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PRESS RELEASE: Safe Communities Start with Healthy Families

3/25/2010

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MCCOY’s EASY Book Guides Families to the Resources They Need

Indianapolis, IN--Some economists are saying that the recession may be coming to an end. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean an end to the struggles faced by many families in central Indiana. Marion County Commission On Youth, Inc. (MCCOY) recently announced the arrival of its 2010 EASY Book (Essential Aid and Services for You). The guidebook provides important resources aimed at assisting families with basic needs, health care, life skills, and legal services among others.

Central Indiana has many local resources and support agencies that can help families alleviate some of the stressors that may contribute to a crisis situation. Studies have shown that vulnerable families who utilize resources like these – before their situations become critical – have a greater chance of successfully staying out of child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

“With a guidebook and resources such as these, we can make progress more quickly to our goal of being a community where every family has access to the supports they need to provide a safe and loving environment for their children to grow,” said John Brandon, President of MCCOY.

The EASY Book includes listings of many essential free or very low cost services for struggling families. It provides information on obtaining food, housing, mental health counseling, parent support education, legal services and work training, among many other services.

You can pick up a free copy of the EASY Book from the following locations: Community Action of Greater Indianapolis; Choices; City of Indianapolis Mayor’s Neighborhood Liaisons; Family Service of Central Indiana; Healthy Families at Health & Hospital Corp.; IPS (E. 16th St.); John H. Boner Community Center; Marion County Probation Department; Shalom Health Care Center.

Check the MCCOY website, www.mccoyouth.org, for the latest distribution areas.

For more information about EASY Book, contact Christopher Collins at 317-921-1286 or Christopher.Collins@mccoyouth.org.

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The EASY Book is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Lilly Endowment and the Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.

MCCOY is focused on improving the reach and quality of youth programs and strengthening the policies that contribute to the positive development of youth in central Indiana. MCCOY’s vision is that every young person in Central Indian has opportunities to thrive, learn, engage and contribute.

MCCOY’s Learning Network provides training and networking opportunities for youth workers and helps youth-serving organizations assess and improve the quality of their programs. Through our EASY Book, Youth Activity Directory and ROY, our online search engine, we connect youth and families to the many programs and services available in our community. Most recently, we have been selected to facilitate better coordination of early intervention and prevention services in Marion County, so that families and youth are less likely to need to become a part of the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

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