Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities and the Wetaskiwin Youth Development Team are sponsoring free family public swims this summer! All free, family swim times are 3 – 5 PM [...]
The 40 Developmental Assets are building blocks that children and youth need as a foundation for a more successful life. Through studies involving hundreds of thousands of young people, the [...]
The holiday season is upon us and many organizations, community groups and local residents are gearing up for a fun-filled holiday season.
It’s time for communities to step up to the plate and involve their youth as one of their greatest resources.
August 7, 2011 in Summer
August 7, 2011 in 40 Assets
The 40 Developmental Assets are building blocks that children and youth need as a foundation for a more successful life. Through studies involving hundreds of thousands of young people, the Search Institute has found that these 40 assets are essential to their success. The Canadian counterpart to the Search Institute is Thrive Canada (www.thrive.ca)
There are External Assets, things others can provide to children and youth, and Internal Assets, things youth and children develop within themselves.
The External Assets are broken down into four categories:
There are also four categories for the Internal Assets:
The average young person surveyed has about 18 out of the 40 assets, but this number decreases as the individual becomes older; from around 23 assets in grade 6 to 17 assets by grade 12.
The Search Institute has found that having more of the 40 Developmental Assets increases the chances of children and youth having positive attitudes and behaviours. Young individuals with more assets are also more likely to succeed in school, value diversity, and maintain good health; while are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, or be involved in sexual or violent activities.
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communties a coalition in Wetaskiwin, The County #10 and Millet, works collaboratively with their sub committee the Youth Development Team. The Youth Development works with schools and agencies to provide awareness, information and activities that promote the development of the assets.
December 10, 2010 in Winter
The holiday season is upon us and many organizations, community groups and local residents are gearing up for a fun-filled holiday season. We all like to share good times with family and friends; however at times, poor choices related to impaired driving can ruin the holiday season.
Most often when we hear the term impaired driving we associate alcoholic consumption and vehicle operation together. Impaired operation of any vehicle can be caused by alcohol, drugs (illicit, over the counter or prescription medication) or by sleep deprivation. Whatever the cause for impairment, don’t do it. Never operate a vehicle, ATV, or snowmobile while impaired.
Impaired driving can happen to anyone at any time and anywhere. Just because you are the responsible citizen who is sober doesn’t mean you can’t be affected by impaired driving. There are countless impaired drivers in Alberta. The Traffic Safety Initiative branch of Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation reports that of all the injury collisions in Alberta in 2006, 4.6% of the involved drivers had been drinking or were judged to be impaired. In the same year, in reported fatal collisions, 23% of all fatalities in Alberta resulted from impaired driving. The majority of these drivers were males under 45 years old.
At home, Wetaskiwin RCMP detachment reports that between January and October 2007 there have been 189 complaints (calls from the public or actual RCMP involvement) for impaired driving related to alcohol. This breaks down to 21 impaired driving offenses per month in Wetaskiwin. As well, the local RCMP reports that in this same time frame, there have been 367 MVC (motor vehicle crashes) within the City of Wetaskiwin. The RCMP have made Criminal Code convictions 36 times this year related to driving offences and have issued almost 1800 enforcement tickets related to driving. These facts are alarming for our small city.
What can you do to help? The responsibility is ours. We can provide mocktails or non alcoholic beverages to party guests, obtain a community group to be the designated driving service for your company Christmas party, offer taxis to your party guests, offer a spare bedroom or sleeping bag to party guests. Your duties as party host extend to being aware of the alcoholic consumption of your guests. Don’t hesitate to contact the RCMP either. They are there to help. As a citizen I would rather make the call to the RCMP about an impaired driver and take the ‘heat’ from a friend or family member than sit in a funeral home or church during the holiday season at a loved one’s memorial.
Enjoy a safe and impaired driving free holiday season. Remember, the responsibility is collectively ours.
December 10, 2010 in 40 Assets
It’s time for communities to step up to the plate and involve their youth as one of their greatest resources. Youth are the future of our communities, our best assets and yet the greatest resource left untapped.
The 40 Developmental Assets promotes empowerment through 4 different assets; one being: young people are given useful roles in the community. And what would be these useful roles?
Young people are strong advocates of their own needs and if invited, surely could find the time to attend a monthly meeting of a drug or crime coalition to be the voice for their peers. As well, ask youth that you know who are athletically talented to work with dry land training, or as an assistant to your coaching or sport instruction.
The volunteer hours available for some youth are plentiful. Why not advertise through your agency for youth volunteers. Reading to the elderly, shelving books at a local library, visiting seniors in various facilities, or working with young people at an after school club or program are many ways to involve youth in your community.
It’s often the old adage of youth’s unwillingness to anything for free, or for an adult coalition or agency to make plans for a community. The youth are our future and they have a voice. Inclusion is the best practice. The next time an event or activity arises in your community, advertise for youth volunteers or youth support at your local junior and senior high schools. Tap into this resource and you won’t regret it!
