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Bainbridge IslandOUR KIDS, OUR COMMUNITYBeyond the Report CardCultivating What Mattersbihealthyyouth.orgPhoto credit: Pete Saloutos
Alcohol usage, anxiety and depression rates among Bainbridge youth arestill higher than we want them to be and can become lifelong challenges.COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSCREATING COLLECTIVE IMPACTThe number of youth reporting a high quality of life continues to decline.COMMONAGENDANOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.Join us in making Bainbridge Island a placewhere the health and wellbeing of our youngpeople are as valued as their academic success.Our youth have great ideas to share and want support in identifying theirauthentic interests. They ask us to celebrate them for who they are, not just whatthey achieve.We are listening. Together we have started a positive youth development movementcalled the Bainbridge Island Healthy Youth Alliance (the Alliance). The Alliance isa collaborative partnership of organizational leaders, teens, parents and teachers,working together to support the conditions that help our children thrive.We are using a Collective Impact approach to “turn the tide” and create a positiveculture change in our community.We focus on fostering eight positive human attributes, providing afoundation for our youth to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives (see page 6).Children and teens develop these positive human attributes when: Community Awareness is raised-Adults know how to support youth and areoffered the education and skills to make a positive difference. Youth Engagement is high-Relationships with adults and peers enable youth tofeel seen, heard and understood. Community Partners connect-Organizations innovate and work togethertoward a common agenda on behalf of youth.We need you!In 2018, we will launch three Community Action Teams (see page 3) and weneed your participation. Please sign up today at BIHealthyYouth.org to receive moreinformation about upcoming events and the formation of our Action Teams.BACKBONESUPPORTORGANIZATION5CONDITIONS IONCollective Impact is a new approachto making collaboration work acrossgovernment, business, philanthropy,non-profit organizations andindividuals to achieve significant andlasting social change.ISOLATED IMPACT VERSUSCOLLECTIVE IMPACTVSUnlike collaboration or partnership,Collective Impact initiatives have acentralized infrastructure – known as abackbone organization – with dedicatedstaff whose role is to help participatingorganizations and individuals shiftfrom acting alone to acting in concert.Bainbridge Youth Services, a 501(c)3non-profit organization, is the actingbackbone organization supporting theinfrastructure of the Alliance.Thank you Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island for your healthy youth leadership andfunding of this report.“The Allianceis catalyzing an Islandmovement where the health andwellbeing of our island youth are asimportant as their academic success.”Marina Cofer-Wildsmith and Anne BlairCo-Chairs, Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance2 BEYOND THE REPORT CARD Bainbridge Healthy Youth AllianceVAL TOLLEFSON,MAYOR, BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
WE ARE BETTERTOGETHEROur Organizational Partners:Bainbridge Artisans Resource NetworkBainbridge Arts and CraftsBainbridge Community FoundationBainbridge DentalBainbridge High School Parent TeacherStudent Organization*Bainbridge Island Historical MuseumBainbridge Island FC*Bainbridge Island Museum of ArtBainbridge Island Police Department*Bainbridge Island School District*Bainbridge Schools Foundation*Bainbridge Performing ArtsBainbridge Public LibraryBainbridge Youth Services*Boys and Girls Club*Carden Country SchoolThe City of Bainbridge Island*Grace Episcopal ChurchHyla Middle SchoolIsland CoolIsland FitnessThe Island SchoolIslandWoodKids Discovery Museum*St. Cecilia’s Catholic SchoolOlympic Performance GroupPeacock Family Services*Psychotherapy Guild*Raising Resilience*Roots of Action*Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island*Varsity Student InstituteWicklund Dental* Member of Alliance Leadership CouncilOur LeadershipThe Alliance Leadership Council,with Alliance Teen Council membersas active partners, provides governanceand oversight of Alliance activities.Joanne Maher, Director, providesstaff support for Alliance activities.Alliance Teen Council Members2017-2018Garrett AicheleRose BandrowskiSpencer BisphamKiera BlackfordJulia FoothLindsay FranznickAvery JohnsonNoelle LipschutzEmma MeaserLauren QuesadaAndres RovatoEmma RussellAnna ScottErica SprottMadeleine SwietlikOlivia ZachariahOur MissionOur collaborative partnership promotes apositive culture for youth from cradle to career,helping every child:THRIVE socially, emotionally, intellectually and physicallyCONNECT through supportive peer and adult relationshipsCONTRIBUTE as a valued member of our communityLEARN through experiences that span home, school and out-of-school activitiesPREPARE for fulfilling careers and adulthoodOUR THREE PRIORITY GOALS FOR 2017-2020:Increase healthy behaviors and attitudesImprove youth social and emotional healthImprove the environment (culture) for youthTurning the Tide through Action TeamsHelp us launch three Community Action Teams. Join one ofthem at our next Healthy Youth Summit in 2018:ADULTAWARENESSProviding adultswith the educationand skill-buildingthey need topositively supportthe development ofisland youth.YOUTHENGAGEMENTCreatingopportunities foryouth to feel seen,felt and ionalcollaboration andinnovation insupport of islandyouth.Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance BEYOND THE REPORT CARD 3
