Team Coordinators
Lani Vasconcellos
S. E. District Directors Office
314 S. Broadway, Ste. 101
Ada, OK 74821-1378
580-332-4100
Nancy Dunlap
S. E. District Directors Office
314 S. Broadway, Ste. 101
Ada, OK 74821-1378
580-332-4100
Debbie Richardson
233 HES
405-744-6231
Team Administrator
Glenn Muske
431 HES
405-744-7186
2nd Century Priority Issue: Resilient and Healthy Families
FAMILY RESILIENCY INITIATIVE TEAM
TOP PRIORITIES
The scope of Family Resiliency includes the following five priorities: (1) high risk behaviors in children and youth; (2) child abuse and neglect; (3) quality out-of-school child care; (4) grandparents raising grandchildren; and, (5) serving diverse families. Priority 1, high risk behaviors in children and youth, has been selected as the major priority that the Family Resiliency impact team will address for the long-term program cycle.
Priority 1: High Risk Behaviors in Children and Youth
What is the current situation?
Oklahoma teens engage in several risk-taking behaviors at higher numbers than the national average: smoking, alcohol use, sexual activity, violence and weapon carrying (Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2003). Each year in Oklahoma, over 2,300 babies are born to school-age teens age 17 and under; nearly 8,000 young people quit school before graduating; and, almost 25,000 criminal arrests involve juveniles (OK Kids Count Factbook 2004). In 1999/2000, over 12,000 students and teachers were bullied by students and over 11,900 assaults were committed (OK State Dept. of Education, 2002). It is estimated that almost half of all Oklahoma youth in high school drink alcohol, with nearly 27% drinking before the age of 13; two in five youth (42.5%) have tried marijuana, 11% before age 13; and, nearly 10% have tried cocaine, inhalants, or methamphetamine (YBRS, 2003). A lack of community and parental involvement regarding children and youth is of great concern.
Why is this issue critical to Oklahoma communities?
The many different harmful or unhealthy choices made by families, children and youth can impact long-term productivity, healthy functioning, and costs to the community and state. Research has identified specific assets or protective factors – experiences, skills, relationships, values and qualities - that have a positive influence on young people’s lives, yet the average young person in the U.S. experiences less than half of these critical protective factors (Search Institute). Growing up in a supportive and caring environment reduces the risk of children and youth engaging in destructive behaviors such as premature sexual activity, substance abuse, violence, and delinquency. Providing protective factors in the home and community can help children and youth overcome barriers that place them at risk.
Priority 2: Child Abuse and Neglect
What is the current situation?
In Oklahoma during FY’04, 12,347 allegations of child abuse and neglect were confirmed. Half of the children were under age six. An average of 40 Oklahoma children die due to maltreatment each year (52 in FY’04), over 72% of whom did not live to age two. Neglect is by far the most commonly confirmed form (over 80%), followed by physical abuse (nearly 14%), and sexual abuse (nearly 6%). More than 75% of abuse and neglect occurs in the hands of a child’s own parents, nearly 49% by mothers. On average per month, over 6,900 Oklahoma children were in foster care in FY’05 (OK Dept. of Human Services, 2005). Factors raising the risk of abuse or neglect include single parenting, young maternal age, low education, poverty, unrealistic expectations of children, substance abuse, social isolation, domestic violence, and having a child with disabilities. Many of these factors are particularly high in Oklahoma.
Why is this issue critical to Oklahoma communities?
Children from all communities, races/ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds are affected by abuse and neglect. The way children and youth perceive relationships and appropriate behavior will influence the next generation. Child abuse and neglect shows strong links with drug/alcohol use, teen pregnancy, youth violence, health problems, & academic failure. Approximately 70% of inmates report some kind of abuse as a child, yet Oklahoma spends 5 times more per day on incarceration than on preventing child abuse and neglect. It is estimated that direct and indirect costs associated with child maltreatment cost about $1500 per year per U.S. family. Prevention and early intervention saves on treatment services resulting from maltreatment such as health and mental health care, foster care, child welfare, juvenile facilities, & special education.
