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Regarding the story “Being a kid … tougher than it used to be: Allen County children facing more hurdles, studies show” (Sept. 27): We’re an All-America City? How can that be when Sunday’s front-page story said that it is a bad time to be a child in Allen County?
The headline was drawn from statistics compiled by the Indiana Youth Institute. Those statistics demonstrate that the recent increase in poverty poses serious risks for children.
While the economic conditions are matters that must be addressed by policy makers, research tells us that poverty and its effects do not have to dictate a child’s healthy development. The negative effect of poverty on a child can be diminished by the application of strength-based practices.
Over the course of the past 10 years, strength-based practices have grown to be the central component of the services provided to children in Allen County. It’s why this is great place for children to live despite the economy, and it’s why we are an All-America City.
Fort Wayne’s placement in the list of All-America Cities was made possible, in part, because of Allen County’s positive youth development initiative, Great KIDS make Great Communities. Through the efforts of several local leaders supported by the Foellinger Foundation, Great KIDS provides a practical application of the Search Institute’s research on positive youth development. Through training provided by programs such as the Annual Conference on Youth, professionals throughout Allen County began to shift their approach from a treatment that seeks to mitigate risks to one that builds on a child’s strengths.
The idea that treatment and rehabilitative services can be effective by building on strengths rather than tackling deficiencies was and continues to be revolutionary.
Children in trouble and families with challenges are no longer seen as problems to be fixed, but rather as opportunities for “ministry” and care.
Allen County is an early adapter of this practice that has since revolutionized youth services across the country.
As I am invited to teach court-reform practices in other states I am surprised to learn how advanced and child-friendly Allen County continues to be.
When still in a robust economy, Allen County educators received national training on the effects of poverty on a child’s education.
Our county was among the first to provide programs for shelter and treatment for homeless or addicted mothers and their children. We were the first to introduce meaningful reform in child abuse and neglect cases.
Our county commissioners and the County Council joined with Judge Stephen Sims to construct a modern juvenile justice facility. Youth Centers are operational in Fort Wayne, Harlan, New Haven and Monroeville.
Fort Wayne Community Schools, Purdue Extension Service, Leadership Fort Wayne and others host Allen County’s United Youth Summits. New Haven Mayor Terry McDonald’s “Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council” has received state recognition.
And, as Sunday’s article concluded, people in our community are contributing money to counter the economic plight children face. For example, the congregation of Emmanuel Lutheran Church provided the money necessary to purchase school supplies for children at Washington Elementary, one of the schools hardest hit by poverty.
In great part, much of this is happening because the Foellinger Foundation has made a conscious decision to use its resources to promote services for families and children.
That support will again be evidenced as more than 700 local professionals gather today for the 20th year at the Annual Conference on Youth to learn how to better serve the children.
Poverty – like many other tragedies – challenges us. As those who meet at today’s conference will testify, we will stand together, ready to meet that challenge head-on.
We’re a great community for great children, and that’s why we’re an All-America City.
