Connectedness: Fostering Protective Factors for Student Success Cynthia Schiebel Austin, Texas ~

“Thanks for Showing Up” Foundation “Thanks for Showing Up!”

Agenda Risk Factors Protective Factors & Developmental Assets Strategies to increase Connectedness

Leading Research Sources Risk & Protective Factors, Social Development Strategy Developmental Assets™ Center for Disease Control & Prevention: School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth. Positive Youth Development

“American teens can have stronger health and educational outcomes. Increasing school connectedness can make it happen.” ~ Robert Blum MD, PhD

Risk Factors

Community Family School Individual/Peer (Hawkins & Catalano)

Protective Factors

3 Main Protective Factors Caring & Support High Expectations Meaningful participation (Bonnie Bernard, 1991, 1992, 1996)

Social Development Model BONDING *Family-School-Community-Peers* Opportunities Skills Recognition Increased Bonding = Decreased Risk

40 Developmental Assets

40 Developmental Assets™ External Assets (1-20) –Support –Empowerment –Boundaries & Expectations –Constructive Use of Time

40 Developmental Assets™ Internal Assets (21-40) –Commitment to Learning –Positive Values –Social Competencies –Positive Identity

Principles of Asset Building Everyone can build assets All young people need assets Relationships are key Asset building is an ongoing process Consistent messages are important Intentional repetition is important

“Putting it all together…”

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Strategies for Connection

“School Connectedness” …the belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning as well as about them as individuals. CDC: School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth

Factors that Increase School Connectedness Adult Support Belonging to a Positive Peer Group Commitment to Education School Environment CDC: School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth

6 Strategies to Increase School Connectedness decision-making processes family involvement skills positive learning environment. professional development relationships

Improvement Strategies Teach Skills – 4 components Facilitate Discussions – 4 steps Foster Assets – “Great Places to Learn”

Climate Assessments Western Alliance for the Study of School Climate Sample Data Indicators – –Daggett – Learning Criteria – (K-8) & (HS) –Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) TPII – includes risk and protective factors UCLA – New Directions in Student Support California Healthy Kids Survey Search Institute

“Upside-down Snowman”

Next Steps… Influence your “heap” Train/Educate/Support all stakeholders in Strength-Based Approaches Train/Educate/Support Youth in Leadership, Character and Service Learning

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“At a time when the traditional structures of caring have deteriorated, schools must become places where teachers and students live together, talk with each other, take delight in each other’s company. My guess is that when schools focus on what really matters in life, the cognitive ends we now pursue so painfully and artificially will be achieved somewhat more naturally…. It is obvious that children will work harder and do things – even odd things like adding fractions – for people they love and trust.” ~ Nel Noddings