Conference to address youth development

~ Those who attend the March 24 event will review 40 developmental assets.

A not-for-profit educational organization called the Search Institute has identified 40 building blocks for developing healthy, caring and responsible children. Family support, high expectations, engagement in school, integrity, the ability to resolve conflict peacefully, and self-esteem are a few of them.

Almost 100 percent of children who have more than 30 of those assets in their lives will avoid illicit drug use, according to the Minneapolis, Minn.-based institute. Ninety-seven percent of children who have more than 30 of these resources in their lives do not have problems with alcohol abuse and 93 percent won't exhibit violent behaviors, the institute claims.

The Community Caring Council and United Way of Southeast Missouri have adopted the 40 developmental asset-initiative in an effort to foster positive youth development in the community. For more than a year, a youth development committee has been working toward a community-wide goal -- to prepare young people to be responsible, productive, healthy and happy residents.

On March 24, the Community Caring Council will sponsor its 17th annual THRIVE Conference, focusing on three issues -- what assets are lacking in youth development, what asset-building techniques are already in motion and what can be done to promote more of these assets in the lives of youth.

"This is really an exciting opportunity for community members from all walks of life to become involved with the youth and the future of our community," said Denise Stewart, co-chair of the committee.

Area youths surveyed

The Search Institute has surveyed Cape Girardeau and Jackson seventh- and eighth-graders to determine which assets are lacking in their lives. The results will be released at the conference.

Stewart said certain findings of the survey surprised her. "The responses are not terrible. They're reflective of national trends," she said. "But I believe the results will be a wake-up call for our community to become more involved with our youth."

Sue Allen, leadership trainer with the Search Institute, said families and schools can benefit by knowing what will help children succeed in life.

"By learning to view our actions as assets we can begin to intentionally do small things every day that make a difference in kids' lives," Allen said. "And this will make a big difference in the present and future health and vitality of our communities."

Tom Davisson, executive director for the Community Caring Council, said churches or youth-serving organizations already build these assets in local young people. But the mission of the youth development committee is to make sure every organization, parent, neighbor, business, school -- anyone who interacts with youths in any way -- is on common ground when promoting assets in youth, Kay Azuma, community coordinator for the Community Caring Council said.

"We want to bring together every interested person who is really intent on implementing these assets in our youth," Azuma said.

"We hope to engage as many sectors as possible."

Those attending the conference will be divided into six different sectors -- youth-serving organizations, faith-based organizations, parents/caregivers/neighbors, youth, business and civic leaders/law enforcement/media and schools -- to learn more about the 40 developmental assets.

"Really everyone falls into one of these sectors. We all have interaction with youth," Azuma said.

Building assets

Allen, who will speak at the conference, said community members will gain an appreciation for the ways people are currently building assets in the community. "They will also gain an understanding of the many additional, specific and intentional ways we can build assets with and for young people without taxing our time or budgets," she said.

The conference registration fee includes lunch. The deadline to register is March 15.

For more information, contact Denise Stewart at 334-7741 or Kay Azuma at 651-3747.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246

WANT TO GO?

* What: THRIVE Conference

* When: 8 a.m. Friday, March 24

* Where: Southeast Missouri State University's Dempster Hall