Executive Summary

State of the Youth Report Youth Development Priorities for Action 2004

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development's State of the Youth Report represents this organization's analysis of the data and information available about youth in this rural area of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After three measurements of the 40 Developmental Assets in schools across the two-county area at the 8th, 10th, and 12th grade levels, significant data was compiled to identify six critical issues that can be used to develop plans of action to build the assets, or strengths, that youth need in areas where they are weak and target risk behaviors that are especially apparent in our youth population. In addition, several key points must be made about the wellness of our youth and the youth environment:

• MANY YOUTH HAVE TOO FEW ASSETS - Too many of our youth report low levels of assets in their lives: 59% (three out of five youth) have 20 or less of the 40 assets, and 17% of our youth (about one in six) report having between 0 and 10 out of the 40 assets.
• THESE YOUTH ARE AT HIGHER RISK - These youth with fewer assets are at much higher risk for experiencing problems such as using drugs and alcohol, being absent from school, or demonstrating violent behavior.
• YOUTH PROGRAMS ARE FINANCIALLY CHALLENGED - Youth-serving organizations in the community are experiencing challenges with funding and don't have all the resources required to serve the many youth that need their programs. During this time when the federal and state government and corporations are cutting back, grant resources have decreased both from government and private sources. In addition, there are a greater number of organizations and programs that are looking to the community to help them meet their financial needs. Many organizations must often make hard decisions about staffing and what programming they can afford. Limited staff and resources are available in most organizations for fund development.
• MANY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES - On the positive side, there are perhaps more programs and organizations than there have ever been to provide asset-building opportunities for young people. From the arts to sports to service opportunities, young people can choose from a wide array of activities through which they can build their assets.

The six priorities identified through this State of the Youth Report will come as little surprise to people who have been involved in the local youth community. They reflect what we know about our youth and what we know about positive youth development. They are areas that can give us high returns for our investments as they will impact multiple assets in young people's lives.

Maintaining Good Health and Healthy Eating Behaviors

There is an epidemic of obesity in our country. Michigan is one of the most overweight states in the nation. Too many of our youth are at risk of health problems while young or as adults because of their physical lifestyle. About one in ten teens are overweight. Only a few teens eat a variety of fruits and vegetables each day (18%), and many youth (40%) drink at least 12 ounces of soda pop daily. Almost of youth don't get enough exercise, and one in ten teens is sedentary. Kids can learn better if they eat a balanced diet and get regular exercise. They also can build lifelong healthy habits that can prevent disease and improve quality of life.

Decreasing Substance Use Risk-Taking Behaviors

In the 2002 survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Marquette and Alger Counties, about one-third of youth reported using alcohol in the last 30 days and about one-quarter used tobacco. While local use rates have declined in all substance areas except inhalants, our youth still use at rates that are somewhat higher than national use levels. Use rates for adults are also high with almost one in four adults reporting binge drinking at least monthly. Drinking and driving among adults is higher locally than at the state or national level.

Increasing Mentoring and Value the Community Places on Youth

Over half of our young people (53%) reported having too few positive adults in their lives. Only one in four youth say that they are given useful roles in the community. In addition, few young people (20%) believe the community values them. Only one in ten plan to stay in Marquette and Alger Counties after they complete their education causing a "brain drain" that is critical to the future of our community.

Improving Youth's School Experience

Our schools are constantly trying to improve while meeting state and national standards. While many students do quite well in school (66% are motivated to do well), there is a significant number that don't do well and reported a less than positive school experience (35% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders are not actively engaged in learning and only 27% of youth reported a caring school climate). School is one of the key environments (along with home and community) in which young people spend a great deal of time and have opportunity to experience many of the assets. Young people's success in school depends on family and community support and encouragement.

Strengthening Family Support and Involvement

While most young people (68%) reported that their families provide high levels of support, communication between parents and teens is not very strong (only 24% reported they communicate positively with their parents and seek their advice and counsel). Only 47% of youth reported their families set and enforce clear boundaries for their youth. Just 31% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders reported their parents are involved in helping their young people succeed in school. It has perhaps never been more challenging to be parents, and many parents feel they have little help in their role of raising their children.

We know that the family is the strongest influence on the development of children. The stronger families are, the more they can do to help their children grow up healthy, competent, and caring.

