Task force tackles quality of life issues for local youth

Nevada, Mo. -- They envision a bright future for Nevada -- one in which the children have more choices and more resources, one in which all children have good dental care, mentoring programs that help them set goals and seek out a career path, one in which young people have places to turn when they need help or a place to stay when they're facing a hardship.

The Vernon County Youth Task Force is a growing assembly of community members seeking to make life better for local children, teens and young adults by pooling their ideas, hours and other resources, and the group meets regularly to try to sort out the complex social issues facing today's youth and how the group can help to fight them.

The group is divided into several committees that share ideas and work together to meet the needs the task force has identified.

On Wednesday, the task force heard some great news -- the long-defunct National Guard youth program, Show-Me ChalleNGe, looks like it might be reinstated. Carol Branham, who chairs that committee, said the task force has long hoped that bringing back the program might be a possibility as one way to motivate kids to finish their education and to become contributing members of society.

"We asked Rep. Fisher to see what he could do about it, and he did," Branham said. Fisher reported on Tuesday that he'd discussed the matter with the National Guard's adjutant general and with the governor's chief of staff, and the reinstatement of the program in a reduced form does look like a viable option, but it won't occur for several months.

"We have been waiting to see what the possibilities would be, and we are ready to help. We have local communit support and we've been waiting to see how that support could be the most effective," Branham said. "It's a great program. We've got lots of testimonials. It's not for everyone, but it's a good, positive thing."

Other committees are busy laying groundwork for future projects. There's a dental care committee, for example, that plans to distribute educational brochures; to take part in educational activities during February, which is dental health month; and to work with schools in the implementation of dental programs. Another committee, hoping to form a mentoring program, is currently working on behind-the-scenes details such as determining how prospective volunteer mentors will be screened. Still others are planning publicity efforts and fund-raising efforts. A wine tasting and silent auction of edible sweet treats is also in the planning stages, to be held on Feb. 15.

The Vernon County Task Force meets at 9 a.m., the fourth Wednesday of each month, at the City/County Community Center in Nevada.