Promoting healthy youth

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POCATELLO — Healthy Promises for Healthy Youth, formerly Healthy Pocatello, Healthy Youth, brings together community members who are dedicated to helping local youth and who are concerned about the future of the community.

“As a community, we can all pull together to give all of our children a chance,” said Tracy Beeton, chairwoman of Healthy Promises for Healthy Youth and the administrative assistant for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Regional Director’s Office. “We help promote a safe and healthy environment for the youth. By working with the community, talking to the media, conducting surveys in the schools and organizations, we strive to identify areas of concern and interest and implement change.”

Both national and local studies call attention to high rates of alcohol and other drug use, teenage pregnancy, violence, school failure and depression. HPHY poses the question, why are these rates so high and how can we as members of the community help?

“People are searching for a solution to these problems,” Beeton said. “By implementing and integrating the Development Asset approach outlined by the Search Institute (www.search-institute.org) in our community, we feel we can help build a stronger community and healthier young people.”

One of the first steps is to understand why young people are susceptible to risk-taking and negative pressures.

In 1999 and in 2005, HPHY conducted a survey using the Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Survey.

It plans to conduct the survey again in the 2007-2008 school year. This survey is used to create a portrait of youths and the challenges they face.

The survey is based on the Developmental Asset as defined by the Search Institute. There are two groups of 20 assets. Twenty are external assets and 20 are internal assets. Assets can be broadly defined as building blocks, or rather as a set of resources that help form and strengthen an individual.

External assets identify important roles that families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods, and youth organizations can play in promoting healthy development. Examples include: family support, caring neighborhood and school, parental involvement in school, safety, and positive adult role models.

Internal assets identify those characteristics and behaviors that reflect positive internal growth and development of young people. These assets are about positive values and identities, social competencies, and commitment to learning. The internal assets help young people make thoughtful and positive choices and, in turn, be better prepared for situations in life that challenge their inner strengths and confidence. Examples include: honesty, integrity, self-esteem, responsibility, healthy lifestyle choices, school engagement, as well as reading for pleasure.

The assets are a powerful indicator of behavioral characteristics among youth.

“Although we survey both the positive and the negative, HPHY focuses on the positives and the Developmental Assets in our community,” said Beeton.

The 2005 survey conducted by HPHY using the Search Institute information demonstrated that compared with youth with 31 or more assets, Pocatello Youth with 10 or fewer assets are: 47 times more likely to use illicit drugs, 37 times more likely to be sexually active, 10 times more likely to be depressed or attempt suicide, 46 times more likely to engage in antisocial behavior and 12 times more likely to be involved in violence

“In reviewing the numbers from the survey, we are more determined to find ways to increase the Developmental Assets of at-risk children,” said Beeton. “If you can change the life of one child, you’ve made a difference. And, I encourage everyone in our community who has any contact with youth to review the Development Assets.”

The good news is that everyone can build assets.

“The reality is, no family is perfect,” said Beeton. “Even little changes can make a big difference.”

It’s not just the responsibility of families, schools, social service agencies, or other institutions n though they all have important roles. Whether residents are grandparents, a neighbor, or a bus driver, they can help start building assets today with the young people who live in the community. For more information, call Tracy Beeton at 241-2877.

By Mary Keating-For the Journal 

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