Enhancing Positive Identity and Social Competency

Two internal assets from the social competency category that our youth rank low in are Planning and Decision Making (30%) and Cultural Competence (35%). Females reported higher than males for both of these assets. Our young people have limited opportunities to meet people from different racial and cultural backgrounds because our communities are so homogeneous. Families, schools, and youth organizations must work very hard to create opportunities if we want our young people to be comfortable in case they leave our area to continue their education or work in a larger community. Additionally, we are concerned that all of the Positive Identity assets (e.g. Self-Esteem and Sense of Purpose) declined in 2002 from the 2000 survey. Females reported much lower self-esteem than males (38% F vs. 48% M).

These six issues provide focus areas that community organizations and schools can focus on to enhance the youth environment and help leverage continued growth in the number of assets our youth possess. Great Lakes Center for Youth Development offers these six issues as recommended priorities and encourages collaborative and individual efforts that address them. It is through intentional efforts that we can best leverage change and improvements. There is much work to be done. For more information or assistance, please contact our office.

Maintaining Good Health and Healthy Eating Behaviors

Discussion

Obesity has become a major health issue in the United States and Michigan with children being one of the important groups of concern. The Michigan Surgeon General reported that, in 2003, medical costs that were related to obesity totaled more than $2.9 billion. One-third of deaths nationwide can be attributed to three key unhealthy lifestyle behaviors: poor eating habits, inadequate physical activity, and use of tobacco. Michigan's children rate near the top of the most inactive and sedentary in the nation. About one in ten Michigan high school students are overweight, and another 15% are nearly overweight. (How do adults fare? About two of three Michigan adults are obese or overweight.) Most Michigan youth don't exercise regularly; few youth or adults eat enough fruits and vegetables each day; and many more youth drink soda pop each day as compared to drinking the recommended amount of milk. Other studies show a growing problem both locally and nationally with too many young people becoming overweight and higher than normal juvenile diabetes rates. Only about half of young people in Marquette and Alger Counties seem to make maintaining good health a priority in their lives according to the 2002 Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey, and this number has been declining.

Rural youth are equally impacted by the abundance of media images depicting extreme thinness as their urban counterparts. Consistent with national trends, local data show both males and females engage in negative behaviors such as bulimia and anorexia in what is seen as an attempt to regulate body weight.

Local youth advocates point to many factors that negatively impact the ability of young people to engage in physical activity on a regular basis and to have access to healthy nutritional foods. One of the most commonly cited barriers to regular physical activity is the long winter experienced in Upper Michigan. Several winter months have an average temperature of 30 degrees or less, and the region receives an average of 250 inches of snow per year. These extreme conditions create a harsh environment for many people for outdoor exercise. While there are many winter sports to enjoy such as skiing and snowmobiling, some are costly. Other factors include a reduction in physical education time allocated by schools, limited access to physical education facilities because of youth transportation challenges, high activity fees, and limited community recreation and exercise facilities.

Factors impacting healthy eating behaviors include limited healthy food choices, reliance on vending machines at schools and other facilities, and the amount of fast food young people eat on a regular basis. Because family is the primary and arguably the most significant socializing system for young people, special attention must be given to the impact family has on providing and influencing proper nutrition and exercise. Equally important is the need for parents and other adults to model positive life style behaviors for their children.

Evidence

Maintains Good Health is one of the eight Thriving Indicators investigated on the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey. Youth are asked to rate themselves on how well they pay attention to healthy nutrition and exercise. From the 2002 survey, only 48% of youth indicate they pay attention to healthy nutrition and exercise.

Currently, little data exists locally about specific youth exercise and eating behaviors. However, Michigan data has been collected (including the Upper Peninsula) through the Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Survey given to 9th through 12th graders. In 2003, most Michigan youth (74%) reported not doing moderate exercise at least 30 minutes, five days a week, the recommended amount. Few youth (18%) or adults (10% in Marquette County — Marquette County Health Department 2000 Shape Survey) are eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Many more youth (40%) drink at least 12 ounces of soda pop each day as compared to (16%) who drink three or more glasses of milk each day. Boys drank more soda pop than girls (45% vs. 35%), and boys drank more milk than girls (19% vs. 12%). Almost half of youth (46%) reported they were trying to lose weight. Over one-third of youth (39%) participate in physical education classes at school one or more days during the average week, and 11% of youth participated in no moderate or vigorous physical activity in the past seven days when they were surveyed.

