By Paul Gorman / Guest Columnist- Marblehead/Swampscott Reporter 
Thursday, September 4, 2003

A national study released last fall reported that American parents, often under daily duress from time, work and financial pressures, more typically choose to "go it alone" instead of seeking support in the crucially important task of raising their children. Only 4 percent reported they had sought help from friends, family and community organizations.

Ironically, 78 percent said that discussing parenting issues with other parents would help, and 71 percent expressed a desire to have trusted adults spend quality time with their kids, the kind of support that can be easily provided and isn't necessarily expensive.

The Minneapolis-based Search Institute, (www.search-institute.org) which conducted the national survey, has also examined why some children grow up with ease while others struggle. They have identified 40 distinct positive experiences and qualities they've labeled "developmental assets" that have a tremendous impact on young people's lives. Their research has shown these critical factors help youngsters make wise decisions, choose positive over negative paths, and develop into competent, caring and responsible adults.

The first 20 developmental assets are characterized as "external" and they focus on positive experiences that young people receive from the people and institutions in their lives. The first of these is support.
Young people need to experience care and love not only from their families but also from organizations and institutions that provide positive and supportive environments. This includes a caring neighborhood, school and support from three or more non-parent adults.

On one level, the developmental assets represent common wisdom about positive experiences and characteristics for young people Yet, while the assets are powerful shapers of young people's lives and choices, too few young people experience enough of them. The average young person surveyed experiences only 18 of the 40 assets. Overall, 62 percent of young people surveyed experience fewer than 20 of the assets. In brief, most young people in the United States do not have in their lives many of the basic building blocks of healthy development.

Peter L. Benson, Ph.D., president of the Search Institute, noted that the results challenge communities "to rally together to build strong families and strong kids."
This fall, the YMCA is making a concerted effort to create more family time for our members, ranging from "Parents Nights" that provide Saturday evening care for children six months to 10 years old, and a break for harried moms and dads, to special events designed specifically for families to enjoy. We are committed to capitalizing on the resources of this organization to create regularly enriching, stress-free opportunities for families to spend time together, and in some cases, for children to spend some time with trustworthy, caring adults. In short, we're taking a two-fisted approach to building necessary developmental assets in our community.
Since 1851, YMCAs have served the ever-changing needs of American families, and today, more than 2,400 YMCAs across the country partner with families to build strong kids and strong communities.
Paul Gorman is executive director of the Marblehead/Swampscott YMCA and can be reached at gormanp@northshoreymca.org.

PDF Documents: Our web site contains several .pdf documents. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, please click here for a free download.