2008 Focus Group Assessment - Dallas Commission on Children and Youth
The 2008 Focus Group Assessment conducted by the Dallas Commission on Children
and Youth serves as a starting point for new strategies to improve the well
being of Dallas area young people.
Two focus groups
sessions comprised of community residents, non-profit organizations and
community leaders (20 percent youth; 80 percent adults), explored critical
issues negatively impacting children and youth, and three key areas of impact on
their lives: 1) school, 2) home, 3) and peer to peer environments.
Summary of key areas:
·
School–the issues of concerns within the school environment are racism and
classism, and the alarming dropout rate
·
Home—the three areas of concern within the home are or were the erosion and change of the
foundational family structure, abuse, and economic adversity
·
Peer—the crucial concerns of the peer environment were "Peer" Pressure and the
lack of positive role models
The Focus Group
Assessment found that there were consistent similarities among all three spheres
discussed and especially between the peer and school environments.
Several solutions
were posed that could alleviate the pressure induced by the hardships. These
include:
·
Initiatives to replicate best practices of successful school models (Magnet and
Charter schools) beginning with elementary schools, could transform those
environments into safer, more productive schools that foster success,
resiliency, and opportunity.
·
To
relieve peer pressure, participation in leadership programs and appropriate
socialization experiences.
Click here to request a full copy of the 2008 Focus Group Assessment
