Washtenaw Area Teens for Tomorrow

Staff:           Denise Dalrymple, Childrens Services

Homepage:    www.watt.ewashtenaw.org

The Vision for WATT

To ensure the youth of Washtenaw County will become our citizens of tomorrow, leading lives of meaning and contribution.

The Goal for WATT

The goal of WATT is to mobilize the community to improve opportunities for meeting the youth development needs of youth in Washtenaw County.

The Five Essentials of WATT

There are many notable models of youth development. After considerable study of the various models, the WATT framework is organized around five essential areas that are vital for meeting our vision:

    Caring Adults: With positive, sustained adult relationships, youth experience support, care and guidance. Caring Adults is the most important of the five essentials. Caring Adults can be found everywhere in the community.

    Safe Places: Young adults need safe and supportive places to grow and develop, particularly youth-centered and youth-driven programming within a context of meeting youth needs.

    Marketable Skills: It is essential to develop young peoples skills and interests and to enrich academic performance to prepare for 21st Century employment, and to find interesting and rewarding work.

    Healthy Start: Young adults need services and opportunities to pursue a healthy life style, including physical activities and avoidance of alcohol or other drugs.

     Youth as Resources: Young adults seek opportunities to contribute and to be heard, and to participate in civic life.