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At-Risk Youth | |
 NEWS SUMMARY AND MARKETING |
Those who serve at-risk youth in Kentucky know the value of the Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC). Now the success story is getting told nationwide. KECSAC, headquartered in EKU's Training Resource Center (TRC), has received the 1999 Award for Exemplary Collaboration from the American Psychiatric Association, State/University Interdisciplinary Collaboration Project. Established by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1992, KECSAC is a unique partnership, joining the state departments of Juvenile Justice, Education and Mental Health/Mental Retardation, the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children, State Agency Children School Administrator Association, EKU's Training Resource Center and local education agencies in service to over 6,000 court-ordered, state-committed and at-risk youth in Kentucky. The all-inclusive collaboration captured the attention of the judges, according to Dr. Norman Powell, KECSAC director. "What's nationally unique about KECSAC is that we've been able to put together a viable coalition of state agencies committed to the education of at-risk youth, a population traditionally underserved and overlooked," Powell said. "This is a collaborative model that can be duplicated in other areas around the country." Before KECSAC was established, Powell explained, the distribution of funds to serve the Commonwealth's state agency children was uneven at best. "KECSAC has helped to eliminate the disparity in the distribution of funds," said Powell, noting that the Collaborative administers a $12 million annual budget from which funds are distributed to school districts in which community-based and residential treatment programs, partial hospitalization programs, emergency shelters and similar programs provide service to state agency children. The Collaborative also provides technical support and a wide range of professional development activities. "KECSAC is one of the only programs within state government or in child welfare in which true collaboration takes place," said Bart Baldwin, president of Children's Alliance, Frankfort, an association of agencies that serve children and families throughout the Commonwealth. "KECSAC represents our commitment to provide quality care, treatment and education to our most vulnerable children and youth." Since KECSAC's role was expanded in 1994 to serve state agency children in private agencies, the consultation, technical support and training "has greatly benefited our member agencies." Dr. Ralph Kelly, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, said KECSAC "has continually met the needs of these agencies while maintaining a role as a central clearinghouse for a variety of educational issues. Most notably, it has brought about awareness, recognition and legislative education regarding state agency children." Powell became the Collaborative's first full-time director last year. KECSAC staff consists of two full-time administrative aides. A search is under way for an associate director. EKU's Training Resource Center was established in 1984 with a series of contracts between EKU and the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children. Since its establishment, the Center has expanded its programs within the Commonwealth and designed and implemented training programs nationwide for social, human and juvenile justice professionals. "Dr. Bruce Wolford (TRC director) was instrumental in the establishment of KECSAC," Powell noted. The Center's annual operating budget exceeds $20 million. Contact: Dr. Norman Powell at 606-622-6552. |