Our Prevention Efforts: The goal of the Communities That Care framework is to identify the risk factors and protective factors present in our community. Youth survey data is collected and analyzed.

Wagner CTC has chosen to focus on three priority risk factors:

Low Commitment to School
Low commitment to school means that a child no longer sees the role of a student as meaningful and rewarding. Youth who has lost this commitment to school are at a higher risk for substance abuse, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school dropout and violence.

Perceived Risk of Drug Use
Youth not perceiving the risk of drug use can lead to risk behaviors of substance use and potential violence. According to the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) high-risk substance use can cause lack of school connectedness, low academic achievement, association with delinquent or substance using peers, sexual risk behaviors and mental health issues.

Depressive Symptoms
Communities That Care framework noted that depressive symptoms can be caused by risk in all four domains of community, family, school and peer/individual. Depressive symptoms can be caused by community transitions and mobility; family history of the problem behavior, management and conflict; academic failure beginning in late elementary school; individual/peer early and persistent antisocial behavior as well as constitutional factors. Mayo clinic cites that teen depression is a serious mental health problem that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. It affects how your teenager thinks, feels and behaves, and it can cause emotional, functional and physical problems. Teen depression signs and symptoms include a change from the teenager’s previous attitude and behavior that can cause significant distress and problems at school or home, in social activities, or in other areas of life. Emotional changes can be trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things, as well as low self-esteem. Behavioral changes can be use of alcohol or drugs; social isolation; poor school performance or frequent absences from school; angry outburst, disruptive or risky behavior; self-harm and making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt.

Wagner has chosen two priority protective factors to increase protection.

The two priority protective factors are rewards for Prosocial Behavior, both in the community and in the individual/peer domain. The coalition will be using the Social Development Strategy (SDS) to increase this protection.  The Social Development Strategy an evidence-based framework which organizes protective factors into a simple strategy for action to promote positive youth development.

The Social Development Strategy identifies the following key components to increase protective factors for young people in our community:

Healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior: Young people are more likely to engage in healthy, socially responsible behavior when parents, teachers and the
community around them communicate healthy beliefs and clear standards.
Bonding: Strong, attached relationships with those who hold healthy beliefs and clear standards are an important protective influence. To create these bonds, young
people need:
     Opportunities: Provide opportunities for active participation and meaningful involvement with prosocial others, including families, schools, communities and peer groups.
     Skills: Teach young people the skills they need to succeed.
     Recognition:  Provide consistent recognition and praise for their effort, improvement and accomplishments.

The Social Development Strategy also recognizes the important influence of individual characteristics on the capacity to take advantage of other protective processes.  Characteristics such as positive social orientation, resiliency and intellect can facilitate bonding and, in some cases, can be nurtured by communities and adults.