Future Areas of Inquiry

There are many topic areas that should be investigated in order to design appropriate primary prevention and intervention projects for young people in this area. In the area of physical exercise, the community needs to gain a better understanding of the amount and types of exercise young people are currently engaged in. It would also be helpful to understand the current barriers young people face in accessing physical education and recreation facilities and programs. Obtaining additional information about the eating patterns of young people by grade and gender would also be helpful. For example, collecting information regarding how many fruits and vegetable vs. junk food servings youth consume on a particular day and if they have tried to restrict their eating habits in an attempt to lose weight.

Action Areas and Vehicles

The Active Living workgroup has taken on the agenda to advocate for and implement community change that will facilitate exercise and healthy eating behaviors. This group is currently studying positive changes that could occur within families, schools, and the greater community. With the Marquette County Health Department, the group promoted two exercise and one nutrition program in the last two years: StepUp, an eight-week pedometer walking program; Get Moving U.P.; and Eat 5 that promoted eating five fruits and vegetables every day. The Cool Cities Initiative has been established to keep and attract young people to the area and also to bolster economic development. The work through the Cool Cities Initiative could lead to physical changes in the community that would positively impact the ability of young people to exercise.

Many schools are interested in considering new ideas and ways of doing business that will lead to an enhanced school climate and healthy outcomes for youth. Schools can do simple things like making fruit choices available throughout the day, limiting the times youth are allowed to use vending machines for pop and snack food, increasing the healthy choices available in school vending machines, and creating an atmosphere to facilitate exercise and nutrition for all students.

Parents need to make healthy foods a priority by encouraging young people to eat more fruits and vegetables while limiting the intake of soda pop and sugary snack foods. Watching grocery purchases can help. Also, parents can teach children to read food labels to promote choices that provide good nutrition and not just empty calories. Parents can build more servings of healthy foods into at-home meals and suggest choosing more fruits, vegetables, and dairy products when eating out. Parents can make sure all children begin the day with a healthy breakfast.

Families can make exercise and vigorous activities a priority for all family members such as walking, rollerblading, or riding bikes together. Get everyone involved in raking leaves, planting flowers, or washing the car. Help your children see that exercise can be fun.

Youth themselves can become more interested in nutrition and exercise. Join a sports team or take up a lifelong sport like swimming or golf. Choose fruit over chips, and drink water instead of soda pop. Eat some vegetables and dip instead of a donut. If young people begin developing healthy eating habits and active lifestyles as children, they have a better chance of continuing these behaviors through their teen years and into adulthood.

Decreasing Substance Use Risk-taking Behaviors

Discussion

Schools, law enforcement, health agencies, and youth-serving organizations in Marquette and Alger Counties have recognized substance use among young people as a critical issue for many years. Since 1997, common data through the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey has been available in the two-county area. In 2002, about one-third of our youth reported using alcohol in the last 30 days, about one-quarter reported tobacco use in the last 30 days, and about one-quarter reported using marijuana at least once in the last 12 months. Ten-percent of our youth reported inhalant use one or more times in the last 12 months in 2002. The rates for alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use rates have significantly declined since the first measurement in 1997, and declining rates of use among teens have also been recognized nationally. Tobacco use has markedly declined from 2000 to 2002 despite still being higher than the national comparative study results. Use of inhalants locally rose from 2000 to 2002 for 8th and 10th graders but dropped slightly for 12th graders. The inhalant use is much higher among 8th graders than 10th or 12th graders.

We compared 2002 Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey local data results to the 2002 National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future report funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. Teens from Marquette and Alger Counties used alcohol in the last 30 days at a slightly higher rate than the national average, and more 12th grade local youth became drunk in the last two weeks than in the national survey. For marijuana, slightly less local 8th graders had used the substance in the last 12 months while more local 12th graders had used it than were reported nationally. Use of other illicit drugs such as LSD and cocaine were slightly lower locally among teens. The local inhalant use was higher than the national use. A greater percentage of local teens smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days than were national study. In 2000, males reported smoking cigarettes at a higher rate than females, and in 2002, the opposite was found with a higher percent of females reporting they smoke cigarettes.

