Introduction and Summary

• THE STATUS OF CHILDREN & YOUTH
• THE ROOTS OF RISK
  
• RESILIENT CHILDREN

THE ROOTS OF RISK

All children and youth face some adversity as they grow up; most adjust and thrive. However, research indicates when problem behaviors occur, they often cluster in the same young people. "Those who drink and smoke in early adolescence are thus more likely to initiate sex earlier than their peers; those who engage in these behavior patterns often have a history of difficulties in school. When young people have a low commitment to school and education, and when teachers or parents have low expectations of the children's performance, trouble lurks. Once educational failure occurs, then other adverse events begin to take hold."¹⁶

These problem behaviors have common roots and feed on unfortunate circumstances in children's lives: insufficient parental support and guidance; low grades and schools with low expectations; few opportunities and challenges for growth or contribution and poor and overcrowded neighborhoods. Children facing these circumstances show an inability to resist the influence of unhealthy behavior in peers and are drawn to those who already have become risk-takers.¹⁷

There are ways, however, to prevent such circumstances from mushrooming into damaging behavior. Many experts have identified what children need to grow up healthy, skilled and optimistic. The Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development summarizes the basic conditions children need to successfully complete the transition from childhood to adulthood:

"They must have sustained, caring relationships with adults; receive guidance in facing serious challenges; become a valued member of a constructive peer group; feel a sense of worth as a person; become socially competent; know how to use the support systems available to them; achieve a reliable basis for making informed choices; find constructive expression of the curiosity and exploration that strongly characterizes their age; believe in a promising future with real opportunities; and find ways of being useful to others."¹⁸

In short, children and youth need caring families and communities.