Power Up YOUth is a community coalition designed to work toward creating a positive community environment concerning the use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco by the youth in Hamilton County. Power Up YOUth finds its roots in the Webster City S.A.F.E. Coalition (Substance Abuse Free Environment). Hamilton County has been active in youth development for many years. In addition to traditional efforts through the school district, such as athletics, music departments, clubs, and other activities Webster City was identified as a S.A.F.E. community in 1999. For the past eight years, the S.A.F.E. Coalition has been working to promote alcohol and drug awareness for both the youth and adults throughout Hamilton County.

In broadening the scope of youth services to be offered in our area, the S.A.F.E. Coalition looked at many possibilities. One way of doing this was to participate in a national initiative called America’s Promise. America’s Promise focuses on the Five Promises every child should be guaranteed: 1) caring adults, 2) safe places, 3) a healthy start, 4) effective education, and 5) opportunities to help others. In December of 2005, the S.A.F.E. Coalition became Iowa’s first Community of Promise. During this process we changed our name to Power Up YOUth with the hope of empowering all Hamilton County youth.

In the spring of 2007, on behalf of the Coalition, Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. wrote and received a federal Drug Free Communities grant through the Department of Health and Human Services. The purpose of this grant is to make sustainable changes in youth perception and accessibility to alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.

Since October of 2007 the coalition has worked within Hamilton County to bring awareness of the problems and consequences that come with underage substance use. Power Up YOUth is in the midst of a marketing campaign called “Got a Minute”. The campaign is designed to challenge parents to talk with children and find out what is going on in their lives. This is an exciting time for the coalition as we work to make a positive impact in the lives of Hamilton County youth. For more information about Power Up YOUth contact Kathy Getting at (515) 832-5432 or kgetting@udmo.com.