Goals and Objectives :: Goal D :: The Research

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In their book-and-video program Parents Who Care: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families with Teens (Developmental Research and Programs, 1996), J. David Hawkins and Richard F. Catalano, the pioneers of risk-factor research, propose what parents need to do to help their teenage children avoid getting into trouble with drugs, violence, and other problems. Essentially, they suggest the following to parents:

• relate to their children
• identify and reduce the risks to their children's health and safety
• bond with their children to strengthen their resiliency
• work within the family to solve problems
• provide a way for everyone in the family to contribute
• set family policies on health and safety issues
• supervise without invading.

Virtually all of these strategies have at their core the establishmentof family bonds which build resiliency. Young people establish bonds with school, families, and community by contributing to their school, families, and community; by establishing safe and healthy relationships; and by doing well in school. In doing these things, students accomplish the following objectives:

• develop an accurate sense of personal strengths
• increase self-esteem from contributing
• access valuable resources
• increase their abilities
• maintain safety and health.

Another program that supports adolescents' taking action to stay safe and healthy is "Healthy Communities Healthy Youth," an initiative of the Search Institute (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Healthy Communities Healthy Youth "seeks to motivate and equip individuals, organizations, and their leaders to join together in nurturing competent, caring, and responsible children and adolescents." The bedrock of the initiative is the "Developmental Assets for Youth" identified in a study of more than 250,000 youth across the country conducted by the institute (see Creating Healthy Communities for Children and Adolescents, by Peter L. Benson, Jossey-Bass, 1996). These assets can be considered indicators of positive behavior. The more assets a person has, the more likely the person will remain safe and healthy. Some of the assets relate directly to the goal of taking action:

• "Empowerment" assets (community service)
• "Educational Commitment" assets (school performance)
• "Positive Values" assets (responsibility)
• "Social Competencies" assets (planning and decision making).
• "Positive Identity" assets (sense of purpose)

Both the Search Institute and Hawkins and Catalano are saying that giving students the opportunity and the tools to plan and carry out drug-free, violence-free strategies can be effective prevention.

The Giraffe Project in Langley, Washington, introduces students to "heroes," everyday people like themselves-children and adults alike-who have taken a risk to make people's lives better. Students are encouraged to model themselves after those heroes and ultimately become heroes themselves. Young people benefit by:

• assessing their strengths and limits
• making contributions to their communities
• seeing their friends make contributions

Service learning projects also provide opportunities for students to develop and carry out their goals. Communities benefit from the work done by the young people.