The Rural County and 40 Developmental Assets

                In Adair County, Missouri, the poverty rate of the local residents is over 25 percent, which is well above the state average¹.  With such high poverty rates prevalent in Missouri, it comes with no surprise that childhood poverty rates have also soared in rural areas like Adair County.  The inhabitants of this bucolic community, especially the adolescent population, are among the most at-risk populaces in the state regarding health concerns².  In rural counties, this at-risk classification does not stem from the normal stereo-typed “laziness” most associate with indigent populations.  Most of the children living in poverty have parents who work, but work for low wages or struggle to retain unstable jobs and employment.  These conditions have been found to affect a child’s ability to learn, and also contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems³.  Poverty also contributes to poor mental and physical health in adolescents³.  Risks are greatest for children who experience poverty when they are young or experience deep and persistent poverty. 

            According to the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), “the research it is clear that poverty is the single greatest threat to children’s well-being.”  The NCCP emphasizes through effective public policies, social programs, and health interventions even the adolescents at greatest risk can grow into successful, flourishing adults.  Making investments of time, effort, and resources to the most vulnerable children is critical to impacting poverty rates long term³.
            For the youth of Adair County, there are resources available readily available.  The Heartland Task Force (HTF)⁴, a coalition banded together to address community health needs and concerns, provides health resources, education, and promotion to the local community and its youth.  The Heartland Task Force already holds some activities that promote the 40 Developmental Assets and positive youth development.  Some of the community based programs HTF offers to families, youth, and community members include Drug-Free Family/Community Nights at the YMCA and local School Fun Nights, Alternative Activities to Substance Abuse: Family activities like the Daddy/Daughter Dance and Mom/Son Stampede.   These are just a handful of the activities and programs that the Heartland Task Force offers to the Kirksville community to promote the 40 Developmental Assets and Positive Youth Development.

The 40 Developmental Assets were originally created in 1990 to improve the relationships, opportunities, and personal qualities that young people need to avoid risks and to thrive.  The Search Institute identifies the list as:          “40 common sense, positive experiences and qualities that help influence choices young people make      
           and help them become caring, responsible, successful adults. Because of its basis in youth
           development, resiliency, and prevention research and its proven effectiveness, the Developmental
           Assets framework has become one of the most widely used approach to positive youth development
            in the United States⁵.” 

With the resources and knowledge the 40 Developmental Assets list and community building activities HTF provides for Adair County, improvements are bound to be seen. The Heartland Task Force has their work cut out for them but they are already doing a significant amount of work into reducing the substance abuse among the youth of Adair County.  By utilizing positive youth development strategies and the 40 Developmental Assets list the key in making any programs successful is already on the table. 

 

 Sources: 

1.      US Census Bureau (2013).  State and County Quick Facts.  Retrieved on 1/28/13 from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/29001.html.

2.      Missouri Rural Health Biennial Report 2010-2011 (2012).  Department of Health and Senior Services. Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Center for Health Equity.  Retrieved on 1/28/13 from http://health.mo.gov/living/families/ruralhealth/pdf/biennial2011.pdf.

3.      National Center for Children in Poverty (2013).  Child Poverty.  Retrieved on 1/28/12 from http://www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty.html.

4.      Carol Cox Classroom (2009).  Heartland Task Force. Retrieved on 1/29/13 from http://coxclassroom.blogspot.com/2009/02/heartland-task-force.html

5.       Search Institute (2012).  40 Developmental Assets.  Retrieved on 1/30/13 from http://www.search-institute.org/developmental-assets