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Everyone knows that life today is more hurried and complex than ever before. But the effects of a modern society, as evidenced by recent school shootings and violence, may not be very beneficial to children.
And if families in rural areas think they're exempt, that only kids in big cities have problems, they should think again.
"The use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs is higher in rural Indiana than elsewhere in the state and the nation," said Judge Mike Rush, Whitley County Superior Court, Wednesday in Columbia City. Rush spoke at a joint meeting of the Community and Youth Asset Development committees of Kosciusko, LaGrange and Whitley counties. "We don't have anything to offer these kids until they get in trouble. ..."
Citing health, economic and social impacts on communities, Rush said the most effective way to prevent problems with kids is to build a community effort to reach kids and families that need help.
His remarks were echoed by Judge Charles Pratt of Allen County Superior Court: "One cause of delinquency is the moral poverty in our country because of our culture," Pratt said. "It has to do with an absence of something very essential - an absence of individuals and family members who habituate good conduct in children."
In the past, he said, families and extended family members lived in the same area and all took a hand in raising the family's children. Neighbors watched out for each other and for their kids, and children knew what was expected of them and that adults were available and could be trusted.
Since those conditions no longer apply, he said, the solution today is for communities to establish connections with kids and between families, to improve communications and bring back a sense of belonging.
"We need to see kids not as problems but as ministries to be embraced," he said.
The Search Institute of Minneapolis, Minn., did a long-term study to find out why kids from bad neighborhoods became successful, and kids from good areas turned bad. They discovered, he said, that all kids need approximately 40 developmental building blocks so they will grow into responsible adults.
The 40 assets identified by the Search Institute include strong family support, a community that values youth, adult role models, parent involvement in schooling, high expectations, youth programs and a religious community.
"These are as ancient as moral practices can be," he said.
The hurdle, Pratt said, is that change requires a community-wide commitment to changing the culture, and working together for ongoing change, not just a quick fix.
"Change requires sacrifice, it requires that we give up power to somebody else and be willing to communicate in new ways," he said. "We need to empower parents to create a beautiful child. Or when parents can't, the community can come together and supply a child's needs, not as a problem but as a ministry."
Something as simple as smiling instead of frowning at a teen-ager skateboarding down the street can make a difference in helping kids know they are valued.
The community foundations of Kosciusko, LaGrange and Whitley counties have formed "vision teams" of community members to help build awareness of the 40 assets in each community. Team members will undergo training so they can help others understand the need for positive change and how to help make it happen.
"In time it's going to change the culture," Pratt said, "and it's going to change who we are as people."