Youth advocates suggest that the Marquette and Alger County area has a culture that is permeated with acceptance and tolerance for substance use behaviors. Strategic work must involve multiple sectors and include a specific communication plan for youth, families, schools, programs, and media.

Evidence

The following local data on substance use is provided based on results from the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey. National data comes from the 2002 National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future report.

Alcohol Use

In 2002, the proportions of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders who indicated drinking alcohol in the last 30 days were 21%, 36%, and 49% respectively. These rates were slightly higher than national reports. Local levels of binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row) were reported at 12%, 23%, and 34% for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders respectively. The 8th grade results were the same both locally and nationally (12%), slightly higher locally for 10th (23% vs. 22%), and the local 12th grade (34%) was significantly higher than the 12th grade national results (29%).

Tobacco Use

Tobacco use among local teens, while dropping from 35% in 2000 to 25% in 2002, still remains high. In 2002, 13% of local 8th graders, 27% of 10th graders, and 35% of 12th graders reported smoking cigarettes in the last 30 days. Females smoked at a higher overall rate than males (27% vs. 22%). Nationally, the averages are lower with 10.7% of 8th graders, 17.7% of 10th graders, and 26.7% of 12th graders reporting smoking in the last 30 days.

Marijuana Use

From 2000 to 2002, marijuana use by local youth dropped significantly from 34% to 27%. Local youth reported a slightly lower use in the last 12 months at the 8th grade level (12%) than national youth (14.6%) and a slightly higher use locally at the 10th (31%) and 12th graders (39%) than the national averages (30% and 36% respectively).

Future Areas of Inquiry

Community leaders are requesting data on the levels of perceived risk young people have of using these substances, how difficult or easy it is to gain access to these drugs, and how wrong youth believe accessing these substances is. Additional research should also involve a literature review of the impact of sectors such as schools, families, and law enforcement on youth substance use behaviors in order to plan and implement ecological interventions.

Action Areas and Vehicles

The Marquette County Substance Use and Violence Prevention Coalition is in place to facilitate community participation in the prevention of violence and problems associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Recently, media campaigns have been implemented both locally and nationally that may be having a positive effect on decreasing the numbers of youth using substances. The coalition uses data and information to design strategies to reduce initiation, regular use, and binge substance use behavior.

Local Parent Networks have become important tools in facilitating communication between families and establishing a common set of values consistent with zero tolerance for substance use. It would be ideal to have Parent Networks in every school community in the two-county area.

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development promotes family support, engaged and involved parents, and family boundaries for youth. Authoritative parenting has been found to be the most effective style to help prevent substance use among youth and other risky behaviors. Authoritative parents are highly involved in their children's lives. They have an open style of communication and talk to their children about not using drugs and alcohol. Authoritative parents model responsible behavior. They talk to the parents of their children's friends to monitor their young people's activities. They help promote healthy activities for youth in the community and in their homes. Authoritative parents encourage their children to do well in school and attend their school and community activities. Other parenting styles include authoritarian parenting (strict and demanding) and permissive parenting (uninvolved and lenient).

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development (GLCYD) will continue to survey young people about their substance use behaviors, perceived risk, and access points. Armed with this information, GLCYD will assist youth-serving organizations in honing prevention methodologies to increase effectiveness while schools and other organizations continue to discourage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. By ensuring youth have many assets, risk-taking behaviors such as alcohol and drug use can be more likely prevented.

There is no question that substance use among young people must be a community priority. However, it is also important for the community to recognize that adult use of substances is also a concern. The Marquette County Health Department 2000 Shape Survey reported that almost one in four (23%) of adults reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks in a row) at least monthly, more than adults in Michigan (18.3%) and nationwide (13.9%). Driving after drinking two or more drinks was reported by 14% of respondents, which was higher than both Michigan (3.6%) and national averages (5%). Nationwide, alcohol is found to be involved in at least half of all deaths caused by motor vehicles.

Increasing Mentoring and the Value Community Places on Youth

Discussion

It is critical for young people to have positive adults in their lives that model healthy, responsible behavior and can offer a young person support. Unfortunately, most young people in Marquette and Alger Counties say they do not have enough of these important adults involved in their lives. Most youth also report parents and other adults do not model positive, responsible behavior. Perhaps tied to the lack of positive adult role models, young people overwhelmingly do not believe adults in the community value youth.

