From a building in New Carlisle, plans are made that create a ripple effect in supporting the local community and beyond.

Family and Youth Initiatives was founded in 1978 at the Tri-County Women’s Network and started out as an organization that would help women who were facing challenges with their pregnancies before and after the baby was born.

“Our goal has always been to help parents to be the best parents they can be and to give them the tools so they can be responsible parents,” said Pat Banaszak, FYI executive director and co-founder.

In its first 15 years, the Women’s Network served over 1,200 families via three centers in Southwest Ohio, according to FYI’s Web site. In 1993, the Women’s Network experienced a 45% surge in requests for pregnancy tests from girls ages 10 to 11. This shocking trend inspired the organization to change its name to FYI and broaden its mission.

“We now have 10 programs - all in line with our mission of ‘Educating Families, Strengthening Communities’ and our vision of ‘Working hand in hand with the community to educate families and youth to make the most positive choices for their lives,’” Banaszak said.

The programs FYI offers are: Little Scholars, Women’s Network, Real Life … A Matter of Choices, Basic Job Skills 101, Latino Connection, Gardening for Health, Kid’s Hope, Cole’s Warriors, Fatherhood Program and GED classes.

“Every program is important to this community,” Banaszak said. “Each has a curricula that impacts a certain entity in this community and each impacts in a specific way. They are all just as important as each other.”

As part of Cole’s Warriors, FYI helps with a mentoring program at Tecumseh middle and high schools to support drug awareness and help students make healthy choices, called DEFY (Drug Education for Youth).

DEFY started last June with a grant from Cardinal Health, although FYI has been helping with mentoring in the school since 2002.

“We began it back in 2002 when we asked the youth at Olive Branch what we could do to keep them from doing ‘at-risk’ behaviors,” Banaszak said. “They said, ‘Give us high school youth as role models’ and with each of our afterschool programs we have used the same model and it works well.  Our youth are very expressive and can be the best role models as our younger youth grow and explore their place in the world.  DEFY is an example of how today’s youth can give positively back to the community.”

According to FYI, the high school students have a curriculum and pick a topic about drug prevention or a related topic each week. Then, they decide on activities to illustrate the topic and go to the middle school and teach them about the topic. They teach in small groups to allow for more questions and let students be comfortable expressing their opinions.

 “The Drug Education for Youth program is positively influencing students at Tecumseh Middle School through peer leaders from Tecumseh High School,” said Brian Dixon, middle school principal. “Student participate in skits, discussions and games centered around drug education, but they also focus on goals, peer pressure, self-respect and self-esteem.”

DEFY created and designed more than 5,000 flyers that were handed out at several restaurants during Superbowl weekend that gave facts about drug abuse in the community.

 “I think for a first effort that was fantastic,” Banaszak said. “And we have had a number of comments on them and the support has been good.”

The Knights of Columbus Fairborn Council 3724 at Mary Help of Christians in Fairborn held a spaghetti dinner and silent auction fundraiser for FYI Jan. 24 and raised $2,000.

“FYI does an incredible job of helping families succeed,” the Knights posted on Facebook. “We love to support this kind of work.”

“We are continuously working hard to make sure our programs are up to date and accurate,” Banaszak said.

FYI recently updated their web site, www.fyiohio.org. The new Web site lists all the programs, how people can help and who to contact for more information. News, events and “Did you know?” facts are also featured.

For more information or to donate time, talent or money to FYI, visit the Web site or call 845-0403. FYI also has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FYIohio.org.

“We can always use volunteers and definitely material and financial support,” Banaszak said.