Asset Corner #60

December’s Asset Category: CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME 

Help kids find activities that make CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF their TIME. All kids need access to quality programs and activities that enrich their lives, develop their talents and interests, and help them develop healthy relationships. These can include: music, drama and other arts, sports and hobbies, and involvement in a church, synagogue, temple, or other religious community. It’s also important that they spend time at home.

Constructive Use of Time Assets include:

                   #17 Creative Activates – Kids spend 3 or more hours/week in lessons or practice in music, theater or other arts. (21%*)
                #18 Youth Programs – Kids spend 3 or more hours/week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in the community. (57%*)
                #19 Religious Community – Kids spend one or more hours/week in activities in a religious institution. (58%*)
                #20 Time at Home – Kids are out w/friends “with nothing special to do” 2 or fewer nights per week. (51%*)
(* 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 #19 – Religious Community

Meeting the needs of the spirit
Young people involved in a faith community benefit in at least three ways: 1. They are more likely to have positive values; 2. They have strong bonds with people of different ages and interests; and 3. They spend less time experimenting with risky behaviors than those not involved in such a community.

Here are the facts
Research shows that young people who spend at least one hour a week involved in activities within a faith-based organization are more likely to: provide service to others, enjoy youth programs, follow and provide positive peer influence, and exercise restraint when it comes to risky behaviors. About 58 percent of young people, ages 11–18, spend one or more hours a week in activities in a religious institution, according to Search Institute surveys. Providing a place for spiritual growth and exploration could help reduce violence, alcohol and other drug use, and sexual activity among young people.

Tips for building this asset
Faith-based organizations strongly emphasize their ideas of positive values. It’s important for parents to choose carefully. When you find a faith community that supports your family’s values, your kids are more likely to internalize these values and make responsible decisions. Visit various faith-based organizations and include your children in decisions about how and where to be involved. If you’re already part of a faith community, welcome new parents and young people into your organization.

Also try this
In your home and family:
 Include faith and spirituality into your family’s daily life. Choose ways that best fit with your values, traditions, and culture.
In your neighborhood and community: Become an active member of a faith community and help promote the well-being of young people in your community.
In your school or youth program: Avoid scheduling events that conflict with families’ spiritual or cultural commitments. Use a community calendar of events to help with your planning. If your community doesn’t have such a calendar, consider creating one.

ASSET RELATED NEWS 
l  The Collab’s  monthly Mobile Food Pantry is scheduled this month for Thursday, December 11th. Also, call the Collab at (440) 887-4873 by Dec 9th to get in on adopting a family for the holidays. Community response has been great but there are still over 50 kids that you can help by participating in this program.
l  Find out more about how you can volunteer and/or become more engaged in the education of our kids by calling the office of Family and Community Engagement at (440) 842-7022. Opportunities abound and your time, talent, and ideas would be appreciated.
l  If you have a child attending a district elementary or middle school then chances are that school’s business partner hosted a Sunday Bar this past month at which a good percentage of students were recognized for their 1st quarter academic achievements. Thank you to those participating businesses/organizations and congratulations to all those kids so recognized. If you’d like to get involved and/or learn more about this unique program, call the district’s main number: (440) 842-5300 and ask for Kristen Plageman or Erin Gadd, CBS Co-facilitators.
l  A really great “feel-good,” community-wide volunteer opportunity for anyone 16 years of age or older is being planned for June 22–26, 2015. For a hint about this project benefiting our special needs kids visit www.icanshine.org and watch for more information coming soon.
l  The Fourth Annual Parma Peanut Butter Drive on behalf of All Faith Pantry will begin December 1st and will run until the end of the year.  Contact Sean Brennan, President of Parma Council for more details. Council office is (440) 885-8091. Drop off locations will be the Hospital, Parma Libraries, City Hall the Chamber office. Call first to make sure the office is staffed – (440) 843-1700.
l  The enrollment period for coverage effective 2015 is now open, but will end on February 15, 2015. If your group is looking to host an enrollment event or 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.

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.

 

Gene Lovasy

Community Volunteer/Activist

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Volume 6, Issue 12, Posted 10:51 AM, 12.02.2014