Our Town Rocks (Raising Our Community, especially our Kids to be Strong) Neighborhood Health Improvement Initiative began in the summer of 2008 through the efforts of the S2AY Rural Health Network, a non-profit organization serving the Public Health Departments in Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Yates, Livingston, Chemung, Ontario and Wayne Counties.
The S2AY Rural Health Network embarked on an initiative to improve the health status of the 5000+ residents of the neighborhood of the Towns of Barrington and Starkey and the Village of Dundee in Yates County, New York. The selection of the "neighborhood" for this project was made by the Board of Directors of the S2AY Network based upon the recommendation of the Yates Community Health Planning Council, a coalition of Yates County health and human service organizations. The Planning Council recognized that the high levels of poverty experienced by the residents of the Dundee area meant that the impact of the social determinants of health would be greatest in the highest poverty area of Yates County, the Towns of Barrington and Starkey, and the Village of Dundee (pop. 5,041.)
With the guidance of the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and the technical assistance of the Asset Based Community Development Institute from Northwestern University, the assessment of the neighborhood that was completed. Phase 1 of the project was not an inventory of needs but rather a compilation of the strengths or assets of the community. This inventory of individual, associational, organizational, physical, social and cultural assets revealed an expansive array of people, places and things that this community could draw on to create solutions that would have the long-range goal of improving health. The Network then set out to prove that, with neighborhood residents in the driver's seat, and using the many strengths of the community (ABCD), it would be possible to "move the needle" on the social determinants of health, and, thereby, improve the health status of area residents.
The residents of the Barrington/Starkey/Dundee area have been working now for many years to identify and connect the assets of their community, to make the changes they want to see happen, and to invest in their neighbors. Strategies and activities have been revised based on what has and has not worked in the past, activities that have been accomplished, formation of new and enhanced partnerships, and new ideas from area residents and organizations
Over the years, four focus areas have developed, Healthy Behaviors, Lifelong Learning, Social Health, and Community Development.
• The Healthy Behaviors focus area promotes physical activity, healthy eating, stress management and prevention of substance use, but also a new strategy for chronic disease self-management. Strategies for outreach to engage more residents in the OTR project, to connect residents with available services, and to identify gaps in services are also included in the Healthy Behaviors focus area. • Approaches for improving Social Health include supporting and promoting annual events in the neighborhood, as well as facilitating the development of new social activities to bring adults, youth, and multiple generations together -- all intended to increase social capital in this neighborhood. • Lifelong Learning includes approaches to enable area children to become proficient readers by Grade 3, to encourage learning throughout the lifespan, and to promote youth acquisition of literacy and job skills. • The Community Development focus area has expanded to include several strategies: promotion of small business and job development; attraction of tourists/consumer by promotion of the area and beautification of the business district; development of both affordable housing and middle-income retirement housing.
In 2017 the Greater Rochester Health Foundation funding cycle ended. The grassroots, place-based work that occurred throughout those past years continued. The S2AY Rural Health Network and the OTR staff, Champions and engaged residents addressed the sustainability of the project by working to embed components of the project in the community, by accessing funding and other resources from a variety of sources, and by enabling residents and partners to continue taking action to fulfill their dreams and passions for their neighborhood.
In November of 2018, the S2AY Rural Health Network and OTR Staff reached an agreement with Yates Cultural and Recreational Resources and YCRR assumed the fiscal sponsorship of Our Town Rocks. The reason for the transfer was due to a programmatic shift in the S2AY Board’s focus areas and did not reflect upon the excellent quality of services provided through OTR. The Our Town Rocks Champions and Staff were pleased at the opportunity to join with the Yates Cultural and Recreational Resources in the day-to-day efforts to further the socialdeterminants of health of our communities while continuing to act as an autonomous entity serving residents of Starkey and Barrington Townships and the Village of Dundee.
After 5 years of working with the Yates Community Center as our fiscal sponsor, in June of 2024 Our Town Rocks became a registered 501.c3 Not-For Profit Corporation, Our Town Rocks. Inc. A Board of Directors was formed with George Lawson as President, John Frederick as Vice President, Joan Washburn as Treasurer and Brittany Gibson and Alan Giles as Directors.
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