ARLINGTON YOUTH ASSETS & CHALLENGES

Selected Findingsand

Recommendations

ARLINGTON HUMAN

SERVICE PLANNERS

YOUTH ASSETS & CHALLENGES

• Challenge to Have a Home

• Challenge to be Safe

• Challenge to Stay in School

• Challenge to be Healthy

PURPOSE & METHODS

PURPOSE:

• Recognize Assets• Assess Needs• Identify Services• Address Gaps

METHODS:

• Interview Providers and Experts

• Research Data• Listen to Young People• Define Youth: ages 10-20 • Limit Scope

40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS - Search Institute

External Building Blocks

• Family Support• Religious Community• Caring School• Parent Involvement• Youth as Resources

Internal Building Blocks

• Integrity• Honesty• Responsibility• Creative Activities• Positive View of

Future

Assets Promote Positive Values & Protect from Risky Behaviors

Avg. # of Assets: 18

LESS ASSETS =

More Likely To:• Use Alcohol, Drugs

or Tobacco• Be Sexually Active• Choose Violence

MORE ASSETS =

More Likely To

• Succeed in School

• Value Diversity

• Maintain Good Health

Youth Demographics

• 17% increase in AISD enrollment, 1993-1999

• Minority enrollment increased from 34% to 50%

• Enrollment in private, home or charter schools = 10,000+

44,00046,00048,00050,00052,00054,00056,00058,000

1993

-94

1995

-96

1997

-98

1999

-200

0

Students

CHALLENGE TO HAVE A HOME

S ta y a t Th e B rid ge o rw ith F a m ily o r F ire n d s o ro n the S tre e t o r w ith C P S

R u n a w a y/Th ro w a w ayY o u th

L ive in S he lte rso r w ith Frie n d s o r F a m ily

o r in E x ten d ed S ta y M o te ls

H o m e le ss F a m iliesw ith C h ild ren

HOMELESS YOUTH

137914241405

1117

1097979

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Runaways

>AISD Transition Program = 2,700 students in 1999Program for Homeless Families with Children (the McKinney Act)

>Juvenile Runaways - 41% increase, 1993-98

The Bridge Emergency Youth Services - Fort Worth

> Youth Shelter, 20 beds, stay up to 30 days

> Host Home, private home, stay 30 days

> Transitional Living, youth ages 16-17, stay up to two years.

> STAR (Services to At Risk) Program- serves six counties

> Other Services: assessment, counseling, crisis management, family therapy

Living with Friends

> Short-term Solution> Financial Burden> Behavior Problems> Medical Care> Legal Issues - can

become legal guardians

Foster Homes

> 600 children in 1998> 800 children in 1999> Some with emotional

or behavioral issues> More foster care

homes needed> Youth up to age 18

CHALLENGE TO HAVE A HOME RECOMMENDATION

Expand emergency and permanent, safe housing for homeless youth in

Arlington.

CHALLENGE TO BE SAFE

G an g s C rim e V ic tim s P ro jec t S a fe P lace

O ffen d ers /V ic tim s

Truancy = a sense of disorder & leads to more delinquent activity

• 3 in 5 students report skipping school once.

• Truant students admit theft and drug use.– 40% stay at a friend’s home– 37% stay at home– 20% participate in sexual activity– 17% hang out at local businesses– 14% consume alcohol or use illegal drugs– 7% report other criminal activity

Criminal Activity & Gangs• 36% increase in youth

arrests for violent crimes, 1994-97

• 6% increase in youth arrests for property crimes, 1994-97

• 347 youth and 326 adults identified as gang members

Residence of Gang Members

NE21%

NW6%

SW8%SE

65%

Crime Victims

• Youth can be victims and/or perpetrators.

• Prevention or intervention efforts include:– school resource officers at secondary schools – supervised activities at 8 of 10 middle schools– Youth Peace serves victims of domestic or

dating violence (817-460-0606)– Teen Court assigns community service to first-

time offenders (4,894 youth = 148,495 hours)

Project Safe Place

• Network of 43 safe places for youth, includes all– Fire Stations

– Parks & Rec Centers

– Boys & Girls Clubs

– CiCi Pizza Sites

• Counselor comes there• Call 817-335-4673

CHALLENGE TO BE SAFE RECOMMENDATIONS

•Create a community where youth are respected and safe.

