Crozer-Keystone’s Chester Youth Collaborative (CYC) was named the winner of a national award from Amerinet, a leading health care solutions organization, in the category of Community Impact and Innovation at the organization’s annual Healthcare Achievement Awards.

The initiative was one of three health systems presented with this award.

Amerinet created its Healthcare Achievement Award program to recognize organizations that make efforts to reduce costs, improve quality and serve the community.

This year, Amerinet received the largest number of entries in company history. The awards event was held in St. Louis.

“Entries for this award are carefully evaluated by a panel of expert judges, and superior member performance was identified in a variety of categories — from improvement in financial management and operational efficiencies to patient quality and community impact,” said Janet S. Riley-Ford, director of CYC. “All Amerinet members are eligible, and projects are received from many types of acute and non-acute care facilities, large and small, rural and urban.”

The CYC was launched in 2005 with a start-up grant from the William Penn Foundation. The CYC’s mission is to foster a neighborhood-based youth development network that enhances the quality of life and increases opportunities for youth between the ages of 12 and 22 in the city of Chester.

The CYC is divided into four councils, with each council responsible for specific areas of work to advance the mission of the Collaborative. A steering committee, comprised of representatives from all four groups, provides oversight for the efforts of the Collaborative.

“I have watched the CYC grow and develop into a nationally recognized program and I am very proud of the work they do,” said Gwen Smith, president of Springfield Hospital and vice president of Crozer-Keystone. “These dedicated men and women work tirelessly to improve the lives of young people in the community and give them goals and a plan for the future.”

Each winning facility receives two complimentary trips to the 2012 Amerinet Member Conference in Las Vegas and scheduled to be honored at a special awards dinner — preceded by an address by the keynote speaker, Mark Kelly, NASA commander and husband of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

“It’s wonderful to have the work we do recognized nationally by Amerinet,” said administrative director of the Wellness Center, Kate Blackburn. “The Chester Youth Collaborative’s efforts are designed to impact the community on multiple levels: to improve outcomes among youth, to improve the quality and number of resources available to help youth develop skills for work and life, and to inform local policy to support youth. The work we do is complex and challenging, and it wouldn’t be possible without our network of committed partners. This award is a tribute to the staff of the CYC and to our partners as well.”