What Needs Attention?The answer lies in youth feedback and survey data.The most recent Healthy Youth Survey data showimprovement in the rate of alcohol use and thoughts ofsuicide among our Island’s twelfth graders. While thepercentage of students who report depressive symptoms is holdingsteady, the incidence of significant anxiety continues toclimb. The number of students with a high quality of life scorecontinues to decrease. *In the last two weeks, how oftenwere you bothered by feelingnervous, anxious or on edge?NEARLY EVERY DAYA recent teen focus group asked for healthy ways to cope withstress and anxiety, a redefinition of success and fun, and alcoholfree activities on weekend nights. (See more on page 5)Each of us is needed to help our children learn the skills thatlead to well-being, as reflected in the attributes of the CompassAdvantage framework on page 6.In the pages ahead you will see how adults, teens and ourcommunity organizations are all working to “turn the tide”on youth substance use, anxiety and depression and increasethe number of youth reporting a high quality of life.* These findings reflect 42% of the senior class, down from 66% of the class who tookthis important optional survey in 2014.KEYBainbridge Island20142016In the last 12 months,did you make a plan tocommit suicide? YES.StatewideA downward trend in the percentage of twelfth graders with a “high” quality of lifescore. This composite score is based on responses to five questions and represents anindividual’s perceived level of physical and mental health over time.Quality of life? HIGH.20122012201420162014201620142016Any use of alcohol inthe last 30 days? YES.During the last 12 months, did you everfeel so sad or hopeless almost everyday for two weeks or more in a rowthat you stopped doing some usualactivities? YES.2012201420162012If you suspect your child needs help, contact askBYS.org or bainbridgepsychotherapy.org4 BEYOND THE REPORT CARD Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance
FOCUS GROUPSUMMARY33 LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLSTUDENTS GATHEREDON MAY 8, 2017Students were asked for their hopesand dreams in the following areas:What changes would you like tosee in the school culture? More resources for LGBTQ students More inclusion and school spirit More experiential and interactivelearning Less focus on grades and competition Teach healthy ways to cope with stressand other mental health challenges More activities that develop creativity More info on activities/clubs Amount of homework and number oftests are coordinatedWhat matters most to youth?The Alliance Teen Council offers the following statement toexpress their aspirations beyond academic achievement. Thisdeclaration calls to us to pay attention and heed their words andintentions as we support them on their journey to adulthood.I have a DREAM To be guided by my own COMPASS, not by whatothers believe I should be. To LEARN and GROWfrom my relationships and experiences—good andbad. To be LOVED and APPRECIATED for who Iam, not just for what I ACHIEVE.What changes would you like tosee in the community? Parents would stop supporting kid’ssubstance use Adults less judgmental of teens andeach other, especially on Facebook groups More fun places to hang out with friends More multigenerational activities Lower cost items at Island stores A less stressed communityWhat would it look like tohave meaningful and relevantinformation on drugs and alcohol? Drug education starting in middle school Relevant, up-to-date information bytrusted sources Share real stories and honestexperiences Educate parents-they are part of theproblemI want to BELIEVEin myself To feel motivated to Learn.To work Collaboratively with others.To overcome Adversity.To feel Alive, Aware, and Hopeful.To live my Values in the world.To choose and change my Goals.To feel Inspired.To lead a Meaningful life.I welcome your SUPPORT and give you mine aswe champion our hopes and dreams together.TEEN FOCUS GROUP 2013 Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhDwww.RootsOfAction.comBainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance BEYOND THE REPORT CARD 5
Eight Pathways to Every Child’s SuccessChildren and adults discover heart-felt meaning and direction in life when they develop strong internalcompasses. This guidance system is formed during childhood and adolescence, through relationshipsand life experiences — and continues to evolve throughout life. Explore the eight points of the compassbelow. Then, use the adjacent columns as examples of how to impact the development of these abilities inchildren and teens.EMPATHYCREATIVITYAbility to recognize, feel, and respond tothe needs & suffering of others. Includescompassion, kindness, civic-mindedness.Ability to generate & communicateoriginal ideas & appreciate thenature of beauty. Includes aesthetics,imagination, playfulness.SOCIABILITYRESOURCEFULNESSAbility to find and use availableresources to achieve goals,problem-solve, & shape thefuture. Includes decisionmaking, organizing, planning.Ability to understand & expressfeelings & behaviors thatAbility to understand &facilitate positive relationships.express feelings & behaviorsIncludes active listening, selfthat facregulation, communicationrelationships. Includeslisteningcommunication skillsINTEGRITYAbility to act in ways consistent with thevalues, beliefs, and moral principles weclaim to hold. Includes courage, honesty,authenticity.CURIOSITYAbility to seek and acquire newknowledge, skills, and ways ofunderstanding the world. Includescritical thinking, reasoning, love oflearning.RESILIENCESELF-AWARENESSAbility to meet and overcome challenges inways that maintain or promote well-being.Includes perseverance, initiative, selfconfidence.Ability to examine and understand who weare relative to the world around us. Includesself-reflection, mindfulness, gratitude. 2013 Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhDwww.RootsOfAction.com6 BEYOND THE REPORT CARD Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance
