TOGETHER!’s work to advance the health and well-being of all young people began in 1989. Still today, TOGETHER! is poised at the cutting edge of youth development, strategically adopting the latest research, best practices and evidence based programs, to help us achieve our vision that all young people are supported, healthy, safe and valued. Two main models best describe our work:

Our Model

Communities That Care and the Community Schools Model

Communities That Care

Communities That Care is a science-based public health approach proven to promote healthy youth development and reduce youth health and behavior problems community wide.  Developed by Drs. J. David Hawkins and Richard Catalano at the University of Washington, Communities That Care employs the Social Development Strategy to foster young people’s wellbeing through opportunities, skill-building and recognition. In this way, protective factors are strengthened and risk factors are reduced, resulting in healthier kids, families and communities. A rigorous scientific trial of the Communities That Care model demonstrated reductions in rates of youth violence, crime and substance use.

Community Schools

Using public schools as hubs, the Community Schools Initiative brings community based organizations and public services together to offer a coordinated range of supports and opportunities to children, youth and families, including before and after school and summer enrichment and academic support programs as well as housing support. Partners work to achieve shared results: Children enter school ready; students attend school regularly; students are engaged in school and the community; families are involved with their children's education; and students succeed academically; students are healthy - physically, socially, and emotionally.