Youth leaving the area upon graduation from high school is a critical issue for the community. Most youth report wanting to leave the area when they graduate. While there is no direct correlation, few youth believe that young people are given useful roles in the community. There has also been a significant decline in the number of school-age youth in the community causing a strain on the economics of school systems and a loss of potential future employees for business. Although youth cite benefits of living in this area such as it is beautiful, it is quiet and peaceful, and their family lives here, the power of what youth don't like about the area may sway them towards leaving. The three top reasons youth dislike the area are: not enough to do, few job opportunities, and it is hard to make money.

Evidence

In 2002, one in four young people believed they are given useful roles in the community; however, almost half of youth (49%) reported participating in community service one or more hours per week. Less than half of young people (47%) received support from three or more adults other than their parents. One in five youth (20%) perceived that the adults in their community value youth. All of these results were slight increases over the 2000 data report, other than youth volunteerism, which showed a slight decline.

By 8th grade, most students have decided they would like to live outside of Marquette and Alger Counties. Approximately, 10% of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students indicated they would like to stay in Marquette or Alger County in 2002 after they graduate (Great Lakes Center for Youth Development survey: Sidebar Survey). Twelfth grade students (61%) were more likely than 8th grade students (48%) to indicate there isn't enough to do. Twelfth grade students were more likely than both 10th and 8th grade students to indicate there are too few job opportunities, and it is hard to make enough money. Overall, females (67%) indicated at a higher rate than males (47%) that there is not enough to do in the area. Males (14%) were more likely than females (7%) to indicate they like everything about the local area.

Future Areas of Inquiry

Marquette County has a task force that is working to increase both formal and informal mentoring opportunities. Two assets tied to mentoring are Youth as Resources and Community Values Youth. Areas where further inquiry is needed include studying the impact of mentor/mentee pairs that perform community service together and researching formal and informal mentoring techniques.

More can be learned about youth out-migration and the things that would help youth feel more valued by their community. New areas of inquiry include entertainment venues, job creation, neighborhood development, and preparation for the job market. The community could also benefit from surveying local young people who have gone away for college to discover if they have intention of returning to the area and identifying the reasons they will or will not return.

Action Areas and Vehicles

The Mentor Task Force is working to create broad-based partnerships within the community to support mentoring, increase public awareness about mentoring opportunities, and develop training to meet the needs of current mentors.

The Mentor Task Force is currently hiring two Vista members received through a grant written by four key partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child and Family Services of the U.P., Project WEAVE, and Great Lakes Center for Youth Development. The Vista members will provide leadership in the community to move forward five major objectives: identifying and securing resources to support the development and sustainability of all mentoring programs; recruiting talented and committed mentors and connecting them with effective programs that serve youth; enhancing mentoring partnerships with business, faith-based and nonprofit organizations, education institutions and government; increasing public awareness about mentoring opportunities, needs, and the positive outcomes associated with mentoring; and providing training and support for mentoring programs.

The loss of the Marquette County Volunteer Center has hit the community hard. The loss of significant organizing capacity, advocacy, and infrastructure to promote and track volunteerism in the community came with its closing. Meaningful volunteer opportunities are needed for young people to achieve positive youth development. One way the community can enhance the quality and quantity of youth volunteer service is through a formal mentoring structure. The Mentor Task Force is designing and implementing a plan to encourage mentor/mentee volunteer opportunities.

Marquette is actively involved in Michigan's the Cool Cities Initiative. Its local committee is surveying Marquette youth to discover what kind of things could be done to make Marquette a "Cool City" for young people. These survey results will be available during the summer of 2004 to the Cool Cities Initiative. Upon review and analysis of the results, community action plans will be developed. The local Cool Cities Initiative is part of a statewide effort coordinated by Governor Granholm to attract young people to the area and spur economic growth.

Parents can help make sure there are other caring adults in their children's lives besides themselves. Formal youth programs can help, such as sports teams, scouting, and arts programs. Parents should get to know the adults involved in these activities and assure their interactions with youth are positive and supportive. Relatives, neighbors, and friends may also provide opportunities for informal mentoring. Try to encourage and help your kids schedule time together with these caring adults. Parents often talk to their children about career opportunities and life goals. Help your teens find opportunities for job shadowing and work experience. Reinforce in them positive work and community ethics. Help them to see the strengths of our community and the opportunities to consider careers here if there is interest.

