Who We Are

We have formed a local community board comprised of stakeholders from throughout the county with one goal in mind, to help reduce adolescent problem behaviors. We hope to meet this objective by using a long respected method of using the learned data to help reduce the “risk factors” (that which tells why the behavior happens) and increase “protective factors” (or ways that are data-proven to help prevent the behaviors).
Videos about the CTC Model:
Our Structure:

Committee Responsibilities:
- Collect risk and protective – factor data
- Analyze the data
- Facilitate the prioritization process
- Facilitate implementation of the
Communities That Care (PAYS)Youth Survey - Collect archival data
- Create a list of priority risk and protective factors
- Reassess risk, protection and youth outcomes
- Report accomplishments and findings
- Finalize the Community Board’s organizational structure
- Establish communication and reporting protocols
- Work with Executive Board to establish bylaws and operating procedures
- Coordinate fiscal and legal status
Develop a process for recruiting and educating new Community Board members - Coordinate team-building and recognition activities
- Maintain contact with stakeholders
- Identify opportunities to educate and involve community members
- Identify opportunities to celebrate success
- Create opportunities for receiving input, promoting benefits and announcing outcomes
- Work with the media
- Develop and maintain a distribution list for the Community Assessment Report
- Develop an inventory of existing community programs, policies and practices
- Create a map or list of the locations of resources in the community
Assess existing resources - Identify gaps
- Report accomplishments and findings
- Design and plan an evaluation of the Community Action Plan
- Identify existing youth groups
- Recruit youth to serve on the Community Board
- Involve youth in other work-group activities
- Coordinate skills development and youth recognition
- Identify resources
- Identify sources of funding
- Develop a long-term funding plan
- Identify and communicate with potential funders
- Write grant proposals
Executive Committee
Shawna Little
Erica Usher
Kathi Hull
Wendy Gaither
Board Co-Director / Connellsville Area School District
Board Co-Director/ Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Board Secretary / Fayette Business and Education Partnership
Board Treasurer / Reach Marketing & Design
Shawna Little:
Board Co- Director
Connellsville Area School District
Erica Usher:
Co-Director
Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Kathi Hull:
Board Secretary
Fayette Business and Education Partnership
Wendy Gaither:
Board Treasurer
Reach Marketing and Design
Community Board
Marsha Androsik
Dee Dee Blosnich
Jacquelyn Core
Jennifer Deichert
Regina Donkers
Heather Wasler
JoAnn Jankoski
Rita Masi
Randy Miller
Muriel Nuttall
Stacey Papa
Sue Quinn
John Rapano
Ericka Thomas
Pathways
A Child’s Place
Uniontown YMCA
Penn State Extension
Fayette County Behavioral Health Administration
FayPenn
Penn State
Fayette County Community Action
Laurel Highlands School District
Fayette Chamber of Commerce
Connect to Classrooms
Senator Pat Stefano
Penn State (Emeritus)
Head Start/Early Head Start of Fayette County
Marsha Androsik: Pathways
Dee Dee Blosnich: A Child’s Place
Jacquelyn Core: Uniontown Area YMCA
Jennifer Deichert: Penn State Extension
Regina Donkers: Fayette County Behavioral Health
Heather Wasler:
JoAnn Jankoski: Penn State
Rita Masi: Fayette County Community Action
Randy Miller: Laurel Highlands School District
Muriel Nuttall: Fayette Chamber of Commerce
Stacey Papa: Connect to Classrooms
Sue Quinn: Senator Pat Stefano
John Rapano: Penn State (Emeritus)
Ericka Thomas:Head Start/Early Start of Fayette County
Mobilizer
Lee Winterhalter
Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Lee Winterhalter:
Fayette County Drug and Alcohol
Our Champion!
Communities That Care of Fayette County is pleased to announce that we have named Jennifer Deichert as our CTC Champion! A Communities That Care Champion is someone who is visible and respected in our community, who understands and supports CTC and its endeavors, and is willing to serve as an advocate for CTC.
We chose Jennifer because of her unwavering interest and involvement in the Communities That Care process from the very beginning. She became involved with CTC through her work, and has passionate about our coalition because she feels that our community is a great place to live and raise children. Jennifer’s interest is driven by the proactive process of CTC and the nurturing environment it creates.
Jennifer is the 4-H Extension Educator with Penn State Extention. She grew up in Connellsville, but is now a resident of Uniontown. Jennifer and her husband, Andy, have two children: Marisa and William. They have horses and she also loves hiking, biking gardening and watching the Penguins and Pirates!
Her passion is our community youth! In her current position, her job is to promote positive youth development through 4-H, school enrichment and other youth programs. She has been working with a CYFAR grant to bring Strengthening Families 10-14 to Fayette County, which is an evidence-based program support by CTC.

CTC Funding:
FCDAC is committed to providing the most current information on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD), drug trends, treatment and other related issues. Their educational and informational programs are offered in the schools and community as classroom programs, small groups, and one-time presentations. All programs are designed to encourage and promote safe, responsible decision-making skills, as well as drug and alcohol awareness.

Communities That Care (CTC) is a map for a community to follow to address adolescent problem behaviors and promote positive youth development.