CTC How It Works

How It Works

Communities That Care guides communities through a proven five-phase change process. Using prevention science as its base, CTC promotes healthy youth development, improves youth outcomes, and reduces problem behaviors.

Lorain County has done the groundwork using a Communities That Care framework, and is in the Phase 5 Implement and Evaluate stage of change. While community need is constantly evaluated through various surveys and seeking neighborhood and provider input, these are some of the substance use programs, collaborations, and efforts that support this vision:

5 Phases of CTC

1. Get Started

Communities get ready to introduce CTC. They work behind the scenes to:

  • Activate a small group of catalysts.
  • Assess how ready the community is to begin the process.
  • Identify key community leaders to champion the process.
  • Invite diverse stakeholders to get involved.

2. Get Organized

Communities form a board or work within an existing coalition. After recruiting community board members, they:

  • Learn about prevention science.
  • Write a vision statement.
  • Organize workgroups.
  • Develop a timeline for installing CTC.

3. Develop a Community Profile

Communities assess community risks and strengths—and identify existing resources. The community board and workgroups:

  • Review data from the community’s youth survey.
  • Identify priority risk and protective factors that predict targeted health and behavior problems.
  • Assess community resources that address these factors.
  • Identify gaps to be filled in existing resources.

4. Create a Community Action Plan

  • Reduce widespread risks and strengthen protection.
  • Define clear, measurable outcomes using assessment data.
  • Select and expand tested and effective policies and programs using the Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development website.

5. Implement & Evaluate

In this final phase, communities:

  • Implement selected programs and policies.
  • Monitor and evaluate them.
  • Measure results and track progress to ensure improvements are achieved.

Learn more about the science behind CTC