Improving Youth's School Experiences

Discussion

There appears to be a need to help our communities and schools to make school a healthier environment for young people. From the moment our kids are born, they will begin to encounter a spectrum of experiences waiting for them in our communities. At about the age of three, children begin their formal schooling: first in pre-school, then elementary school, middle school, and high school. The school is probably the most powerful micro-system of influence beyond the family that impacts all young people, and thus, it must be a community priority that our schools are strong, healthy, positive learning environments for all children. But, schools cannot shape children alone. We must remember it takes the whole community. From interactions with teachers, coaches, ministers, and a powerful array of adults, the quality of young people's experiences help shape who they will become. When a young person turns 18, what are the characteristics or qualities that we want them to have learned or gained after walking through the many different experiences offered to them? The answers are consistent: responsibility, a sense of self-worth, a desire to give back to the community, and respect for self and others.

Marquette and Alger County schools are continually in search of new and innovative ways to create welcoming school climates that provide support, empowerment, access to resources/activities, and motivation, so students can achieve. But, there is much more work to be done because only about one quarter of students reported that they believe our schools provide a caring, encouraging environment. Acknowledging that no single organization can do everything that needs to be done for youth, schools are looking for ways to create a more positive environment for youth, families, and school staff.

Evidence

According to the results of the 2002 PSL: AB survey, 27% of youth indicated they experience a caring school climate. We looked at the school-related assets to gain insight into youth's perceptions of their school experience. Sixty-six percent of students reported they are motivated to do well in school, while 52% reported that they cared about their school. The survey results also revealed that 45% of students felt that teachers cared about them while 50% reported that other students cared about them. Only 45% of youth reported that they get a lot of encouragement at their school. The percent of students reporting Caring School Climate has risen from 23% in 1997 to 27% in 2002. While this is a meaningful difference, much work still needs to be done.

Future Areas of Inquiry

There are several overarching subject areas that our schools have shown interest in studying more specifically such as student-to-student relationships, staff-to-student relationships, staff-to-staff support, community support of school programs, family involvement in schools, and access/opportunity for students to be leaders.

Action Areas and Vehicle

Through a partnership with local school districts and the Marquette-Alger Regional Educational Services Agency (MARESA), Great Lakes Center for Youth Development (GLCYD) will continue the assessment of the overall youth environment through the use of the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey. Additionally, GLCYD staff will work with each school to analyze local data and design and implement asset-building programs with pre- and post-survey components.

MARESA is currently facilitating the use of the School Health Index by local school districts to create assessments and action plans for improved asset building and student success. The School Health Index presents eight components of a coordinated school health program: health education; physical education; health services; nutrition services; counseling, psychological, and social services; healthy school environment; health promotion for staff; and family/community involvement. Each of these areas can be developed into its own action plan for service enhancement.

Parents can help by encouraging young people to work hard in school and by assisting them with tough assignments. They can monitor schoolwork and make sure homework is completed and students study. Parents can visit and volunteer at school, attend conference meetings, and meet teachers. They can set school-related goals with their children and work with teachers so students can achieve these goals. Parents can get to know the friends of their children and encourage positive relationships. They can plan vacation activities that expose their children to history, science, and the arts. Parents can look for science practice and lessons in everyday activities. They can take their children to the library, make books available at home, and model reading as a pleasurable pastime.

Strengthening Family Support/Involvement

Discussion

According to a national survey conducted by the YMCA of the USA and Search Institute called Building Strong Families, five key findings were identified that communities should address to improve service for families. Finding #1: A majority of the parents surveyed are going it alone in the vital and challenging task of raising children and teenagers. Most say they don't often turn to their extended families, friends, and community resources for support in parenting. Finding #2: A key resource for parents that is often lacking is a strong relationship with their spouse or partner. The parents interviewed who experience an excellent partner relationship, regardless of whether they are married, are more likely to feel successful and up to the challenges of parenting. Finding #3: Most parents who were interviewed generally feel successful as parents most of the time. They do many things to help their children grow up strong and healthy. Finding #4: Most parents interviewed face ongoing challenges. Finding #5: Many of the things that these parents say would really help them as parents are things that many people can easily do.

