Our goal

ACT provides an evidence-based curriculum to groups of youth
​10-21 years old in Orleans and Genesee counties to help teens:
​* Delay Initial Sexual Encounter
* Lower Teen Pregnancies
* Reduce Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Infections
* Make Responsible Decisions​
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Established in 1987 

ACT (Alternative Choices for Teens) was originally funded, in 1987, through the NYS Office of Children & Family Services (APPS funding). This was the result of Orleans County ranking #1 highest (excluding NYC) in teen pregnancies throughout the State.  In 1996, ACT became a program of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. 
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In 2011, NYS funding was transferred to the Dept. of Health (DOH) and was re-named CAPP (Comprehensive Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention) services to serve both Orleans and Genesee Counties.  ACT - Helping Youth ACT Responsibly re-branded itself as a result in the change in services which included the offering of only Evidence-Based Curriculums to groups of youth 11-21 years old.  Cornell University's Center of Excellence evaluates the curriculum implementation to ensure fidelity. 
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On behalf of ACT, Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, Inc. was awarded in 2017 funding for an additional five years.  ACT's services are primarily implemented within the Health classes of our school districts, in both counties, free of charge.  We are happy to offer education to any group of youth to ensure accurate sexual health education is provided, along with knowledge of local sexual healthcare resources. 
​​www.caoginc.org

​services

are available to groups of youth,
free of charge, within Orleans and Genesee counties.  

Contact us to discuss a time for us to implement educational programming for you. 

THE ACT STAFF ARE ALWAYS ATTENDING TRAININGS TO KEEP UP TO DATE

​Here's a few that we have recently attended in July and August: 

• Promoting Dialogue, Discovery and Disclosure as a Path to Cultural Humility
• Love Lives Are Not Neutral - A New Approach for Improving Adolescent Well-Being
• Improving Access to Reproductive Health Care Services

Our Team

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Jan Albanese
Supervisor

Joined ACT in 1988 with a degree in Business Management / Accounting, and became Supervisor in 1995.  She is currently responsible for oversight of DOH funding and CAPP services within Orleans and Genesee counties.  

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Erin Mattison
LEAD Health Educator 

Joined ACT in October of 2015.  She has a Master of Public Health in Community Health and Health Behavior.  She is currently responsible for the coordination of evidence-based curriculum implementation within schools and/or to groups of youth.  

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ELIssa davies
health educator

HALEE POTTER
HEALTH EDUCATOR

Joined ACT in September of 2017. She  received a Bachelors degree in Public Health in May of 2018. She is currently responsible for the implementation of the evidence-based curriculum with fidelity, to groups of youth in Orleans and Genesee counties.

Joined ACT in May of 2018.  She received a Bachelors degree in Social Science in February of 2018.  She is currently responsible for the implementation of the evidence-based curriculum with fidelity, to groups of youth in Orleans and Genesee counties.  

BONNIE MALAKIE
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN & YOUTH SERVICES FOR COMMUNITY ACTION
Has a Masters in Education and currently provides oversight of all children / youth programs  of Community Action.  She maintains the Agency’s linkage with this CAPP project, and provides additional oversight with support for the implementation of this grant. 

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Jan, Erin, Halee and Elissa helping out at National Night Out event on August 7, 2018.