•Reach out to youth affected by violence.

CHALLENGE TO STAY IN SCHOOL

D rop ou t R a te A ttrit ion R a te P reven tion E ffo rts

F a ilu re to G rad u a te

Cost of Dropouts

Each year’s class of dropouts cost the State of Texas more than $17 Billion during their lifetimes in direct or indirect economic loses.

-Texas Joint Special Interim Committee on High School Dropouts, 1989

Dropout Rate

Definition: absent without excuse until the fall or failure to re-enroll the following year

AISD longitudinal dropout rate - over six years: 13.6% leave before the senior year– 1 in 10 Anglo students– 1 in 6 African-American students– 1 in 4 Hispanic students

Attrition Rate

Definition: the difference between the same class at the 9th and 12th grade level

Tarrant County attrition rate: 41% fail to graduate from high school– 1 in 3 Anglo students– 1 in 2 African American students– 3 in 5 Hispanic students

Prevention Efforts

Reduce Retention - 80% of dropouts are overage for their grade

Make up lost credit - unexcused absences gain an automatic “F”

Enforce truancy laws -notify parents quickly

Prevention Efforts: Dropout Prevention

Advisory Committee Mentoring or tutoring

programs Truancy Abatement Positive Peer Leaders Venture School self-

paced learning or night school

CHALLENGE TO STAY IN SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS

•Collect accurate data on youth out of school.

•Expand student-centered education programs on all campuses.

•Expand efforts that support youth development and academic success.

CHALLENGE TO BE HEALTHY

D ru g an d A lcoh o l U se M en ta l H ea lth P h ys ica l H ea lth

H ea lth N eed s

AISD Students Using Tobacco or Alcohol in the Last 30 Days-

1998

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

7thGrade

8thgrade

9thgrade

10thgrade

11grade

12grade

TobaccoAlcohol

Prevention / Intervention Efforts

AISD Programs• D.A.R.E. for 6th grade• Cluster Intervention

Specialists (5)

Tarrant Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse hotline:

• 817-332-6329

Treatment Programs• Tarrant Youth

Recovery Campus• Tarrant Community

Outreach• Millwood Hospital• Alcoholics or

Narcotics Anonymous

Mental Health Services

• 1 in 10 children have a serious emotional disturbance.

• 2 of 3 young people with mental illness receive no treatment– Center for Mental Health Services

Services include: UTA Community Clinic, MHMR, Salesmanship Club Camp, Family Service, Center Street Counseling

Physical Health Services

• Clinics immunize & treat respiratory or ear infections, asthma, rashes or STDs

• Barriers:– Lack funds for Rx

– Lack funds for co-pay

– Lack of transportation

– Language barriers

Other Services:• Children’s Health

Insurance Program (CHIP) - up to 200% of poverty; May 2000

• Dental Health for Arlington - clinic and dental screening in 20 elementary schools

CHALLENGE TO BE HEALTHY RECOMMENDATIONS

• Expand accurate data collection, prevention / intervention programs, and treatment services for youth affected by drugs or alcohol.

• Expand affordable and accessible mental health services for youth and their families.

• Examine ways to provide health insurance, prevention programs and accessible, quality physical health care services for youth.

YOUTH FOCUS GROUPS 21 diverse groups

Have a Home Be Safe

-Provide shelter -Prevent assaults

-Give job training -Have a hotline

-Teach life skills -Start crime watches

-Promote safe places -Install cameras

-Reunite families -Assign community service

YOUTH FOCUS GROUPS365 youth

Stay in School Be Healthy

-Tutor or offer help -Offer counseling

-Provide rewards -Work one on one

-Contact parents -Provide information

-Add night school -Arrest drug pushers

-Believe all can learn -Have free health clinics

Common Findings

• Transportation would increase access to services.

• Uniform data collection would identify gaps in services more quickly.

• A hotline or a single resource to call would help both youth and parents, perhaps a 211 or 311 number.

Arlington Human Service Planners

401 West Sanford, Suite 2700

Arlington TX 76011

817-548-9595