Bad Behavior Does Not Doom Pupils, Studies Say

By BENEDICT CAREY

Published: November 13, 2007

Two studies could change the way teachers and parents understand children who are disruptive or withdrawn.

Resiliency Skills and Drop-Out Prevention
Every nine seconds, a student drops out of school in America. The most recent studies put our national graduation rate just under 70 percent. Although no single factor predicts drop-out, a new review of the literature by a University of Colorado researcher says considering multiple conditions can help identify those at risk. The paper looks at what’s known about who drops out and why, what factors can help students graduate and what schools can do to curb drop-out.  Fostering resiliency — limiting negative behaviors associated with stress, encouraging skills and relationships to adapt and succeed — can be very effective.

The Greater Littleton Youth Initiative (GLYI) is a large community collaboration that formed after the tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999.

One branch of the GLYI is the Community Suicide Prevention Project (CSPP) formed in 2005 following a request by Littleton Adventist Hospital (LAH) to help address suicide issues in our community. Three to five individuals who have attempted suicide come to LAH’s Emergency Room daily, three of whom are typically young people. The south metro area has the highest rate of attempted suicide within the state of Colorado, and the state of Colorado ranks seventh in the nation for death by suicide.

The State Health Department’s Office of Suicide Prevention recommended two exemplary programs for the Littleton community: The Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program and the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training program (ASIST).

The Yellow Ribbon program provides broad, educational/awareness of suicide for students, staff and anyone in the community whereas ASIST provides specific suicidal CPR skills for staff and adults in the community. These two programs complement each other to ensure a net of prevention by providing both education and needed intervention skills.

In January 2005, Littleton Public Schools implemented the Yellow Ribbon and ASIST programs in Heritage High School as a pilot project. The project was so successful that today the CSPP is in Littleton High School and in all alternative schools. Arapahoe High School and two middle schools will be joining the program in the near future. Success is measured by the number of students coming forward to speak to an adult about suicidal thoughts or feelings, a number that each school has seen increase. The CSPP is funded entirely by Littleton Adventist Hospital through a $150,000, three-year grant.

Littleton Public Schools will be holding Community Suicide Prevention Week for the second year in a row from October 29, 2007 through November 2, 2007. Each school participating in the CSPP will host its own activities, such as student trainings in Yellow Ribbon, poster contests, balloon releases, and distribution of pins and bracelets. Banners will be hung around the community in support of this important symbolic week.

For more information about the GLYI or the Community Suicide Prevention Project, please contact Kay Wilmesher at (303) 795-3721 or at kwilmesher@littletongov.org at the City of Littleton.

Prepared by Kay Wilmesher, Business/Industry Affairs, City of Littleton, October 19, 2007

Teen Read Week: October 14 to 20
Did you know that teens are going to the library more than ever? Two American Library Association studies say teen library use is up.  Now in its tenth year, the American Library Association’s Teen Read Week is the only national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers and other interested adults. This year’s theme is “LOL @ your library.”

Childhood Obesity: Harnessing the Power of Public and Private Partnerships
In just 20 years, the number of children and teens who are overweight or obese has tripled in the U.S. due largely to complex changes in children’s social and physical environments. A new report from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation examines obesity prevention collaborations between state health agencies and health plans in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, and a different type of collaboration in North Carolina. It examines the successes, challenges and lessons learned.

Mat Garcia of Channel 2 News did a story last Friday about the high rate of suicide in the Douglas County/Littleton area. This story includes an interview from our very own Kim Muramoto of Littleton Adventist Hospital (Centura). Centura partnered with the Greater Littleton Youth Initiative in 2004 to try to address the local suicide issue. That project is called the Community Suicide Prevention Project (CSPP).

Here is a link for Mr. Garcia’s story: http://cw2.trb.com/news/kwgn-newsteam-garcia,0,2912269.story?coll=kwgn-home-utility.  Please look for “View Mat’s Stories” at the top right corner of the page, then click on “Teen Suicides Up in Douglas County”.

Anne Powe will be leaving the South Metro Chamber of Commerce this Friday. Thank you, Anne, for your efforts on behalf of greater Littleton youth!  Best of luck! You will be missed!  

Terry McElhaney will be the GLYI representative from the Chamber.  Welcome Terry!  We look forward to working with you.

A remarkable convergence of new knowledge about the developing brain, the human genome, and the extent to which early childhood experiences influence later learning, behavior, and health now offers policymakers an exceptional opportunity to change the life prospects of vulnerable young children, says a new report from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

The report, “A Science-Based Framework for Early Childhood Policy,” integrates new research findings in neuroscience with extensive evaluations of early childhood programs, and provides a highly credible, comprehensive guide for evidence-based policymaking.

 

Beyond City Limits: Cross-System Collaboration to Reengage Disconnected Youth

It takes more than a single agency or public system to meet the needs of disconnected youth and help them reconnect to school, work and the right supports and opportunities. Collaboration among city, school, county and state agencies is essential. This National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families report has eight case studies exploring how city leaders can launch these collaborative efforts — and what makes them work in the long run.

Core Principles for Engaging Young People in Community Change
Engaging young people as partners in community change is a compelling idea — but translating it into effective practice requires focused attention to a range issues. This Forum for Youth Investment paper looks at important but simple principles for research and practice that can help schools, youth groups and community organizations strengthen youth leadership and youth involvement.