In the News

Youth Recommend Improvements in Schools

Over the years 2003-2008, the Amy Kohlberg Quinlan Internship Program sponsored by the USF Collaborative for Children, Families and Communities offered teens research-oriented summer internships to study ways to improve the quality of youth development in their communities. As the school year winds to a close, we want to re-cap some of their suggestions for enhancing effective education [more]

Jazz Professor, Composer Awarded One of the Most Prestigious Academic Recognitions in the World

Chuck Owen is the only Guggenheim Fellow in 2009 from a Florida university [more]

The Impact of Caring Adults on Youth Success [read more about it]

America’s Promise is a government funded alliance working towards promoting positive youth development by increasing the awareness of children’s needs and promoting the Five Promises that youth need to succeed. These Five Promises include caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education, and an opportunity to help others. Previous research suggests a link between the presence of the Five Promises in children’s lives and their likelihood of success, both as they are growing up and as adults. More specifically, children receiving at least four out of the five promises are more likely to succeed academically, socially, and civically. The focus of this review will center on caring adults because it would be difficult for children to receive the other four promises without the guidance and support of a concerned and compassionate adult. Moreover, it is hard for many kids be successful without the aid of other adults because they are typically unaware of the opportunities and resources available for them. This is why it is imperative that parents and other caring adults step in to guide them along the right path.

About 20% of young children do not have caring adults in their lives. In other words, one out of every five children lacks a quality relationship with an adult or mentor. Parents, counselors, coaches, teachers, family, and other mentors are extremely crucial in a child’s life because they serve as fundamental resources that lead to receiving the other four promises. Research shows that 8.5 million people are without positive and healthy relationships with their parents and/or other caring adults in their lives. The community can play an integral role in the development of young people by fostering strong relationships between children and positive role models. While more than 40% of youth, ages 6-17, wish they had more caring adults in their lives to whom they could turn for help, unfortunately, only 8% of youth, ages 6-17, have a strong relationship with a mentor, making it a struggle for them to develop positively. As is evident, there are a large number of children who want caring adults in their lives, but often, they just do not have the opportunity to meet the people who are willing to help.

A common stereotype held by many adults is that young people are lazy and apathetic towards their future plans and goals; however, over 90% of children have ambitions and aspirations for themselves, despite the many difficulties and obstacles that block their path. Many teens look forward to finding help from adults for guidance and enjoy the opportunity to be involved in something that they have to work hard for. One of the chief disadvantages that young people face is not having the proper guidance needed to steer them onto a path of success. Additionally, they often lack the presence of individuals who can help give them information that they need to make their dreams become reality.  

A common misconception among the general public is that children only need caring parents in their lives. On the contrary, kids need more than just caring parents. America’s Promise operationalizes the term “caring adults” as not only healthy relationships with parents, but also with other adults from various contexts. When researchers asked teens about the types of advice/help they look for from adults whom they trust, the most common answers included school, relationships with friends and family, careers, health, college, money, religion, drinking, smoking, drugs, body development, and dating. As seen from these results, kids have a lot of questions and need a lot of advice about all of the above matters, highlighting the importance of caring adults in the lives of youth  

In sum, caring adults prove to be beneficial for the future outcomes of youth. The importance that mentors play in young people’s lives is certain; it is our job to provide an abundance of caring adults for youth to reach out to. As aforementioned, caring adults can provide the resources that youth need to receive the other four promises from all sectors of the community—including businesses, the government, communities, educators and parents. The burden of fulfilling each of the Five Promises to our community’s youth is on our shoulders.  

References:

America’s Promise Alliance. (2008_a). Every child every promise: Turning failure into Action.

America’s Promise Alliance. (2008 _b). The five promises.

Poris, M., & Carey, G. (2006).The America’s Promise report to the Nation Voices study:

            Research findings. Stamford, CT: Just Kid, Inc.