Priority 3: Quality Out-of-school Childcare
What is the current situation?
The gap between work schedules of parents and school schedules of students is estimated to be as large as 20 to 25 hours per week and some 35% of 12-year olds are in “self-care” during after-school hours when their parents are working. It is reported that children who take care of themselves for 11 or more hours a week are twice as likely to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. The most common time for youth to engage in sex is reported to be between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. and juvenile violent crime peaks between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Fewer than 12% of all Oklahoma youth (K-12) participate in an after school program and one in four (25%) of Oklahoma’s school age youth (K-12) care for themselves after school without any adult supervision (After School Alliance, 2003).
Why is this issue critical to Oklahoma communities?
Research reports that it is less likely that students will be arrested, take drugs, engage in teen sex, smoke, or drink if they participate frequently in structured activities during non-school hours. Studies have also found that students participating in after school programs increased their math and reading test scores. There is a critical need to expand the number and variety of programs serving youth at greatest risk, to provide supervised and constructive activities during the non-school hours. Communities across the state have identified a need for more positive experiences for youth, especially during times when they are most at risk of engaging in negative activities, those being the three to four hours in the evening after school is dismissed.
Priority 4: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
What is the current situation?
Approximately 67,000 Oklahoma grandparents live in households with one or more grandchildren under age 18. In almost 40,000 (60%) of these households, a grandparent has primary responsibility for raising their own grandchild (Oklahoma is 2nd in the U.S.). More than 113,000 children live in households headed by grandparents or other relatives. Few are temporary arrangements - 53% of these grandparents have assumed primary responsibility for 3 years or longer. The increasing number of grandparents having to raise their own grandchildren may be fueled by teen pregnancy, out-of-wedlock birth, substance abuse, death, disability, mental illness, imprisonment or poverty among the birthparents.
Why is this issue critical to Oklahoma communities?
The majority of grandparents giving care to grandchildren are doing so without legal custody, impacting their legal authority to provide basic needs such as enrolling children in school, obtaining medical care, or making financial decisions. About 1/4 of grandparents providing full-time care live below the poverty level. Most need monetary assistance or other public benefits, yet many programs and laws generally don’t cover grandparents. Research shows that children in these situations are at risk of suffering emotional, psychological, and other problems. Grandparent caregivers are at higher risk that the burdens will lead to mental health problems, isolation, and serious health problems. Raising children late in life places a financial drain on life savings needed for retirement and health care in later years. Further crises may result for the child if their caregiver is incapacitated.
Priority 5: Serving Diverse Families
What is the current situation?
The population of Oklahoma is diverse in many domains including race and ethnicity, economics, education, geography, faith beliefs, and other factors. Most noticeable has been the significant increase in Hispanic families for which Spanish is a primary language. Of Oklahoma children, nearly 10% are African American, 11% American Indian, 1% Asian, 68% White, 3% other single race, with another 7% categorized as being of two or more races. Eight percent of all Oklahoma children are identified as Hispanic or Latino (Oklahoma Kids Count Factbook 2003; 2000 U.S. Census). It is projected that this trend will continue to grow in the coming years.
Why is this issue critical to Oklahoma communities?
Traditional educational approaches and materials used by Cooperative Extension may not be appropriate or effective with some populations based on their cultural orientation and beliefs, language, or education level. The ability of audiences or communities to effectively comprehend educational programs and information may be reduced thereby compromising the benefits from education. Staff may be frustrated due to challenges in recruiting audiences, low participation in programs, or in communication. Cooperative Extension may not be viewed as culturally competent by other organizations, policy-makers or the public. It is critical to provide research-based information that appeals to and supports the diverse population of Oklahoma, and provide the tools county extension educators need to for effective utilization of Family Resiliency programs and resources in their communities.