External Assets to share with teachers, children, parents and staff:
Asset 1: Family Support. Regularly call or write parents to give positive messages, and during conferences, start and focus on the positive aspects of the student. Encourage students to attend conferences with the parents and then include them in the discussion or even have the students tell their accomplishments and goals.
Encourage parents to set aside at least one evening per week for family activities.
Offer workshops for parents on positive parenting skills or resources for parents to learn how to do it.
Provide and publicize family crisis hotlines or resources in the community that are supportive of parents like the Parent to Parent Program or the Family Crisis Center.
Additional Resources for Asset Builders.
If you are interested in getting the SEARCH Institute NEWSLETTER sign up and receive the news directly.
Because of the very challenging economic times, many families and children may need more assistance in meeting the basic needs. DPI has created a document, entitled Resources and Strategies to Help Schools Assist Families Experiencing Challenges Related to the Economic Recession. It is designed to help school district staff assist families and unaccompanied children and youth (not in the physical presence of a parent or guardian) access community resources to meet basic needs.
Read the document
The two links below cover a very important development in efforts to prevent and reduce underage drinking. The first link leads to US News and World Report article on a study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (second link). This study of over 6,000 adolescents over a two year period found that ownership of alcohol branded merchandise (hats and clothing on most cases) among “never-drinker” youth was associated with beginning to drink (alcohol initiation) and binge drinking.
US News and World Report article
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Story
This study has both family and public policy implications. Parents can refuse to purchase or provide their children with alcohol branded merchandise. Schools and other youth organizations can adopt (and many have) dress codes or other policies than ban alcohol logoed merchandise. I’m sure all of you can – and should — think of other policies – family, organizational and public that will keep alcohol logoed merchandise out of the hands of youth.
What media advocacy opportunities does this issue offer? Do your local radio stations hand out alcohol branded merchandise to youth at local events? As part of your Parents Who Host Lose the Most or April, Alcohol Awareness Month activities could you ask them if they have a policy about giving alcohol branded merchandise to those under age 21?
back to initiative