By Dianne Cornish, REVIEW STAFF

A partnership of parents, community groups, schools, businesses, churches, agencies and organizations in Flamborough is working together to create a community that supports positive youth development. Banding together under the banner of Healthy Communities – Healthy Youth (HC-HY) Flamborough, the groups have been laying the foundation for the organization for the past two years and are poised to see the initiative take its first steps through an upcoming school survey and the widespread distribution of an information pamphlet that explains what the project is all about.

Waterdown parent Penny Deathe, who has spearheaded the project, said the survey called Attitudes and Behaviours: A Profile of Student Life will present a snapshot of student life in the community and identify the existence or absence of character-building assets that students have. Currently awaiting final approval from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), the 160-question survey will be filled out by students at Waterdown District High School and Grades 7 and 8 students at all east Flamborough public schools.

“Once we have the local information, we’ll know which assets to work on and create,” Deathe said. Developmental assets are the 40 values, experiences and qualities that empower youth to make the right choices in life and succeed.

According to Vanessa Trumpickas, a health promotion specialist with Hamilton public health services injury protection program,  “The more developmental assets young people have, the more likely they are to report patterns of thriving behaviour, such as exhibiting leadership, maintaining good health and succeeding in school.” Another positive outcome, she noted, is that “assets also protect young people from making harmful or unhealthy choices, such as partaking in problem alcohol use, violent behaviour, illicit drug use and sexual activity.”

Hamilton’s public health department, the John Howard Society (JHS) and local school boards have been strong supporters of the HC-HY initiative from the start, Deathe noted. Ward 15 councillor Judi Partridge is also a supporter and has provided half of the funding needed to conduct the survey, expected to take place in February or March. The other half will come from grant money.

Last November, an application was made through the JHS, on the group’s behalf, for funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to pay for two full-time positions and the cost of printing materials.
“As soon as we get the funding, we will launch a campaign in the community to let people know about developmental assets and why they are important to kids,” Deathe said. With funding from Waterdown’s two Rotary clubs, the group has printed 7,000 brochures entitled, Listen, Laugh, Inspire, catchwords on how it intends to engage youth in the project.

MediaBay Creative of Waterdown designed the brochure at no cost to the group. Copies will be sent home with  report cards and distributed by area churches and businesses.

The Waterdown Church Network will sponsor a free Raising Healthy Teens workshop this Sunday (Jan. 29) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. James United Church in Waterdown. Built around the Listen, Laugh, Inspire theme, the workshop will focus on improving relationships with teens in people’s lives. Parents and area residents wanting to learn more about how to help their children and teens succeed are welcome to attend.

The evening will feature a musical performance by 14-year-old singer/songwriter Jaclyn Kenyon of Waterdown.

For more information on Sunday’s event, contact Community Church Pastor Jason Small at Jason@communitychurch.ca. For more on developmental assets, visit www.focusonthe40.ca.