To reach the children - @ Issue

Parks & Recreation, Oct, 2002 by Mickey Fearn

The quality of any civilization can be determined by looking at two major factors--the condition of its children and how its citizens use their discretionary time. On the first front, the U.S. is failing. A 1995 study by the National Center for Crime and Delinquency found that:

* Between 1983 and 1992, the rate of juvenile arrest for violent crime increased by 100 percent.

* Juveniles are now responsible for one in five violent crimes.

* Between 1984 and 1995, the number of gun-related murders of juveniles increased fivefold.

* One-quarter of juvenile victims are killed by other children.

* From 1980 to 1992, the number of children who were subjects of child abuse and neglect reports nearly tripled, from 1 million to 2.9 million.

* Between 1950 and 1992, the teen suicide rate tripled.

Also consider that, among developed countries, the U.S. has the most children in prison, the most children subject to domestic violence, the most children hurting and killing each other, the highest child suicide rate and the lowest level of educational attainment.

On the positive side, the possibilities that emerge from combining discretionary time with youth development are endless. The energy, strength, idealism and curiosity of young people combined with time, freedom, mobility and choices present a myriad of challenges for our profession and our society After all, young people are in a constant search for opportunities to achieve independence, feel a sense of kinship and connection, achieve self-esteem and feel power--that is, make something happen or keep something from happening as a direct result of their actions. Their attempts to achieve these ends can be positive, e.g., works of art, computer programs, team accomplishment and community service, or negative, such as violence, self-abuse, gang involvement, vandalism, apathy or lack of achievement.

The traditional approaches we have taken to youth development have resulted in random, non-strategic, noncollaborative approaches that yield uneven and immeasurable results. Our profession is at a real leadership moment, which the author Gary Useem has described as when the complexity of a situation exceeds an organization's ability to facilitate that situation. Useem says that, at such moments, organizations revert to the last learned behavior--reaching into memories for what worked well before.

We must carefully examine our traditional programs and approaches to determine if they're still relevant and effective. Then we must consider creating new approaches to our complex challenges. Developing and implementing programs that have a positive impact on youth development will require professional development, inspired leadership, seamless collaboration with partners and creative approaches to program design, delivery and format. The costs of traditional approaches to youth development are too high to do otherwise.

Mickey Fearn, of Seattle, Wash., is an organizational development consultant who specializes in building productive communities. He has been a recreation and parks professional for more than 35 years. He moderated the forum "Parks and Recreation as Youth Development" at this month's National Congress & Exposition.