Huntsville's Promise
Our Children Our Future
|
|
|
|
Asset #3 Other Adult Relationships—A young person receives support from three or more non-parent adults. Teachers, counselors and next-door neighbors all have the potential for reaching out and touching the life of a young person. Children need positive role models in their lives beyond their parents. According to “What Teens Need to Succeed,” parents should not feel threatened by their child’s relationships with other adults. To the contrary, those relationships should be encouraged, for they enhance the parent-child relationship. A young person can start a relationship with adults simply by knocking on a neighbor’s door, volunteering at a local retirement home or talking to a teacher or counselor at school. Those who choose to be mentors are choosing to pass life’s lessons and wisdom to today’s youth. A mentor listens, encourages and cares about the young people in the community. Young people who have mentors are less likely to use drugs, do better in school and have better social skills. The Huntsville community has several organizations and services that can help youth and the rest of the community interact more on a daily basis. An example is the Boys and Girls Club, which has several programs for adults/college students and youth to interact on a daily basis, such as tutoring Elementary and Jr. High Students. Other examples are the local sports leagues and YMCA the City of Huntsville Parks and Recreation Department’s Outdoor Adventure Program and the Boy and Girl Scouts. Each of these provides opportunities for youth to spend time with caring adults outside the family. |
|
Send mail to
Webmaster@huntsvillespromise.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|