Mercyhurst University hosts release of Erie County’s Community Action Plan for Children & Families

The Community Action Plan of the Erie County Policy and Planning Council for Children and Families (PPC) will be released Tuesday, July 16, at a press conference hosted by the PPC, UnifiedErie, and the Mercyhurst University Civic Institute. The event takes place on the Mercyhurst campus at 10 a.m. in Mercy Heritage Room of Sullivan Hall.

The PPC is a county-wide collaborative through which members share information and work together to promote a flourishing, asset-rich community. It is comprised of community members from public and private institutions including local government, education, health, law enforcement, business, and social services and serves as the prevention branch of UnifiedErie, a violence reduction initiative involving three prongs: prevention, enforcement, and reentry. 

The PPC supports sound decision-making and research-based programs providing opportunities for youth and families to thrive. Consistent with that mission, the Community Action Plan focuses on strategies to reduce risk factors most affecting Erie County youth, among them depression, lack of neighborhood attachment, and absence of school engagement.

The plan’s key points will be delivered by Civic Institute Director Amy Eisert. Others expected to speak include Gretchen Kerr, neighborhood resource coordinator for the City of Erie; Jeffrey Natalie, regional director of the Community Care Behavioral Health Organization; and Jennifer Nygaard Pontzer, director of Career Street.

Please contact Robin Mascharka, Civic Institute outreach coordinator, at 814-824-2186 or rmascharka@mercyhurst.edu, with questions.