Year in review 2013 - 2014

Dear partners, friends and colleagues,

Thank you for picking up this report and looking it over – even reading it. These are busy times, and it is hard to find the time to sit down and quietly focus, even contemplate, what is at hand. I hope you can do that with this report, and I further hope that it keeps your interest and even energizes you to fully embrace Positive Youth Development! Positive Youth Development of Erie County is a unique and very special transformative initiative based on the 40 Developmental Assets (championed by the Search Institute) that has been developed and implemented right here in our own back yards. We can all be very proud of where we have been and where we are going. You will read about the past, present, and future in these pages. I hope that as you do so, the power of youth jumps out and lets you know how vital our youth and communities are becoming. Youth are our ticket to the future, and it promises to be an excit-ing journey!

We are active throughout Erie County, but we have been particularly focused on Union City for ten years, General McLane schools for seven years, and Strong Vincent High School for two years. Our bold dream is to be fully embraced by every community in Erie County, and to set an example for other communities throughout the United States to follow. Our most intensive work has been in Union City, and we have strong data showcasing our exciting work and our fantastic outcomes! General McLane has been given a number of booster shots of the Assets if you will, and the youth and school personnel have been wildly enthusiastic about embracing Positive Youth Development. Our efforts in Strong Vincent High School are still in their infancy. Even so, we have much to brag about how the students are becoming involved in asset promoting activities and how the overall environment is shining more brightly for everyone involved.

We have indeed accomplished much, and there is so much more to look forward to! I have been involved since the very beginning. Thank you Sister Maura Smith! You started it all! Thank you Diane Wilson! Thank you Margie Loeffler! And others … These are the true pioneers of Positive Youth Development of Erie County. My role changed in early summer 2014 as I accepted an enticing offer from Penn State to retire. Initially I said I was offered a golden parachute, but then Abbe Biebel, our Associate Coordinator for Positive Youth Development in Union City, astutely pointed out that it was not a parachute, but a handshake! Yes, I am not being booted out because of poor performance (like a wealthy CEO!), but rather I am receiving a very nice, modest, thank you offer and enticement to move on. If only I could combine the monetary package of a parachute and the warm fuzziness of the handshake! Alas, I will move on with more money in my pocket and a fine sense of accomplishment. I will still be in the area, and very likely will be involved in some aspects of Positive Youth Development as time goes on. For now, I will focus on my family, woodworking (I will finally get my woodworking shop completed!), farming on our newly acquired farm, cleaning out 28 years of stuff from my time at Behrend, and reading, relaxing, and traveling. For those of you who have been on the journey with me, I thank you with all my being, you have made the journey rich, rewarding, welcoming, and empowering! Carry on!

Sincerely,

Dr. Carl Kallgren

Positive Youth Development of Erie County Positive Youth Development (PYD) has been working throughout Erie County, Pennsylvania for the past nine years to grow capacity to reach as many segments of the community as possible. PYD is a collaborative initiative that utilizes the 40 Developmental Assets framework created by the SEARCH Institute (search-institute.org), which consists of preventative measures or positive experiences as well as personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. The 40 Developmental Assets are the protective factors that have been consistently shown, by research, to buffer youth from risk. The more assets a child has the higher probability that child will not be involved in problem behaviors such as: teen pregnancy, school dropout, substance abuse, delinquency, and violence.

PYD recognizes the need to expand beyond crisis management by promoting strategies that increase youth’s connections to healthy, positive relationships and experiences. There are over 95 community and agency representatives serving on the PYD Executive Board, Advisory Board, and Task Forces. PYD Task Forces lay the groundwork to activate the community sectors to focus on strategies that infuse the 40 Assets into the lives of our youth. Currently there are two sites of intense interest: Strong Vincent High School and Union City School District, staffed with associate coordinators.

Vision:All Erie County children, youth and adults are thriving and productive, creating diverse and successful communities.

Mission:Positive Youth Development of Erie County activates communities to create healthy, caring, and responsible individuals.

SUPPORT 1. Family Support 2. Positive Family Communication 3. Other Adult Relationships 4. Caring Neighborhood 5. Caring School Climate 6. Parent Involvement in Schooling

EMPOWERMENT 7. Community Values Youth8. Youth as Resources9. Service to Others10. Safety

BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS 11. Family Boundaries 12. School Boundaries 13. Neighborhood Boundaries 14. Adult Role Models 15. Positive Peer Influence 16. High Expectations

CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME17. Creative Activities 18. Youth Programs 19. Religious Community20. Time at Home

40 Developmental Assets

EXTERNAL ASSETSThese categories are the external structures, relationships, and activities that create a positive environment for young people.

40 Developmental Assets COMMITMENT TO LEARNING

21. Achievement Motivation22. School Engagement23. Homework24. Bonding to School25. Reading for Pleasure

POSITIVE VALUES26. Caring Values27. Equality and Social Justice28. Integrity29. Honesty30. Responsibility31. Restraint

SOCIAL COMPETENCIES32. Planning and Decision Making33. Interpersonal Competence34. Cultural Competence35. Resistance Skills36. Peaceful Conflict Resolution

POSITIVE IDENTITY37. Personal Power38. Self-Esteem39. Sense of Purpose40. Positive View of Personal Future

INTERNAL ASSETSThese categories reflect internal values, skills, and beliefs that are needed for young people to fully engage and function in the world around them.

