The ultimate goal of this initiative is to assist each community, each neighborhood, to take ownership of the specific challenges that their youth are facing, and to give them the tools to meet these challenges. The community must work together; stays focused on the goals and continue to evaluate the plan that is developed.

What is Parishes Achieving Change Together (PACT)?

PACT is the Bermuda branding of a prevention-based youth development system called Communities That Care®. The Department of National Drug Control is the Sponsoring Agency.

The Family Centre is the lead organization contracted by The Department of National Drug Control to facilitate introducing the system throughout Bermuda. PACT is a community action model based on years of research, which takes a systematic approach to community building. It focuses on both promoting positive youth development and preventing problem behaviors and helps communities prioritize risk, protective factors and also helps communities collect the right data.

Parishes that are involved with PACT prioritize risk and protective factors to tested, effective prevention strategies. It helps communities implement and evaluate a Community Action Plan, working to prevent problem adolescent behaviors.

What is the Status of the Communities That Care® in Bermuda?

The Department of National Drug Control is committed to supporting the PACT system for any and all parishes that demonstrate a readiness to receive it.

The system has been introduced to the Hamilton Parish residents, who have received the 5 basic trainings that each parish must go through; it is administered by a consultant trainer from abroad:

 Community Board Orientation,
 Community Assessment Training,
 Community Resource Assessment Training
 Community Planning Training
 Community Planning Implementation training

The Hamilton Parish residents have a Board in place, and have implemented their plan and are working with the Parish council, Francis Patton School, and the Centre for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (CADA).

What Will Make This Initiative Successful?

Additional supports for this planning system are the establishment of a National Resource Team made up of service providers in the community. Their job is to develop “outreach” programmes which can be utilized in the parishes.

PACT is also working with the Police Service to utilize the Community Beat Officers, who have recently been appointed to serve in each parish.

The Department of National Drug Control has also contracted with various government Ministries to access “key contact” people from each Ministry to assist with this initiative.

The Department of National Drug Control provides initial funding for a part-time administrator for each Parish to assist the resident Board and also provides initial funding for selected, tested, and effective programs or strategies.