The YMCA of the USA convened a forum of family program experts, from both in and outside the YMCA movement, to identify and discuss the critical issues facing families today. They identified 11 critical issues for families: 1) overwhelming options and schedules; 2) diverse and changing structures and demographics; 3) the powerful influence of technology and the media; 4) increasing life expectancy; 5) the challenge of staying healthy and securing health care; 6) a lack of connection and community; 7) the need for parents or guardians involvement in children's education; 8) a widening economic gap; 9) blending and changing gender roles; 10) perceptions of increased violence; and 11) the effects of September 11.

We find the YMCA and Search Institute study to present a comprehensive view of family life today that reflects what many families currently experience. We know that the family is the most important socializing and educational vehicle in a child's life. As a community, we need to support, strengthen, and encourage family involvement and help families in their challenging role of balancing home, work, and community life.

Evidence

According to 2002 PSL: AB survey results, 68% of young people felt their family life provides high levels of love and support. However, a mere 24% of youth indicated they communicate positively with their parents and are willing to seek advice and counsel from non-parent adults. Just 31% of the youth surveyed said their parents are actively involved in helping them succeed in school. Just under half (47%) of youth reported they have clear rules at home and their parents monitor their whereabouts.

Areas of Future Inquiry

The Building Strong Families project poses several possible questions for communities to consider in developing family-friendly experiences. These are wonderful community planning questions we should all consider as we continue to develop our community.

• How can communities actively mobilize parents?
• How can communities effectively create a connected intergenerational community?
• How can communities reach parents and families throughout the year?
• How can communities include parents and families in their planning efforts?
• How can communities become more inclusive at all levels?
• How can communities affirm the current efforts that strengthen families?
• How can communities create innovative ways to meet families' needs?
• How can communities develop supports for parents and families that are meaningful and authentic?
• How can you unite your community in putting families first?

Action Areas and Vehicles

Marquette and Alger Counties each have Family Coordinating Councils that provide a formal infrastructure of agencies and nonprofits that serve children and families. Great Lakes Center for Youth Development will encourage them to make strengthening families a priority. This will provide a formal voice and advocacy for the general population of families. Through this formalized focus, the above nine questions can be investigated. In addition, churches provide important support structures for many families and should be provided more information on positive youth development and families. Parent Networks are wonderful tools to facilitate parent communication across families. These tools develop a shared set of values each family agrees to. Although there are a few Parent Networks in the area, ideally, each school community would have one available.

Most schools encourage parent involvement and promote active parenting. Most youth programs either require or encourage parent participation. Many youth activities in our community would not exist if there weren't parent volunteers. These programs can help by providing parents with positive parenting suggestions, coaching and volunteer guidelines and tips, information about the 40 Developmental Assets, and ways to be involved and supportive.

Parents can take parenting classes offered by their school or by organizations such as Marquette General Health System's Women's and Children's Center. Parents can join Parent Networks in their schools. They can volunteer in their children's activities as leaders and coaches. They can read books about positive parenting and helping youth develop positively. Many churches have good parenting materials they can share with families.

Enhancing Positive Identity and Social Competency

Discussion

Critical to the healthy development of young people is encouraging them to participate in activities and gain experiences that will assist them in obtaining a positive identity and social competencies. From the 2000 to the 2002 survey round, there was a sharp decline in the Positive Identity assets that are so critical to healthy development. Based on survey results, social competencies are also quite low in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade youth. The lowest social competencies are planning and decision making and cultural competence. Planning and decision-making skills are critical for young people to grow and learn how to make good choices that will positively impact them today and in the future. Cultural competence is important so our young people are comfortable with people who are different from themselves, and are knowledgeable about different races and cultures. With so many of our young people moving to other cities and states, we need to help prepare them to be good citizens in more diverse communities and be comfortable wherever they work and live. Our youth are also tomorrow's parents. What they positively learn about diversity will help them be healthier parents and stronger leaders in adulthood. Because our community is not very diverse, we must work very intentionally to help our youth become more culturally competent.

Evidence

2002 Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey results indicated that only 30% of young people feel they have planning and decision-making skills. Females (34%) are much more likely than males (25%) to feel they have these skills. It would be ideal to realize an increase in this asset from 8th to 12th grade; however, there is no meaningful movement by grade. Thirty-five percent of youth reported they have knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds. Again, females (44%) are much more likely than males (25%) to report having this asset. Investigating this data by grade, 39% of 8th grade students reported having cultural competence, vs. 31% of 12th grade students, representing a meaningful decline by grade in this asset.

