The Calvert Crusade for Children (CCC) began to conduct meetings with the citizens of Calvert County in 2008 to discuss issues of concern regarding the positive development of children, youth, and families. This report summarizes the 2009 summit and plans for continuing improvement.

 B.   BACKGROUND

The Calvert Crusade for Children (CCC) was founded in 1998 as the result of a study by Calvert County League of Women Voters (LWV) on children and families in Calvert and the publication of its study, "Children at Risk, A Wake-up Call for Calvert County". The study provided a statistical analysis of the "Indicators of Well-Being in Calvert County" as related to households in the areas of: health and nutrition, substance abuse and youth delinquency. In a review of services in place for infants, pre-school, school age children, teens, and families, the study recommendations included developing strategies to support parents and families by increasing available infant and child care, after school programs, recreational opportunities, youth programs and health, educational, counseling and support services.

At the same time, the National America¡¯s Promise Alliance was formed with General Colin L. Powell as the Chairman. The Calvert County Commissioners designated the CCC as liaison organization with America's Promise. America's Promise calls for families and communities to come together to give all children the support they need to succeed:

¡¤        the presence of responsible, caring loving adults

¡¤        safe places in which to learn and grow

¡¤        a healthy start to a healthy future

¡¤        marketable skills in today's highly competitive, information-based economy

¡¤        opportunities to give back to their communities

From this beginning, the mission of the CCC has been community building and improving the lives of Calvert County children and families. The CCC serves as a catalyst, advocate, and partnership organization that supports the efforts of other local agencies working towards fulfilling the needs of community children and families. On occasion it provides pilot gap programs to children, youth and families.

In addition to the five goals of the America¡¯s Promise, the CCC has added two more unique to Calvert County:

¡¤        Asset Development to County adults and youth

¡¤        Family financial stability

In collaboration with the Search Institute, the CCC is implementing Asset Development into the schools, churches, and communities of Calvert County. The Search Institute, a nationally certified youth prevention program provider, has conducted extensive research on the benefits of the Asset model. Nearly 20 years of study has supported asset development as key in promoting positive development and protecting against risky behavior.

The Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets are ¡°building blocks of healthy development¡­.that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.¡± (Search Institute, 2006.) The more assets a young person has, the better he or she will be able to manage life's problems and avoid unhealthy or dangerous choices.

There is a continuum of age related lists of Developmental Assets, from newborn through high school. While very similar in scope, each set reflects the unique needs and development present within each age group. These building blocks represent a wide scope of traits, characteristics, and skill sets that promote positive development.

The 40 Developmental Assets are divided into External and Internal Assets, and further categorized into the following eight areas:

¡¤        External Assets: Support, Empowerment, Boundaries and Expectations, and Constructive Use of Time.

¡¤        Internal Assets: Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies, and Positive Identity.

Initially funded through a grant in November 2003, from the Calvert County Family Network, the Calvert Crusade for Children offers free training for local groups on how to effectively make a difference in the lives of young people. The training is available to all local groups:  civic, neighborhood, religious, sports, or informal organizations. 

In 2008, the Crusade began to conduct meetings with the citizens of Calvert County to discuss issues of concern regarding the positive development of children, youth, and families. At the 2008 summit, participants brainstormed a list of issues and in subsequent meetings prioritized the list. The 16 highest priority issues, including how neighborhoods could become more engaged in working with youth through Neighborhood Cares, were selected for further discussion and action. The topics of discussion included:

1. What can be done to increase student involvement in in-school and out-of-school time (OOST) activities?
   
2. Discuss opportunities to engage youth and reduce the opportunities for drug and alcohol use.
   
3. Discuss barriers and solutions to greater out-of-school-time youth participation.
   
4. Could there be more cooperation rather than competition between schools?
   
5. How could Facebook, Twitter, and other social network technologies support better information, planning, and action among interested youth and adults in the community?
   
6. How can bullying best be addressed: by youth, by schools, by neighborhoods?
   
7. Discuss ideas for youth services and action in the Calvert community.
   
8. Discuss ideas for increased availability of mentoring resources for school age children and youth.
   
9. Discuss the benefit and effectiveness of high school student peer mediation and training.
   
10. Discuss the benefit and feasibility of high school students as mentors to middle school in peer mediation.
    
11. How can peer discussion groups at schools or other places be organized?
    
12. How can students become connected to labor-intensive action service opportunities?
    
13. What opportunities are available to youth in presentation/discussion types of service?
    
14. What are some marketing/PR ideas regarding children/youth/family services/resources/activity?
    
15. What are some needs/ideas for access to recreation activities for low-income and Housing Authority development communities?
    
16. Discuss how Neighborhood Cares groups of youth/adults could become active in local communities.
    

The group discussions are summarized in Section C of this document, including notes on discussion and brainstorming and action plans to address the issue. Action from the Citizen Summit will continue with a series of meetings beginning on November 17, 2009, leading up to the 2010 summit.

To receive the full 26 page draft report, with discussion topics, ideas and action steps, or to participate in future meetings, click contact us in the orange bar below or email calvertcrusade@chesapeake.net