Community
Mobilization

C4K 2
August 2002
Problems or Possibilities: Policy Implications of the Ask the Children Youth and Violence Study.

Download a copy of the workbook.
c4kworkbook082802.pdf

Download a copy of the outcome summary.
c4ksummary082802.pdf

C4K 1
June 2002
The Expect Success Project: Strategies for Parent Engagement and Improving School Climate.

Download a copy of the briefing booklet.
c4kbriefing062602.pdf (1,811kb)

Your support of positive youth development is the key to strengthening the lives of young people in our communities. Become an ACY Partner and help youth statewide.

Contact ACY for membership info.

August 28, 2002

The Conversation:
Problems or Possibilities: Policy Implications of the Ask the Children Youth and Violence Study.

Assets for Colorado Youth convened a group of policy leaders to identify strategies that address the link between youth violence issues and positive youth development. The participants represented state government, state education and health agencies, violence prevention and policy organizations, juvenile justice, and foundations. The group analyzed community needs and the political landscape, and framed a youth development agenda. Key data from the Youth and Violence study commissioned by The Colorado Trust was the launching point.

What’s Needed…
Broader and deeper coordination of services to prevent youth violence.

• There is a need to build empathy and acceptance skills in young people at an early age by making support systems available to families, and using existing resources in health, education and faith-based organizations for positive youth development.

Who Is Missing…
Youth are not part of the political agenda.

• Factors defining the current political climate in Colorado include budget reductions, a focus on youth solely through the lens of test scores or crime, and widening loopholes in a system that is failing young people. These all contribute to a political environment that sidesteps broad youth development issues.

Pay Now or Pay Later…
What is the political cost of ignoring youth issues?

• Estimated lifetime social costs of a high school dropout = $380,000, of a heavy drug user = $570,000, of a career criminal = $1.15 million.1 The amount recently cut from the Colorado state budget that once benefited over 80,000 youth is equal to the cost of incarcerating 10 career criminals. Taxpayers save $2 million for each child who is prevented from beginning a life of crime.2

Act Now…
Positive youth development IS an antidote to youth violence.

• Youth advocates need to step-up public education on youth issues to restore funding to youth programs, including diversion programs. The community and school-based programs provide what youth need to inoculate themselves against youth violence. Positive youth development empowers young people with the values, motivation, and social skills needed to succeed.
• An analysis to determine existing services and gaps for youth and violence prevention needs to be conducted.

1 Cohen, Mark (2001). Cost of Juvenile Violence: Policy Implications. Pediatrics (v. 107, no. 1).
2 Coalition for Juvenile Justice Position on Prevention, Prevention: Saving Lives and Dollars, 2002

Positive Youth Development: An Antidote to Violence

The Youth & Violence study of 1,012 Colorado youth reported, “Young people with supportive relationships with their parents, teachers and friends are much less likely to be either victims or aggressors of violence.” By paying attention to young people, encouraging their interests and helping them learn to solve problems constructively—by building their assets—Colorado can make significant inroads into the violence young people experience.

Research shows that the “developmental assets,” or the building blocks of positive youth development identified by Search Institute, have the power to protect against risk-taking behavior and promote positive behavior in youth. The more assets a young person has, the more likely he or she is to make wise decisions and choose positive paths. The Facts listed below are among those reported in the Youth & Violence study.(1) Research from Search Institute(2) illustrates the impact that developmental assets can have on these behaviors.

Just the Facts

FACT: 46% of young people have experienced physical violence in the past month.
ANTIDOTE: Good relationships with adults and peers are key to preventing violence.
ASSETS: Children with more positive adult relationships experience less violence in their lives.

FACT: 17% of young people feel that nobody notices them at home or at school. They are more likely to be victims of violence.
ANTIDOTE: Paying attention to, monitoring and communicating well with young people does matter in the lives of youth, specifically in their experiences with violence.
ASSETS: Youth with more supportive adult relationships are buffered against at-risk behaviors.

FACT: 23% of young people appear to have low levels of self-esteem. There is a connection between self-esteem and violence.
ANTIDOTE: Youth with higher levels of self-esteem are less likely to have been victims or aggressors.
ASSETS: Youth report higher levels of self-esteem when participating in strength-based youth programs.

FACT: 50% of youth feel their parents are there for them.
ANTIDOTE: Parenting matters. What makes a difference is how parents promote problem solving.
ASSETS: Youth learn peaceful conflict resolution skills when their parents communicate well with them and teach and model nonviolent problem-solving.

1Galinsky, G. & Salmond, K. (2002) Youth & Violence: Colorado Students Speak Out for a More Civil Society, The Colorado Trust and Family and Work Institute. For more information, go to www.coloradotrust.org or www.familiesandwork.org.

2Benson, P., Scales, P.C., Leffert, N., & Roehlkepartain, G. (1999) The Fragile Foundation: The State of Developmental Assets among American Youth, Search Institute. For more information, go to www.search-institute.org.

Download a copy of the meeting workbook.
c4kworkbook082802.pdf