Community Caring Council meeting focuses on youth development

~ A not-for-profit group surveyed 620 area students to determine what assets are lacking.

One in 10 Cape Girardeau and Jackson seventh- and eighth-grade students say they've gotten drunk once or more in the last two weeks, according to a survey presented at the Community Caring Council's 17th annual THRIVE Conference Friday afternoon.

The survey by the not-for-profit Search Institute also showed that 5 percent of students admit to using illicit drugs three or more times in the past year and 7 percent claim to have engaged in sexual intercourse three or more times.

But 78 percent of youths in Cape Girardeau and Jackson have good family support, and 73 percent are involved in a religious community. Thirty-three percent of the youths believe the community values them, and 47 percent feel safe in the community.

More than 200 people attended Friday's conference at Dempster Hall at Southeast Missouri State University. They left talking about their new communitywide goal -- to prepare young people to be responsible, productive, healthy and happy residents.

Family support, high expectations, engagement in school, integrity, the ability to resolve conflict peacefully and self-esteem are among 40 building blocks the Search Institute has identified to be important in the development of healthy, caring and responsible children. The Community Caring Council and United Way of Southeast Missouri have adopted the 40 developmental assets-initiative in an effort to foster positive development of the community's youths.

The meeting focused on what's lacking in youth development, what asset-building techniques are already in motion and what can be done to promote more of these assets.

"Today really is all about tomorrow and thinking about how we can become engaged in our youths," said Denise Stewart, chairman of the youth development committee.

Youths with more assets in their lives will be happier, healthier and more likely to succeed in school, Stewart said.

"Everyone in this room has a role to play to help this generation grow up in a positive way," said Sue Allen, a leadership trainer with the Search Institute. "Don't think what's good for you but what's good for generations to come."

The Search Institute surveyed 620 Cape Girardeau and Jackson seventh- and eight-graders to determine which assets are lacking. Survey results reveal area students have an average of 21.6 out of the 40 assets in their lives. The results are reflective of national trends, Allen said.

Almost 100 percent of children who have more than 30 of these assets in their lives will avoid illicit drug use, according to the Search Institute. Ninety-seven percent of children who have more than 30 of these resources in their lives do not have problems with alcohol abuse, the institute claims.

Allen said two-thirds of today's youths engage in risky behaviors. These include drug and alcohol use, sexual relations and exhibiting violent behaviors.

The survey, she said, can be a powerful tool for community discussion about how to improve youth development. She said the community needs to shift from fixing young people's problems to promoting their strengths.

"I think this has been awesome," said Tim Gould with New Vision Counseling. "It really put a perspective on promoting the positives in young people's lives."

Community Caring Council coordinator Kay Azuma said the conference was the beginning of the 40 developmental asset-initiative. The organization plans more events promoting youth development.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

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