5.7. SR 05-06-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Summary The Community Youth Task Force is comprised of leaders from all community sectors dedicated to the goal of creating a healthy community for youth development. The Task Force's service area includes all communities within the School District 728 boundaries. For the past three years, the Youth Task Force has collected information from organizations, groups, and individuals (both youth and adult) regarding the status of the community for healthy youth development. The foundation for our research has been the nationwide work of the Search Institute of Minneapolis, whose focus is on building assets in youth that contribute to success. We have concentrated on the sixteen external assets: factors that exist in a young person's environment which contribute to his or her positive development. These assets are: Family Support; Parent(s) as Social Resource; Parent Communication; Other Adult Resources; Other Adult Communication; Parent Involvement in Schooling; Positive School Climate; Parental Standards; Parental Discipline; Parental Monitoring; '~me at Home; Positive Peer Influence; Involved in Music; Involved in School Extra-curricular Activities; Involved in Community Organizations or Activities; and Involved in Faith Community. While our communities exhibit many strengths in terms of people, programs and resources that contribute to building assets, the Community Youth Task Force has identified five key areas of concern that currently inhibit our progress. We strongly recommend that all sectors of our communities work together to overcome obstacles to positive youth development. TRANSPORTATION MAKING OPPORTUNITIES ACCESSIBLE TO YOUTH IN ALL PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY NON-SPORT ACTIVITIES ENHANCING RECREATIONAL/EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS FOR YOUTH IN ADDITION TO OUR SUCCESSFUL SPORTS PROGRAMS · ~ ADULT MENTORS FOSTERING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN YOUTH AND CARING ADULTS ;=. SPACE CREATING SAFE PLACES FOR YOUTH TO GATHER FOR FUN AND LEARNING PARTNERSHIPS SETTING ASIDE PARTISANSHIP FOR THE SAKE OF "PUTTING KIDS FIRST" Percentages of youth in our area who report having each asset in their lives, and ideas for action are presented in the detailed report which follows. Key recommendations are noted by a As we discuss building assets, it is important to keep these three principles in mind: Everyone has a role to play in building assets. Not just parents, schools, community organizations, congregations or governments, though they all certainly play important roles. Everyone can get involved in asset-building. Senior citizens and children, single adults and couples, policy makers and citizens, neigh- bors and employers, wealthy families and Iow income-families, liberals and conservatives~ids need us all. And, we all can share a common, hopeful commitment to kids and the future.* Asset-building is more about people than programs Relationships are the key. Quality relationships can form with or without a program---a neighbor playing basketball with the kids, a grandmother keeping an eye on the bus stop to make sure that children are safe on their way to school. Programs may be vehicles for connecting youth to adults, but the critical issue is the care and support that grow through relationships. Money may help sometimes, but the commitment and involvement of caring people make the most difference.* All kids need asset-building. Often youth programming focuses on just the "best" kids or the "worst" kids-- the high achievers or the young people at risk. True, these groups may need special attention in some areas. But asset-building can help afl kids.* *From What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids Peter L. Benson, Ph.D., Judy Galbraith, M.A., Pamela Espeland Free Spirit Publishing, Inc., Minneapolis, 1995.