KEYS of Promise has as its purpose: Increased well being for youth and families through asset development to prevent substance use and abuse and other problem behaviors among KEYS (Kittery, Eliot, York, & South Berwick) youth. The project uses two primary strategies: 1) Increasing availability and accessibility of primary and secondary juvenile delinquency prevention programs through the support and expansion of the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets and the Five Fundamental Resources of America's Promise, and 2) Building community capacity for change through increased coordination and collaboration among providers and users of programs for children and their families.

Description:
KEYS of Promise is a project of York Hospital. We manage over 40 community based programs focused on mentoring, after school, community service, youth development activities, Communities Mobilzing for Change on Alcohol Environmental Strategies, Leadership and Resilency among other youth and prevention based services. The objectives include: A) Increase and expand mentoring opportunities; B) Increase and expand safe places during time away from school; C) Increase and expand programs that support children ages birth-5 and their families; D) Increase and expand opportunities to participate in experiential job skills programs; E) Increase and expand interdisciplinary collaboration among service providing agencies that support youth and families in our region. F) Continue to address factors in our communities that increase the risk of substance abuse among youth by participating in area coalitions that support reduction and prevention of substance use among area youth

KEYS of Promise has over 30 partners and is a collaborative partner of Choose to Be Healthy, the Community Wellness Coalition, Law Enforcement, school departments, local businesses Community Asset Builders and the Children’s Leadership Councils from Kittery, Eliot, York and South Berwick.

History:
KEYS of Promise is a project of York Hospital. This project was born out of a merger of two youth-oriented initiatives, KEYS 4 Prevention and Community Asset Builders. KEYS 4 Prevention was founded in 2002 and is a local substance abuse prevention coalition. Community Asset Builders founded in 1997 by the Community Wellness Coalition and focuses on the five fundamental resources as defined by America’s Promise. Joining together these two projects will be a stronger voice to address the needs of the youth in the KEYS towns (Kittery, Eliot, York and South Berwick).

Contact people:

Eb Erickson-Irons, (email) Kimberly Plaisted, Business Manager, (phone) Andrea Warren, Leadership And Resilency Director, (phone), (email)

Address:

15 Hospital Drive York, ME 03909 (See a map)

Directions:

Directions to Community Wellness Coalition offices 518 Rt. 1, Kittery, Maine (Mailing address: 15 Hospital Dr., York, Maine 03909 --this is NOT our location) 207-438-9100 From I-95, both north and south, take "The Yorks" exit (it is Exit 4, on the south side. . . (more)

Miscellaneous Information

Name of Executive Director (or equivalent) if not listed above:
	Melissa A. Boyd
Type of organization
	Nonprofit 501(c)3
Is your organization a Health and Human Service agency?
	Yes