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In It to Win It – The 7 Habit Way program helps youth develop helpful habits that will make them more productive family members, friends, students, and community members.  The program is based on the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey and is a collaborative effort of Youth First, Inc. and the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana.

The seven habits are:

• Habit 1: Be Proactive - Take responsibility for your life
• Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - Define your mission and goals in life
• Habit 3: Put First Things First - Prioritize, and do the most important things first
• Habit 4: Think Win-Win - Have an everyone-can-win attitude
• Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood - Listen to people sincerely
• Habit 6: Synergize - Work together to achieve more
• Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Renew yourself regularly

Research shows these habits or skills can be important protective factors that prevent teen substance abuse.

The program currently targets 7th and 8th graders but is also appropriate for high school students.  Participants meet for eight sessions and are led by two trained facilitators who have been certified by the Franklin Covey Co.  Each program can accommodate up to 15 participants.

The program helps youth:

• Gain greater control of their lives.
• Improve relationships with family and friends.
• Increase self confidence and self-esteem.
• Make smarter decisions.
• Define their character, values and what matters most to them.
• Get more done in less time.
• Resist peer pressure.
• Find balance between school, work, friends, and everything else.
• Avoid the pitfalls of substance abuse.

The 7 Habits can have a profound effect on participants’ attitudes and beliefs about themselves and others in a relatively short amount of time.  Evaluations show their self-concept improves the most dramatically.   The program also increases participants’ perceptions of the personal control they have over their life and the choices they make.  Research shows these skills are key ingredients in preventing teen substance abuse.
                       

Youth First works in collaboration with the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana to secure funding and insure the highest quality of coordination and implementation.  Youth First provides:

• Trained facilitators with a Master’s Degree in Social Work and experience working with youth.
  
  
• Ongoing coordination and support to those involved in the In It to Win It – The 7 Habit Way program.
  
  
• Assistance seeking additional funding sources to sustain In It to Win It – The 7 Habit Way program.
  
  
• Evaluation support and tools provided by the Franklin Covey Co. and the Youth First Program Committee.
  
  
• On-going technical assistance for facilitators.
  
  
• Budgetary planning and tracking.
  
  
• Marketing materials and recruitment assistance.