Positive Youth Development Task Forces:

Media Task ForceThe Media Task Force implements a comprehensive communication plan to increase the awareness of Positive Youth Development, provides social marketing consultation to all of the PYD Task Forces, and assists in mobilizing the community to “Get Involved” and “Make Connections” with youth to become intentional asset builders. Some of the highlights of the Media Task Force work over the past year include:

• Coordinated PYD Week (1st full week of October each year) • Chose & recognized an individual as an PYD Asset Champion

Parent Task ForceThis task force is comprised of parents and professionals working together to raise awareness and promote Positive Youth Development and those things youth need to grow up to become healthy, caring, and successful adults. The members encourage parents, community members, and schools to use creative ideas as they become intentional asset builders. Initiated Asset Ambassador Program designed as an opportunity for parents to become involved in promoting positive things for youth in their school.

P.E.A.C.E. Task Force (Promoting Empathy and Civility Everywhere)The P.E.A.C.E. Task Force delivers the 40 Developmental Asset message to the community. The primary objective is to create a positive climate among schools, parents, city/county officials, faith-based organizations, and the community at large by utilizing the 40 Assets. Since 2009, this task force has planned and facilitated the Annual PYD Youth Summit, an event that activated hundreds of youth to make a difference in their schools and communities. The youth summit focuses on positive messaging campaigns and bullying reduction.

Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task ForceThe Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force has been successful in bringing various teen pregnancy prevention initiatives to the same meeting to discuss the “common ground” amongst philosophical differences on how to reduce teen pregnancy. Members have also shared best practices and program information to gain a better knowledge of prevention services for the youth of Erie County. The goals of the task force are:

• To implement science-based approaches in schools and youth-serving organizations. • To increase community education and outreach on teen pregnancy prevention using the 40 Development Assets. • To track and share teen pregnancy trends for Erie County (focus on sub-groups who still need improvement). • To involve youth in task force meetings and gain insight and ideas from them for effective strategies for the reduction of teen pregnancy.

Youth Development Organizations Task ForceThis task force serves the needs of the agencies in Erie County that work directly with youth and families. The Youth Development Organizations Task Force is comprised of many local organizations working together to infuse the 40 Assets into all sectors of Erie County, including businesses, colleges, service providers, youth organizations, residential treatment facilities, and many other organizations. The task force meets monthly and has worked hard on raising the level of awareness of the 40 Assets as well as offering training to agencies. Some of the major highlights for 2013-2014 include:

• Maintaining the highly successful “Quarterly Networking Breakfasts”. • Planning and implementing 40 Asset trainings workshops. • Planning the Spark IGNITE Asset Builder Award

Positive Youth Development Task Forces:

Update on Intensive Sites Strong Vincent High School

One of Positive Youth Development’s (PYD) sites of intense interest is Strong Vincent High School in the City of Erie School District. Through financial support from the United Way of Erie County, PYD has placed an Associate Coordinator at this school to focus on reducing truancy, raising school graduation rates, and implementing the 40 Developmental Assets model to create a more positive school climate and reduce school drop out for all students. The Associate Coordinator is responsible for working with students, teachers, administrators and support staff to foster positive relationships and instill hope for the future for students. Positive Youth Development has facilitated this process by creating the following standing committees at Strong Vincent High School:

• Student Advisory Committee • Teacher Advisory Committee • 40 Developmental Assets Training • Community Advisory Board • Truancy Prevention Committee • Parent Advisory Board

One of the ways to keep students engaged in school and graduate on time is to find their “spark“. We do this by implementing activities and events for students to keep them interested and engaged in school until they graduate. Positive Youth Development has developed and implemented the following events and activities in an effort to keep students involved in school and reduce problem behaviors such as teen pregnancy, delinquency, violence, bullying and substance abuse:

• Art Show/Student Annual Art Display • Career Fair • Dare 2 Dream Day • December Fun Day • Earth Clean Up Day (April 2014) • PYD Annual Youth Summit • Student Youth Panel Community Breakfast • SV Book Club • SV Video Club and Tournaments • SV Pep Rally for Positive Music • SV Talent Show/ “SV has Talent!” • SV 40 Assets Marquee (Positive Messaging Sign) • You Make a Difference School-Wide Assembly • 16 Bars Rapping Club/Artist Preparation/Music Studio Recording

Union City Positive Youth Development

The objective of the Union City Positive Youth Development group is to infuse the 40 Developmental Assets and their framework into the School District and community of Union City. Through collaboration between the school district, community service agencies, and community volunteer groups, the Union City PYD group has been able to provide the students from the Union City Area School District with positive, asset building activities. PYD Continually works to lower drop outs and truancy in Union City – In last three years drop outs have been lowered by 72.11% and chronic truancy (those absent 60 or more days) by 87.29%.

