AUGUST Asset of the Month:

CARING NEIGHBORHOOD

Young person experiences caring neighbors.

The Importance of a Caring Neighborhood

Research shows that youth who reside in caring neighborhoods enjoy higher grades, better self esteem, reduced experience of violence, and less substance abuse. And, caring neighborhoods are safer: a study of 343 Chicago neighborhoods revealed that strong communities where adults are willing to intervene in the lives of youth experience reduced acts of truancy, graffiti, and violence. Other benefits of a strong neighborhood include a greater sense of community, improved mobilization for community action, and easier dispute resolution among neighbors, which create a more desirable environment for everyone regardless of age.

In the Developmental Assets Survey administered in the Palo Alto Unified School District in the Fall of 2010, only 57% of 5th graders, 49% of 7th graders and 35% of high schoolers reported that they feel that their neighborhood is caring. To help raise awareness of this important asset, August is Caring Neighborhood month in Silicon Valley, and in Palo Alto we will be celebrating Caring Neighborhoods.

Here’s a great example. The Blanchard family is showing the Harry Potter movies in the run up to the last installment. What a great way to get to know the kids in your neighborhood and to show them that you care.

“Take advantage of every moment to build assets in every child.”

Adolescent Counseling Services

Empowering teens and their families in our community to realize their emotional and social potential through counseling and preventive education.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

The “We Are Talking” website was developed by a team of doctors, social workers, educators and volunteer teenagers. They are dedicated to providing honest, medically accurate and up-to-date resources for teens.

Palo Alto Youth Council

Palo Alto Youth Council (PAYC) consists of Palo Alto high school students who work closely with City Council to contribute information on issues related to Palo Alto youth.

Developmental Assets

41 Developmental Assets have been identified through research by the Search Institute as the building blocks of healthy development that support young people to grow into healthy, caring and responsible adults.

Gatekeeper Training

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer – three simple steps to help save a life from suicide. Individuals trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression (HEARD)

HEARD’s mission is to enhance collaboration amongst primary care, mental health and educational professionals to increase the community’s ability to respond to adolescent depression.  HEARD is funded by a grant from Lucile Packard’s Children’s Hospital,, Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford Hospital & Clinics.

Student Health Awareness Resources and Education (SHARE)

SHARE’s mission is to foster a collaboration of home, school, and community to ensure for our youth a sense of wholeness and well being, and a clear understanding of the many avenues towards happiness and success.

Palo Alto Drug and Alcohol Community Collaborative

This Collaborative consists of community agencies partnering to reduce underage drug and alcohol abuse and its impact in Palo Alto.

PTA Council

The Council works with district staff, the Board of Education, community partners and PTAs to support students and families of Palo Alto Unified School District to improve education, health and welfare of all children and youth.