KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - It takes an "upstream" approach with a strong emphasis on positive factors to improve the health of King County's children and youth, says a report issued today by Public Health - Seattle & King County. This preventive approach relies on fostering "developmental assets," the basic building blocks of positive behavior.
"We need to fill children's lives with all kinds of favorable conditions that promote positive values, identity, and behavior" said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "The key is to begin early in a child's life, well before any problems start."
Developmental assets include such things as family and community support, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, and positive values and identity, among many others. These factors are strongly associated with positive or "thriving" behaviors and serve as a buffer for social and economic problems in the lives of youth. The more of these assets that a child has, the better.
"We can all contribute to the health of young people by respecting, supporting, and listening to them," added Plough. "All you have to do is get involved in their lives!"
Public Health's new report, Healthy Youth in King County, points to clear signs of progress (for example, decreasing teen pregnancy and homicide rates); however, disturbing health and behavioral trends among our youth continue.
Key areas of concern
- 25% of 10th graders were drunk or high at school during the past year;
- 10% of high school ninth graders reported being forced to have sexual intercourse;
- One out of six 10th graders sold illegal drugs during the past 12 months;
- More than half of youth reported being harassed because or race, gender, or sexual orientation;
- Nearly 1/3 of households with youth age 13-17 years had a firearm present in or around the home;
- Nearly one in five school-age children and youth attending schools in the Seattle School District lived in households with incomes less than the poverty level.
