What makes a thriving community? Majestic mountains, clear rivers, a vibrant downtown, room to roam, a healthy economy, a fabulous university, a town not too big yet not too small where people not
only know one another but care enough to help each other, strong families? Yes, all of these make this area of the world a place where people want to live.

In 1986, a group of Bozeman’s community leaders came together to discuss the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect. They established an organization called Prevent Child Abuse, Inc. and quickly prioritized parent education as a promising activity that could prevent bad outcomes for children. Before long it became clear that factors, in every type of family, beginning even before birth, influence a child’s healthy development. While only a small percentage of parents neglect or abuse their children, all parents can do a better job of raising happy, well-adjusted children when they live in a community that supports strong families.

In recognition of this, the organization’s name was changed in 2006 to reflect the ultimate goal: thriving kids. Thrive gives parents the knowledge and skills they need to respond effectively to all childhood stages. Staff help parents find new approaches to challenges they face and access to health, employment, housing, and other community resources. We help parents form a strong partnership with schools to facilitate the academic, social, and emotional growth of each child. We help teen parents gain the confidence and stability they need to parent as they grow up themselves. We match nurturing mentors with school-aged children to help every child find that unique strength he or she possesses. We provide opportunities for pre-teen and teen girls to discover all the possibilities available to them so they are not constrained by social or cultural limitations. This year alone there were 561 children in CAP, 240 girls from all over the state at the Girls for a Change conference, and thousands of parents who participated in Parent Place activities like Dynamite Dads or worked with a Parent Liaison or Family Support staff in the Partnership Project.

In an effort to share the lessons we have learned with others, we are preparing to submit research on CAP to the National Register of Effective and Evidence Based programs. We have been invited to present our organizational model at the national level and have met with representatives of state agencies who are interested in replicating our programs in rural and native communities. In this way we can leverage the efforts of our community to help many more children.
For 25 years, Thrive has provided information and education to a generation of parents, support and resources to a generation of families, and caring mentors to a generation of kids. We benefit from the time and talents of over 600 volunteers, an amazing board, a remarkable professional staff, strong collaborative partners, and the unending support of local business and individuals.

We each have a role in ensuring that families are strong and children are successful so that our community continues to thrive. A generous benefactor recently committed a $50,000 challenge gift to Thrive, to be donated in its entirety if Thrive raises $50,000 in new or increased matching funds by Oct 1, 2011. With your help we will achieve this goal. This is a great opportunity for Thrive, during tough economic times, to maximize your donations and maintain and grow our five signature programs: The Parent Place; CAP; Parent Liaison; Partnership and Girls for a Change. If you have ever benefitted from one of programs now is the time to give! Even if you have never participated in our programs but benefit because our work makes this community a better place, now is the time to give!

If you are interested in helping the children and families in our community thrive, please contact Thrive at 587-3840 or make a donation online at www.allthrive.org