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1996 - The Ojai Valley is known for its proactive approach to youth in our community, and in fact, we have become a statewide model. Starting with our Youth Master Plan in 1996 we have been at the forefront of how communities involve teens in positive ways.
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1997 - Out of the Youth Master Plan was born the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation as a non-profit organization. The OVYF soon became part of a statewide demonstration grant to show how youth can become resources for improving community health and well-being (part of The California Wellness Foundation?s Children and Youth Community Health Initiative). Through this grant, the OVYF brought information about the Search Institute?s 40 Development Assets to Ojai. These assets are the basis for Children First.
- 2001 - The Ojai Valley Neighborhood for Learning was born, using the 40 Assets as a framework for ensuring enrichment and support for children ages 0-5 and their families.
- 2003 - In 2003, members of the Ojai Rotary Club met with members of the OVYF and became very excited about the implications of introducing a Children First initiative in the Ojai Valley. They spearheaded the purchase of dozens of copies of The Children First Story that described the successful Minnesota initiative. From their enthusiasm, a local Vision Team was created.
How Does it Work?
Children First is based on the 40 Developmental Assets. These markers of support for children and teens are already alive and well in the Ojai Valley. Child Firsr Initiatives can help us strengthen and extend our committment. They taught through The Neighborhood for Learning in many of our Ojai primary schools to both teachers and sparents. Children First is a road map, an attitude offered to the entire community to partake in the support of our kids.
Take a look and see how many assets you experienced as a kid?
How many can you offer to those youth around you? It?s really quite simple.
The 40 DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETS
Search Institute has identified the following building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Search Institute's research shows that kids who have a lot of assets are more likely to do well in school, and grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible. Kids who have lots of assets are less likely to use tobacco or drugs or be sexually active.
Support
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Family Support - Family life provides high levels of love and support.
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Positive family communication - Young person has positve communication with family, and young person is willing to seek parent(s) advice and counsel.
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Other adult relationships - Young person receives encouragement from three or more non-parent adults.
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Caring neighborhood - Young person experiences caring neighbors.
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Caring school climate - School provides a caring, encouraging environment.
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Parent involvement in schooling - Parent(s) are actively involved in helping a young person succeed in school.
Empowerment
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sCommunity values youth -Young person perceives that adults in the community value youth.
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Youth as resources - Young people are given useful roles in the community.
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Service to others - Young person serves in the community one hour or more per week.
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Safety - Young person feels safe at home, school, and in the neighborhood.
Boundaries & Expectations
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Family boundaries - Family has clear rules and consequences, and monitors the young person's whereabouts.
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School boundaries - School provides clear rules and consequences.
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Neighborhood boundaries - Neighbors take responsibility for monitoring young peoples behavior.
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Adult role models - Parent(s) and other adults model positive, responsible behavior.
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Positive peer influence - Young person's best friends model responsible behavior.
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High expectations - Both parent(s) and teachers encourage the young person to do well.
Constructive Use of Time
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Creative activities - Young person spends three or more hours a week in lessons or practice in music, theatre, or other arts.
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Youth programs - Young person spends three or more hours per week in sports, clubs or organizations at school and/or in community organizations.
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Religious community - Young person spends one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution.
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Time at home - Young person is out with friends "with nothing special to do," two or fewer nights per week.
Commitment to Learning
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Achievement motivation - Young person is motivated to do well in school.
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School engagement - Young person is actively engaged in learning.
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Homework - Young person reports doing at least one hour of homework every school day.
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Bonding to school - Young person cares about her or his school.
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Reading for pleasure - Young person reads for pleasure three or more hours per week.
Positive Values
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Caring - Young person places high value on helping other people.
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Equitable & social justice - Young person places high value on promoting equality and reducing hunger and poverty.
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Integrity - Young person acts on convictions and stands up for her or his beliefs.
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Honesty - Young person "tells the truth even when it is not easy."
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Responsibility - Young person accepts and takes personal responsibility.
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Restraint - Young person believes it is important not to be sexually active or use alcohol or other drugs.
Social Competencies
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Planing & decision making - Young person knows how to plan ahead and make choices.
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Interpersonal competence - Young person has empathy, sensitivity, and friendship skills.
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Cultural competence - Young person has knowledge of and comfort with people of different cultural/racial/ethnic backgrounds.
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Resistance skills - Young person can resist negative peer pressure and dangerous situations.
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Peace sful conflict resolution - Young person seeks to resolve conflict nonviolently.
Positive Identity
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Personal control - Young person feels he or she has control over "things that happen to me."
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Self-esteem - Young person reports having high self-esteem.
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Sense of purpose - Young person reports that "my life has purpose."
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Positive view of personal future - Young person is optimistic about her or his personal future.
Partner Activities
Partnership between The Rotary Club of Ojai, Rotary West and the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation.
The Rotary Clubs of Ojai, both the Friday lunch club and the Tuesday morning West Club joined in partnership with the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation to bring Children First to the Ojai Valley.
All three organizations? boards have passed resolutions committing to spearheading the Children First initiative in the Ojai Valley.
The Vision Team is a group of community leaders eager to introduce and promote Children First. Please feel free to contact us or join us at our next Vision Team Meeting. We would love to see you there!
Call the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation for more information at 640-9555.
The beauty of Children First is that it does not have a lot of structure. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Children First, especially from those in other communities who are working on similar initiatives.
Structure
Vision Team:
Children First has a Vision Team made up of community members. Anyone from the Ojai Valley who is interested in being a part of it, can join. The group discusses how the Children First philosophy should come alive in the community. Members of the Vision Team use their own influence and involvement to move asset building forward in the valley. Vision Team members include parents, students (as young a 4th grade), senior citizens, representatives from congregations, youth serving agencies, neighborhoods, health care, education, business and the city. Those from the Ojai Valley interested in the Vision Team should contact the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation at ovyfinfo@ovyf.org.
Executive Committee:
The management team is responsible for the integrity of the efforts, ensuring Children First is true to its mission. This group is also responsible for funding. Children First does not have bylaws.
Coordinator:
The structure found to work best in St. Louis Park included a coordinator to keep all the activities on track. At this point we do not have funding for this position and a team of volunteers is serving in this capacity.