Some of the goals achieved:

• Increased connections with area service organizations • Increased asset building activities in the community • Collaborated with area organization on various community asset building events • Data shows an increase in asset levels in categories from baseline year • Positive Messaging Campaign • In fall of 2013 students in grades 6th – 12th took both the Development Assets Profile (DAP) and an Activity Survey. Initial results indicate the number of activities a student participates in or wants to participate in is directly correlated to the number of assets they have. • Decrease in teen pregnancy rates

PYD Networking BreakfastsThe Youth Development Organizations Task Force established Networking Breakfasts as an innovative method to link youth-serving organizations with key stakeholders from around Erie County. Making a connection between youth programs and initiatives with the community is the main objective of the breakfast events. Networking Breakfasts are held quarterly and include three brief agency presentations showcasing their connection to the 40 Developmental Asset model. Participants receive information about local agencies and programs that benefit youth and families from Erie County and are provided networking time to meet new people and organizations that they may collaborate with to benefit local youth. In addition to youth serving organizations, participants attended from other sectors in the community including: law enforcement, juvenile probation, faith institutions, local businesses, higher education, volunteer organizations, and public schools. Over 500 individuals attended the networking breakfasts and many new partnerships were established.

40 Asset Trainings Positive Youth Development of Erie County offers 40 Developmental Asset trainings by qualified staff who have been specially trained by the Search Institute.

The Developmental Assets model is a process, not a program. It is a philosophy of how we should engage and connect youth in our jobs and personal life.

To date, hundreds of community members and organizations from Erie County have received training on the 40 asset model of engaging youth. These train-ings include:

• Essentials of Asset-Building- This workshop is designed to inform individuals about the Developmental Assets framework and motivate them to be effective asset-builders. Anyone can be an asset-builder and this training offers the skills and knowledge to become an effective change agent in the community.

• Building Assets in Schools- This workshop serves to familiarize participants with the relationship between the Developmental Assets framework and school success; and to help participants begin to establish the framework in their school communities. To many educators, this is where the “rubber meets the road” in asset delivery.

Over 900 people in Erie County from many youth-serving and community organizations were trained in the 40 Developmental Asset model. Many individuals involved in the trainings agreed that the 40 Assets are critical when working with youth, or even in their personal lives with their own children.

For more information about upcoming trainings, or to sponsor or host a training, please contact pyd@youtherie.com.

“Thank you - great to get together in a positive environment to help youth and talk about ideas how I can help.” Quote from training participant

Asset ChampionsSince 2007, Positive Youth Development has annually selected a local individual and organization as “Asset Champions” for Erie County. These individuals and agencies have demonstrated outstanding examples of who an asset-builder “looks like” and what an asset-building organization “does”. Award recipients are selected by members of the PYD Youth Development Organizations and Media Task Force and recognized during Positive Youth Development Week annually in October. Individuals have worked hard to build relationships with young people and promote the 40 Developmental Assets model throughout the Erie community.

Previous award winners:

• 2007 Sister Maura Smith • 2008 Susan Hirt Hagen • 2009 Bill Jackson • 2010 Lorri Bland • 2011 Marshall Piccinini and Jack Daneri • 2012 Jason Bishop, PhD & Pearl Jeffries • 2013 Steve Simmeljkaer & Sonya Arrington

Spark IGNITE Asset Builder AwardOrganizations selected infused 40 Developmental Asset language into their programs and services while focusingon building positive relationships with youth.

Previous award winners:

• 2009 Girl Scouts of Western PA • 2010 Crime Victim Center of Erie County • 2011 Union City Area School District • 2012 Mystic Mountain Training Center • 2013 SafeNet and Sisters of Saint Joseph’s (Neighborhood Network Mentor Program)

A special Thank you to The United Way of Erie Countyfor the continued financial support.

How to become an asset builder:Positive Youth Development needs your support. Please let us know how you can help. Why not attend an asset training or join a Task Force?

Special thanks to the PYD’s Media Task Force: - Robert J. Blakely, Chair

- Tammy Bartasavich

- Abbe Biebel

- Karrah Kurpiewski

- Margie Loeffler

- Joe Markiewicz

- Nate Magee

- Traci Teudhope (Honorary Member)

Positive Youth Development of Erie County:

Address: 4909 Jordan Road Erie, PA 16563-1801 • Phone: (814) 898-6297 • Fax: (814) 898-6270

Tammy Bartasavich: tab33@psu.edu or Joe Markiewicz: jhm21@psu.edu • YouthErie.com

YouthErie.org

Positive Youth Development Task Forces: - Media Task Force

- Parents Task Force

- P.E.A.C.E. (Promoting Empathy and Civility Everywhere) Task

Force

- Schools Task Force

- Youth Task Force

o Strong Vincent High School Youth Council

o General McLane High School Principal’s Cabinet

o Union City Peer Educators

- Youth Development Organizations Task Force

- Community Task Force

o Union City Sustained PYD

o Strong Vincent High School PYD Community Advisory Board

- Teen Pregnancy Task Force

Like us on Facebook:facebook.com/YouthErie

Year in review 2013 - 2014