assets, says Prevention Services Coordinator John Floe.
By working with schools, churches, nonprofits, and other county agencies, Floe and his colleagues are infusing assets into their prevention and early intervention programs as well as spreading the asset message throughout Sutter and Yuba counties. “We’re informing and educating people on the 40 Developmental Assets. We’re helping them understand how to use resources like Pass It On. We’re giving people ideas about how they can develop assets in individuals, how to mentor children and how to get involved,” explains Floe.
Since being introduced to the Developmental Assets a few years ago, Sutter-Yuba Mental Health Services has included the assets in several of their programs, including parenting classes such as their First Steps program, which works with young mothers struggling with substance abuse. The assets are also featured in the organization’s menu of services.
“One thing I like about the 40 Developmental Assets is that it looks at the positive and not the negative. Helping people look at things in a different perspective is really important,” says Floe. “We’re lighting little fires in our counties and everybody is really open to hearing ideas and working together to help make our communities stronger. That’s what I really appreciate about working in the mental health and prevention field—-people are so open to this.”
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The youth of Sutter and Yuba counties have also been working with the assets in the area of prevention. One of the most recent projects taken on by county youth was creating drug- and alcohol-prevention-themed murals to hang in the mall and outdoors throughout the counties. “People need to be able to see young people’s potential and also their strengths. I think that anytime you can show that in a platform like a mural that is out in the community, something adults see them doing and see their skills and abilities it really helps the buy-in of the community,” says Floe.
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The youth are also training to be peer mentors, getting involved in various committees, and helping create a community skateboard park. According to Floe, “this involvement gives youth an opportunity to show leadership, show the things they are able to do and become a part of the solution to a lot of things that are going on in our two counties.”
Floe has two pieces of advice for those in the mental health field working with the Developmental Assets: know your community and know how to develop good relationships. “The most important thing in being able to mobilize around the assets is to know the people that are already doing great things in the community and helping them use the Developmental Assets.”
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In addition to developing good relationships with community members, Floe and his colleagues have made important connections in county government. It is these relationships, both with policymakers and the community at large, that make the Sutter-Yuba Mental Health Services integration of the Developmental Assets a success. “One thing that helps a lot is that our board of supervisors in both counties and all the department heads are supporting us. I think it’s so important to have top-down support, but I know that our communities really do want to make a difference. That is such a benefit—-being able to work collectively to make a difference in our counties.”
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