Just When I Needed You: True Stories of Adults Who Made a Difference in the Lives of Young People

by Fisher, Deborah; Hong, Kathryn L.

• ISBN13: 9781574823004
• ISBN10: 1574823000
• Copyright: 2004-07-01
• Publisher: Independent Pub Group

Summary

This thoughtful book should be read by anyone--parents, youth workers, ministers, community leaders, and policymakers--concerned about the future of America's children and the vitality of communities which they love. --Emmy Werner, University of California, Davis, author of Overcoming the Odds Based on research from the renowned Search Institute, this groundbreaking critique of American culture offers practical strategies for uniting and mobilizing communities around a shared vision of healthy development. Peter L. Benson introduces forty developmental assets-building blocks of healthy development. These assets--such as family support, intergenerational relationships, clear and consistent boundaries and expectations, participation in constructive activities, and community focus on values--are essential for all youth, regardless of background. Yet too few young people have these support structures in their lives. To increase assets among all kids, the author provides a compelling vision for a healthy community and specific recommAndations for individual, family and community action.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction: From Peril to Possibility

Bringing Out the Best in All Kids

Developmental Assets: Forty Building Blocks of Human Development

The State of Developmental Assets Among Youth

ExtAnding Assets from Birth to Adulthood

A Call to Action: Twelve Critical Culture Shifts

What We All Can Do

Uniting Communities Around Youth: Seven Essential Goals

From Planning to Harvest: Strategies for Growing a Healthy Community

The Power of One: Engaging Individuals

Crucibles of Care: Strengthening Families

The First Ring of Support: Youth Serving Systems

Uniting the Village: The Role of All Sectors in the Community

Postcript_The Power of Communities

Selected References for the Forty Developmental Assets

Findings from the 1990-95 Assets Sample

The Progression of Developmental Assets from Birth to Age 18

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