Na Hoa Hoola - Caring Adults

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Recognize That You
Can Play an Important Role

The proverb “It takes a whole village to raise a child” has been used widely in recent years to remind people of the traditional shared community responsibility for the development of our youth. While it has long made “common sense” that positive, caring adults have a big impact on youth, a growing body of social research is now helping to provide the “scientific evidence” about these effects.

The research has identified important “Risk” and “Protective” factors. When there are more “risk factors,” there is an increased likelihood of drug use, delinquency, and violent behaviors. When there are more “protective factors” present, youth are less likely to be involved with drugs, violence, and other antisocial behaviors.

One of the most respected research studies on risk and protective factors followed a group of children on the island of Kaua‘i over 40 years. The Kaua‘i Longitudinal Research Study has shown that those children who received competent parental care and emotional support in childhood had the most positive outcomes as adults.

Below are two organizations that have recently published findings related to risk and protective factors in youth:


	The Search Institute has developed a list of “40 Developmental Assets”—a set of positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need in order to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. In recent surveys, the Institute found that young people with low levels of developmental assets are two to four times more likely to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. And, more importantly, they have found that children with access to more caring adults are more likely to do well in school and have more friends, and less likely to demonstrate antisocial behaviors. Learn more…


	Child Trends recently summarized a fairly comprehensive list of “what works” and “what doesn't work” among youth programs, with specific reviews of both “School Readiness” and more general “Youth Development” programs. In addition, you can also find a great deal of research information on their website in the topic areas: Child Well-Being, Marriage/Family, Research Methods, and Welfare/Poverty. Learn more…

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