Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Children First Program Touted

RON MATLOCK

Clark County Extension Agent

Staff Chairman

Cooperative Extension Service

Children First, a community-wide initiative to promote the positive development of all its children and adolescents, was launched in Minneapolis, Minn., in 1994. The accent is on unleashing the capacity of people and organizations to make a positive difference. This community is now filled with stories of shaded responsibility and action.

Too few young people grow up experiencing key ingredients for their healthy development. They do not experience support from adults, build relationships across generations or hear consistent mes-sages about boundaries and values. The result is that communities and the nation are overwhelmed with problems and needs in the lives of youth.

Across the nation, hundreds of communities, organizations and in-dividuals are asking what they can do to strengthen young people's foundation of developmental assets. The answer doesn't lie primarily in creating new programs or in hiring more professionals

The primary answer lies in bringing into reality a fundamental shift in thinking from a problem focus to a positive vision. It lies in each and every person reclaiming responsibility for raising young people.

A key to mobilizing to com-munity is inviting existing organi-zations and programs to be part of the network. This doesn't mean they need to collaborate on pro- gramming; rather, it calls on insti-tutions to play their own strengths.

Integrating asset building into a school's mission has tremendous potential for improving educational achievement and the overall effectiveness of schools.

Community-based organizations, such as 4-H, Boys and Girls Clubs, scouts, parks and recreations pro-grams, can have a tremendous impact in young people's.

Most offer structured, challenging opportunities to youth through which they also interact with caring, principled adults. Unfortunately, far too few young people participate in these programs.

Congregations have many qualities that can be significant resources for asset building, including an intergenerational com-munity, programs that promote healthy values and choices and a commitment to service.

Local businesses can approach asset building in many ways. They can become involved in supporting community-wide efforts on behalf of youth. They can also focus on how they support families and their other employees to be involved in asset building for youth at home and in the community.

Virtually every major social movement in this nation has begun with individuals making a personal commitment to addressing a need or a cause in their own lives, in their community, or in the world. Building young people's foundation of assets is not different.

Individuals parents, youth, neighbors, friends, grandparents, and others need to take personal responsibility to contribute to the healthy development of children and adolescents in their community.

If you are interested in learning more call the Clark County Extension office at 246-2281.