Columbia Heights Educational Campus

Youth Development

It is well documented in urban settings that the greater the number of risk factors to which youths are exposed, the greater their risk of joining a gang or engaging in substance use and/or other delinquent behavior. Oftentimes the highest risk factors for joining a gang are: a search for love, structure, and discipline, a sense of belonging and commitment, the need for recognition and power, companionship, excitement, and activities, a sense of self-worth and status, a place of acceptance, and the need for physical safety and protection.

The Youth Development Program redirects the lives of these promising youth through use of four evidenced-based practices that enhance their protective factors.

• A Strong Academic Foundation - is directly related to a youth's positive development. As such, additional academic support and instruction time is provided for at-risk youths to improve their grades and overall academic standing young people who successfully participate in and complete education have greater opportunities to develop into reasonable adults.

• Family Strengthening Services - because the family and the community are essential to the development of the child's social, emotional, and physical needs. The program conducts home visits, family counseling, parenting workshops and community referral services to strengthen the family unit. If the family is the source of love, guidance, and protection that youths seek, the aforementioned services eliminate the need to search for these basic needs from a gang.

• Character Education - involves teaching youth about basic human values including honesty, kindness, generosity, courage, freedom, equality, and respect. The goal is to raise adolescents to be morally responsible, self-disciplined citizens. Problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution are also important parts of developing moral character.

• Enrichment and Recreational Programs - such as sports, music, drama, and community activities help build a sense of self-worth and self-respect in young people. Youth involved in such activities are less likely to seek membership in a gang.