Application Information

This is a project intended for the Community Networking and Service primary application area. Montgomery County youth serving agencies are proposing to implement "Kickinit.org", a new youth oriented web site application that will provide young people, throughout the County with anonymous access to important information, contacts, suggestions, and advice that can help them avoid and/or sort out their problems. Once fully implemented, it is expected that youth will find answers to their questions on sensitive issues, have a greater awareness and access to community resource, and feel more connected to others. Local partners consist of Daybreak (applicant), Montgomery County, East End Community Services, and the local Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA, City of Dayton teen center, and public housing authority. The project is innovative in that the proposed web site application is designed to reach all youth throughout the county. Nine (9) Access Centers will provide "disadvantaged" youth who live in distressed areas with easy Internet access and the planned promotional campaign will encourage "advantaged" youth whose distance and affluence often increase their sense of disconnectedness and isolation, to seek help and reconnect to the community. The project will employ the help of young people in the design, implementation, and maintenance of the site in order to insure that it continues to meet their changing needs. "Kickinit" takes full advantage of the Internet and as such, has few geographic constraints, can be accessed by other communities, and can be "tailored" to include local information at a reasonable cost.