Helping Kids Succeed – Alaskan Style!

Practical Suggestions for Building Assets in Your Child

Asset # 4- Caring Neighboorhood/Community

	Words of Encouragement A community can lift us up and empower us to achieve our true potential. It can also oppress us. It depends on the spirit of the community. Can you think of the strengths in your community? Can you think of the weaknesses? What can you do to strengthen these weaknesses? Do you support youth in your neighborhood and community? It's as easy as getting to know youth in your neighborhood. When you see them on the street, in a store, or somewhere in the community identify them by name. You can support neighborhood children/youth when they sell raffle tickets, cookies, popcorn, etc. Support them by going to a car-wash that they put on. You can also attend sporting events or school activities and congratulate them on their hard work afterwards. Is this complicated? At first it may be difficult to intentionally notice youth in your community and neighborhood, but after awhile it should become second nature. Just as you enjoy being known by name in your neighborhood and community, so do children and youth. Have you thought of ideas of what you can do? How can you make sure that youth experience caring neighborhood and community where you live?	Research When youth feel support from other adults, neighbors, and citizens in the community they often have lower substance abuse, less exposure to violence, and it will strengthen their connection to school, neighbors and the community. Research also shows: Higher grades, more liking of school, higher IQ score, higher school completion rates, and higher math test scores (Cochran & Bo, 1989; Coon, Carey & Fulker, 1992; Dunca, 1994; Entwisle, Alexander, & Olson, 1994; Wenz-Gross et al., 1997; Werner, 1993) More prosocial behavior and fewer behavior problems (Cochran, & Bo, 1989; Svedhem, 1994) Reduced experience of violence (Levine & Rosich, 1996; Melon, 1992; Sampson, Raudenbush, & Earls, 1997) Less substance use (Hawkins, Catalano & Miller, 1992; Werner, 1993) Fewer feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or depression (Pretty et al., 1994; Thodes, Ebert, & Fischer, 1992) Greater self-esteem, hopes for the future, and cheerfulness (Talmi & Harter 1998) Quote "Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community." - Anthony J. D'Angelo
This newsletter and other asset resources are produced by the Association of Alaska School Boards’ Alaska Initiative for Community Engagement (Alaska ICE) 316 West 11th Street Juneau, Alaska 99801 Tel: (907) 586-1486 Fax: (907) 586-1450 Email: alaskaice@aasb.org