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vernonia prevention coalition
november22
2011
The content on this page is provided by the Vernonia Prevention Coalition
Be a Piece of the Puzzle
Mission Possible: Got Outcomes!
Like most things, prevention
programming is measurable by outputs
and or outcomes. Most of us understand
and expect to see the outputs of our efforts.
For example, 350 hotdogs served during a baseball
game. What often are not captured are the outcomes
of people buying the hotdogs at the baseball game.
For example, an outcome statement would look like,
90% of consumers felt their purchase was worthwhile
and will return during all the football games to support
the program that provided said hotdogs. Motivated
individuals whom support community programming
helping ensure sustainability of said programs.
The Vernonia Prevention Coalition (VPC)
and its sector representatives have a lot of outputs:
trainings provided, outreach numbers, youth traveling
to leadership programming, bully intervention training,
youth serving youth programs, suicide intervention
trainings, books purchased for school and community
libraries, increased adult mentor opportunities, medical
services brought to area, mental health services brought
to area, meetings attended, partnerships established,
articles written, training volunteers, food handler cards
for adult volunteers, background check purchases for
volunteers, grant writing, signs purchased, incentives
distributed, code enforcement support, proper law
enforcement reporting practices, etc. The VPC
Director, DeAnna Pearl, can provide you numbers,
dates, and times for each of these if you are interested.
Just ask her and she can give you more than you wanted
to know.
However, on Saturday November 5, at the
Vernonia Volunteer and Victory celebration the VPC
was able to bring to light the outcomes of efforts made
by groups and individuals whom volunteer and support
the livability of Vernonia. These outcomes where
measured in the applause, tears, laughter and new found
collaborations highlighted in the evening’s events.
Outcomes of program partnerships
between churches, collaboration
of youth serving programs and
recognition of support by never
before realized like mission
agencies. Outcomes where
measured by comments, “I had no
idea that was happening here?”
or “Wow, who do I contact about
being a part of that next year?” The
greatest outcome measure of the
night was the awe and thankfulness Members of Christian Public Service were recognized for their volunteer
contributions at the Vernonia Volunteer and Victory Celebration.
given to the Christian Public Service
shape the delivery of the message and the development
whom have collectively provided
over 14,000 volunteer hours that equates to over a of the community action, policy advocacy and
quarter of a million dollars of service. This is not to enforcement that make sense for them. All the while
diminish the efforts of other groups and agencies that keeping in mind the collective outcome of community
present on that Saturday from honoring the longest Lion members whom feel they live in a safe and healthy
Club member, Bill James, to the youngest recognized neighborhood. Bottom line outcome measurements are
actually the increased recognition of efforts made by
volunteer, Coral Donne Pearl, of Salmon Festival.
One of the greatest things we can do as a groups and individuals whom service Vernonia. Even
community is to celebrate the capacity, whatever that greater, the increased participation of youth involved
may be, of individuals, groups, programs and agencies in supporting healthier and safer communities is at its
that service our community. Often times the individuals all time high for the last five years. This in turn reflects
or groups listed above do not take the time to get out the reduction of self harm by youth. Still further, it
of the trenches and celebrate their efforts. Several invigorates the community to work together to support
do not even want to be known because of whatever a safe and healthy community.
We continue to invigorate by educating
reason. Taking the time to celebrate the outputs and
the following outcomes is important because it helps ourselves and others to the missions of the various
us recognize where we have been and how far we have groups whom serve Vernonia but to celebrate them
come in realizing our mission. Some missions are as well. We are NOT just a small community trying
simple and some are convoluted. But how do we know to put on a hotdog feed. We ARE a community
what groups mission are? Even greater questions, how recovering from a disaster to rebuild a school, health
can we partner or volunteer if we don’t understand the center, senior center, food bank, waste water treatment,
missions of the groups, programs and agencies service etc. to provide a safe and healthy environment for our
community and our youth. We are NOW sitting at the
our community?
The VPC’s mission is to develop safe table with county, state, federal agencies and private
and healthy neighborhoods through collaborative philanthropy. We CAN no longer be inarticulate about
planning,
community our needs and expectations. We are NOT VICTIMS
action, policy advocacy of our circumstances nor at the mercy of the kindness
and enforcement. It of others. We are BECOMING creators of our own
would be safe to say destiny. Similar to the WWII slogan, “We Can Do It!”
most of Vernonia and its the over 55 groups and agencies whom provide service
surrounding communities and outreach to local citizens and surrounding areas can
want safe and healthy say, “We ARE doing it!.” We ARE developing safe and
neighborhoods. The healthy communities where volunteerism is celebrated
Coalition goes even and positive outcomes are the norm.
If you would like to know more about the VPC
one step further. With
keeping our mission in or volunteer opportunities, please contact DeAnna
mind, it is the 12 Sector Pearl, Director, @ (503) 369-7370 or DeAnna@
representatives
whom vernonia-or.gov.
2001 Vernonia Prevention Coalition Sector Representatives
Position
Name
Sector
Contact
Affiliation
Chair
Josette Mitchell
Government
(503) 429-4232
COV Mayor
Vice Chair
Pete Weisel
School
(503) 429-3521
VHS Councilor
Exec. Board
Dr. Ken Cox
Media
(503) 429-5891
VSD Superintendent
Exec. Board
Sgt. Shaun
Carnahan
Police
(503) 429-4232
COV Police
Faith
(503) 961-5281
Vernonia Comm.
Church
Board Member Ashley Swanson Prevention
(503) 396-2074
Public Health Foun-
dation of Columbia
County
Board Member Heidi Brown
Business
(503) 429-2787
Grey Dawn Gallery
Board Member Gina Fields
Parent
(503) 429-6306
Parent
Board Member Mark Brown
Board Member Lee Anne Kraus e Youth Serving (503) 816-9810
Kiwanis
Board Member O.S.S.O.M.
Youth
(503) 429-3521
VSD 47J
Board Member George Tice
Civic Org.
(503) 880-1627
Lions Club
Board Member
Health Serv.
Heather Lewis
Contractor
Seeking Representation
(503) 429-4677
Resource Coord.
VPC Mission:
To develop safe and healthy neighborhoods through collaborative planning, community
action, policy advocacy and enforcement.