From 2000 to 2002, there was a considerable decline in all of the Positive Identity assets. These include: Personal Power (49% to 45%), Self-Esteem (49% to 42%), Sense of Purpose (60% to 56%), and Positive View of Personal Future (74% to 71%). In 2002, males were more likely to report having Self-Esteem (48% M vs. 38% F) and Sense of Purpose (59% M vs. 53% F); however, females were more likely to report having Personal Power (47% F vs. 44% M) and Positive View of Personal Future (74% F vs. 67% M). From 10th to 12th grade, there was a meaningful increase in the percent of young people who reported having each of the Positive Identity assets.

Future Areas of Inquiry

Developing cultural competence in a rural area can be very challenging. According to the 2000 census, Marquette County is 96.5% white, and Alger County is 87.8% white. Both counties have small African American and Native American populations as the next highest populations. Other populations represented include Asian and Hispanic at 1% or lower. As we become more of a global society, it is important for young people to become aware of and develop respect for other cultures.

All of the Positive Identity assets have declined from 2000 to 2002. The first level of inquiry is to discover if this decline is consistent on a national level and if it is associated with current and recent historical events, or if it is more localized. Adults and youth alike seem to be experiencing a great deal of stress in their lives. Results of the 2004 Compass Needs Assessment (United Way) identified the high levels of stress as a community priority area. Where is the stress coming from - relationships, economics, isolation, or more global issues?

Action Areas and Vehicles

The Michigan Model of Health Education (a school-based guide for all schools) offers learning opportunities that support the Cultural Competence asset. Its use in the schools provides a vehicle for learning about diversity.

Although some school and youth programs offer lesson plans addressing cultural competence, currently there is not a committee strategically planning and coordinating cultural experiences for youth. An ad hoc committee of interested persons should come together to study this issue and recommend a plan of action to improve cultural experiences for youth. This group could investigate and document current programs and opportunities in cultural competence, identify new programs, and work for the expansion of proven programs in the community.

Parents can seek opportunities for their children to get to know people from different backgrounds than their own. Parents can model tolerance and encourage diverse opportunities for learning in their children's school and youth programs. Parents can talk about diversity and tolerance, look for movies and books that share lessons about other cultures, and take advantage of opportunities during vacation and travel that help young people gain a broader perspective about our country and world. Families can host an exchange student from another country for a summer or school year.

Communities can promote cultural events and support community diversity. Marquette's Sister City programs with Yokaichi, Japan and Kajaani, Finland are excellent examples of how communities can promote cultural understanding. Rotary clubs across the area support international exchange programs, both hosting students from other countries and sending local youth abroad. Local governments, community organizations, and businesses can model and practice tolerance in their policies and practices. The community has a special opportunity to learn about and practice cultural competence because we have Northern Michigan University that attracts both culturally diverse students and international students. We can work harder to welcome young people who may find our community not very diverse and make the opportunity to learn more about them and the communities they come from. We also are fortunate to have opportunities to learn about and support our local Native American culture, both in school and at community events. We need to take the time to recognize this important segment of our community and the gifts of this culture.

The Positive Identity assets need to be addressed. The reduction in these assets may reflect an increase in some risk-taking behaviors such as eating disorders, attempted suicide, and depression. Intervention will require an ecological approach with participation from every sector of the community. The Positive Identity assets can also be improved by aggressively addressing other key issues such as positive adult role models, reduction in substance use risk-taking behaviors, and opportunities to eat healthy foods and exercise. The development of these assets provides opportunities for schools, churches, parents, youth organizations, and others in the community.

Great Lakes Center for Youth Development encourages community organizations and leaders to use these six youth development priorities as opportunities for action and mobilization in the community. By intentionally building assets in youth and addressing priorities, we can continue to improve our youth outcomes and positively strengthen the youth environment. For more information or assistance, please contact our office.

Copyright©2003 by the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development except where noted
Contact Judy Watson-Olson or Karen Thompson at (906)228-8919 with questions/comments
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This page was last updated on Thursday, November 20th, 2008