The School Community Youth Collaborative (SCYC) was established in 1999 and began as a coalition of local organizations serving youth and families. The Coalition consisted of committed people working together to prevent substance abuse and violence in youth ten to eighteen years old. It was a great forum to connect non-profits, government, community-based organizations, local businesses, and schools who focused on youth development in Montezuma and Dolores Counties, and the monthly meetings ensured no organizations were duplicating efforts.

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SCYC shifted its focus from substance abuse and violence prevention towards positive youth development. This transformation was a deep-rooted cultural shift prompted by the book “The Science of the Positive” (Dr. Jeff Linkenback). The organization, and its partners, began to realize that there was a need to balance both the concerns and the hope of the community. Yes, there were intractable problems young people faced, but the Collaborative acknowledged those problems and quickly moved on to the positive opportunities that were and are the norm for our young people.