Residents encouraged to participate in citywide survey
Residents can voice their opinions about the quality of life and services in Dover by participating in the 2011 Citizen Survey, now online. The survey will conclude on Oct. 31, 2011.
The online version of the survey is a component of the survey mailed to residents in recent weeks.
The survey, which is conducted as part of the The National Citizen Survey, helps the City of Dover gauge community priorities in several areas, including civic engagement, public safety, education, public trust, recreation and wellness, and local government.
The online survey is anonymous.
To participate in this year's survey, begin the online survey here.
Dover named one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People
Dover achieved national recognition as one of America’s Promise Alliance’s 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING for its initiatives to help young people. The competition recognizes communities across the country that focus on reducing high school dropout rates and providing service and support to their youth.
This is the first year Dover is being recognized as one of 100 Best Communities for Young People. Dover values young people and consistently makes them a priority, through programs that involve local government and community organizations. The Dover Youth to Youth program helps students build leadership skills and serve as role models to other students across the city. Within the youth program, students learn about the legislative process and lead policy change efforts through the passage of three state laws and six city ordinances.
Dover also has a Dropout Prevention Committee, which meets monthly and identifies at-risk students using data around attendance and behavior. The Committee works with every student identified to help connect them with resources and an individualized learning environment that will ensure they graduate. These efforts are proving successful with the state's dropout rate decreasing by 44 percent. To help ensure the safety of area youth, the Dover Police Department's Community Outreach Bureau runs drug prevention programs, a teen center and a police-exploring program for high school students.
“We are proud of Dover for being named one of the America’s Promise Alliance’s 100 Best,” said Vicki Hebert, Coordinator of the Dover Coalition for Youth. “This award recognizes the hard work of many community members that have dedicated their time to making a difference in the lives of our young people.”
“In a nation where 7,000 students drop out of high school every day, we hope Dover’s initiatives inspire other communities across the nation to take action to solve the challenges facing their young people,” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, America’s Promise Alliance president and CEO. “Dover is especially deserving of this recognition due to their efforts to ensure that their young people graduate high school and go on to lead healthy, productive lives. Dover refuses to let the challenges they face determine the future for their young people. Instead, they are helping their youth prosper and become contributing members of society.”
“The issues surrounding youth education and success are of vital importance to ING,” said Mims. “Our ongoing support for 100 Best underscores our commitment to the cause and the value we place on recognizing communities that produce measurable results for youth.”
Dover will receive a $2,500 grant, signage identifying the community as one of the nation’s 100 Best Communities for Young People, and access to America’s Promise Alliance’s community development resources.
First held in 2005, the 100 Best competition is one of the Alliance’s signature initiatives and is part of its Grad Nation campaign, which is a 10-year initiative to mobilize Americans to end the high school dropout crisis and prepare young people for college and the 21st century workforce. The 100 Best honors communities large and small, rural and urban, that are making progress to help young people achieve their potential, which includes earning a high school diploma, securing a good job, and playing an active, productive role in America’s economic vitality.
All communities entering the 100 Best competition completed a rigorous application where they provided details on how their existing programs and initiatives help deliver the Five Promises—resources identified by the Alliance as being critical to the development of healthy, successful children: caring adults; safe places; healthy start; effective education; and opportunities to help others. Applicants were also asked to describe how different sectors of their community work together to help children and families overcome challenges. Most importantly, communities were judged on the strength and innovation of their efforts and programs to help young people graduate from high school prepared for college and the 21st century workforce.
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