Youth in Hamilton Parish will have more support services available starting this June, according to the leaders of a new community based pilot project.

At a Press conference yesterday afternoon Health Minister Patrice Minors and Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Dale Butler revealed a National Youth Development Strategy to enhance youth development services. Mr. Butler said his commitment to young people was evident in the strategies developed at Thursday?s youth conference.

?I gave my commitment to these young people yesterday that I will be doing everything in my power to change things for the better, and I ask them to hold me accountable,? he said.

The Communities that Care (CTC) pilot programme is part of the National Youth Development strategy and received $150,000 funding in the 2004/05 Budget.

The project started in Hamilton Parish last April.

Programme leader Michel Duhart said data gathered through the project highlights issues which affect Hamilton Parish youth. It is expected to be released within the next 90 days by the National Drug Commission, one of the project conveyors.

Parish council leaders said they have been meeting periodically to discuss community concerns. Richard Winchell, a CTC committee member, said the project would help the parish take steps in improving the well-being of young people in Hamilton Parish.

?As a result of the planning process we have established relationships with organisations in the community, youth groups, businesses, and individuals,? he said. ?I am pleased to say that the community members have been patient and committed to the process - we are in our final stages and look forward to implementing the plan in June 2004.?

Ms Duhart said one of the goals of the programme would be to establish youth groups for young people in each parish and strengthen existing youth support services.

?This is a long term process, it?s not a quick fix. What we will provide as a pilot project is the frame work for how to do business. The project will identify what risk there is in the immediate area and how we can pool our resources to focus on that behaviour,? she said.

The CTC model is a strategy which compiles data on issues in different areas, and lays out methods to establish better relationships. Health Minister Patrice Minors said other parishes on the Island are expected to adopt program so youth issues can be dealt with in the context of their immediate community. ?I believe this will go a long way in instilling a positive climate in the communities throughout the Island,? Mrs. Minors said.

The CTC model has been used in the US in Pennsylvania and Florida. In over 400 communities it has been credited with lowering crimes rates among young people, as well as lowering teen pregnancy and truancy rates.

On Thursday, Michele Ridge, the US spokesperson for the CTC project participated in the National Youth Development Conference where a National Youth Development strategy was presented. At the conference reports were presented with ideas for what can be done to promote the development of young people.