Asset Corner #58

SHOW KIDS YOU CARE: Use your ears more than your mouth. October’s Asset Category: SUPPORT Many studies over the years confirm that caring, supportive relationships with adults are critical for raising young people who are healthy and resilient. Support means freely giving young people love, affirmation, and acceptance; surrounding young people with caring families, guardians, friends, teachers, neighbors, and other adults; and helping young people know they belong, are not alone, and are both loved and lovable.

Support Assets Include:
            #1 Family Support – Family life provides high level of love and support. (68%*)
            #2 Positive Family Communication – Young person and his/her parent(s) communicate. (28*)
            #3 Other Adult Relationships – Young person receives support from 3 or more nonparent adults. (43%*)
            #4 Caring Neighborhood – Young person experiences caring neighbors. (37%*)
            #5 Caring School Climate – School provides a caring, encouraging environment. (29%*)
               #6 Parent Involvement in Schooling – Parents are actively involved in helping young person succeed in school. (29%*)

(* The percent of youth who experience or have this asset in their lives.  Data based on an aggregate Search Institute sample of 148,189 students surveyed in 2003. The sample included students in 202 cities in 27 states.)

This column’s focus will be on…..Asset #6 – Parent Involvement in Schooling

Get involved, stay involved
When children start kindergarten, most parents are quite involved with their education. They attend parent-teacher conferences, cheer on their children at school concerts, and proudly display their children’s artwork. But far too often, parents begin to distance themselves from their children’s schooling as the kids grow older. The involvement drops dramatically once young people enter middle and high school—in some respects the most difficult time for young people. Parents don’t have to go to school every day or even volunteer monthly, but it’s important to know what’s going on with their children’s education.

Here are the facts
Research shows that young people are more likely to grow up healthy when their parents are involved in their education. Only 29 percent of young people, ages 11–18, say their parent(s) are actively involved in helping them succeed in school, according to Search Institute surveys. Remember, even if they don’t always show it, young people need your help with school. Check in with your kids to see how they feel things are going with school—and make sure to communicate regularly with teachers as well.

Tips for building this asset
Young people need their parents to stay actively involved in their education throughout middle and high school. If you’re a parent, introduce yourself to your child’s teachers and establish clear, open communication. Attend all teacher-parent conferences, or reschedule a more convenient time if needed. If possible, volunteer in small ways, such as speaking on career day or setting up for a classroom party. Also, talk to your child about school. Ask him or her about current assignments and projects. Be available to help when your child needs it. If you’re a teacher, reach out to parents and engage them as partners in their children’s education.

Also try this
In your home and family: Maintain ongoing communication with your child’s teachers. Call or e-mail to check in every other month—or more often if necessary.
In your neighborhood and community: Join a parent-teacher organization. If your time is limited for volunteering do what you can when you can.
In your school: Offer parents easy, convenient ways to get involved in their children’s education. For example, tutoring students before exams may be perfect for parents who can’t make an ongoing commitment. For parents who miss conferences, try calling them to find out what’s keeping them from attending. See if you can work out a way to get together or by phone discuss their child’s progress.
In your youth program: Offer child care or transportation to parents who need these services to be able to get involved at their child’s school.

ASSET RELATED NEWS
l  The Collab’s  monthly Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled this month for Thursday, October 9th. Also, their Annual Coat Drive is going on now through October 17th. You can drop off new or gently used cold weather coats for our area’s kids and/or new hats & gloves Monday thru Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. And, include adopting a family in your organization’s plans for the holidays. Call the Collab at 440.887.4873 for information about these and other programs/services.

l  If you or if you know of anyone having questions re: the federal health insurance program (Obamacare) or about Ohio Medicaid, visit Parma Health Ministry’s web site at  www.parmahealthministry.org or phone: 440.843.8087. Their Health Care Navigator should be able to help. Remember, the open enrollment period for coverage effective 2015 begins on November 15, 2014.

SHARE YOUR ASSET BUILDING IDEAS AND/OR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSET CONCEPT BY VISITING THE “ASSET CORNER” FACEBOOK PAGE. I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

Visit www.parmacityschools.org/character, www.search-institute.org/assets for more information about the 40 Developmental Assets and ideas for helping young people build them. Or go here  http://www.parentfurther.com/  for great asset-based parenting tips, tricks, activities and ideas.