IMPACT EMPATHY Create emotional attachments withchildren and teens, ensuring they areseen, felt, and understood. Provide opportunities for kids to knowpeople with different worldviews and lifeexperiences. Introduce young children to service,helping them understand their roles inhelping others. Encourage teens to push their emotional boundaries throughmore challenging volunteer service. Talk with kids about the meaning that results when they putempathy and compassion into action.IMPACT SOCIABILITY Help kids understand that the wordsthey choose make a difference to therelationships they create. Talk with young people about theirmotivations and mental states so they canarticulate them to others. Help children avoid negative firstimpulses by thinking through alternativereactions to difficult situations. Encourage youth to role play uncomfortable social situations toimprove adaptability and self-confidence. Check for understanding when talking with kids and encouragethem to do the same with others.IMPACT CURIOSITY Help children identify questions thatpique their curiosity. Allow them to struggle and experiencesetbacks. Teach young people to be skeptics, torequire more evidence before acceptingsomeone’s claims as true. Praise them for effort, critical thinking,and an ability to engage their values when making decisions. Help children see how parts connect and influence the whole ofsociety — that learning occurs through relationships, collaboration,and flexibility.IMPACT RESILIENCE Push kids gently to the edges of theirintellectual, emotional, social, andphysical comfort zones. Encourage them to make sustainedcommitments to activities of their ownchoice – community service, sports,music, art, and other after-schoolactivities. Give youth encouragement and support as they learn to takerisks, overcome challenges, and grow from failure. Praise them for their initiative, persistence, and grit. Let kids know you believe in them and their abilities.IMPACT INTEGRITYIMPACTSELF-AWARENESS Help kids recognize, differentiate, andattend to their intellectual, emotional,social, and physical selves. Engage them in conversations aboutvalues, beliefs, attitudes, and moraldilemmas. Bring meaning to kids’ lives by helping them reflect about whomthey are and what they care about. Encourage habits of mindfulness, like meditation, yoga, and otherpractices that involve body awareness. Foster young people’s abilities to connect self-awareness to actionin the world.IMPACTRESOURCEFULNESS Help kids see themselves as strategicthinkers and achievers who accomplishgoals through hard work. Ask them to rephrase problems asquestions, and then seek to discoverpossible answers. Involve youth in communities, doing research, sharing ideas, andcontributing to decision making. Set high expectations and support children’s abilities toaccomplish goals. Teach them to be adaptable, to live without rigid rules orpreconceived ideas. Treat children and teens with respectand dignity. Listen to their feelings and concernswithout judgment. Help kids identify their own strengthsof character by praising them for theircourage, honesty, and fairness —not justfor grades and external accomplishments. Model internal strengths, like integrity, humility, and openmindedness. Discuss the traits of heroes and heroines in movies, TV, andbooks —and the consequences of their actions.IMPACT CREATIVITY Give children plenty of unstructuredplay time. Foster a relationship with nature andthe outdoors. Engage kids in music, the arts, andreading. Praise them when they think outside thebox, take risks, and show curiosity. Ask,“How might you ?” Encourage youth to express themselves through writing, poetry,acting, photography, and digital media. 2013 Marilyn Price-Mitchell PhDwww.RootsOfAction.comPhoto credits: Peacock Family ServicesBainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance BEYOND THE REPORT CARD 7
Turning the Tide through Adult Actions and AttitudesChildren learn positive attributes when adults know how to support youth and are offered the educationand skills to make a differenceSUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S WELL-BEING?TAKE THIS QUIZ!Want your child to be happy, wise and successful on the journey toadulthood? You lead the way through your own actions and attitudes.Discover how well you model the behaviors that research suggests leadschildren toward self sufficiency and thriving. Check all that apply:My children see me reading for fun and being curious about innovativeideas, diverse cultures and new experiences. I ask my kids about whatthey are learning in school more than I ask about their grades.I take time each day to connect and listen to my children about thingsthey care about. My intention is that my children feel seen, heard,understood and felt.When I face the inevitable discomfort of disappointment or failure,I practice self-compassion, reach out to others for support, focus onwhat I can learn from the experience and take visible steps to moveforward.Self-care is part of my routine. I schedule time for physical exercise,rejuvenating activities, and mindful reflection.72 professionals learned about AdverseChildhood Experiences (ACEs) and thescience of Toxic Stress at Islandwood inJanuary, 2016FEEL ALONE IN SETTINGHEALTHY BOUNDARIES?IT JUST SEEMS THAT WAY!Here are facts from a recent poll of 231Bainbridge parents of teenagers* thatshow you aren’t alone:I make amends when I make mistakes or fail to live up to my ownvalues. 83% OF BI PARENTS ask if aparent will be present if going toanother teen’s houseI have goals and dreams for my life and speak candidly about theobstacles I face along the way. I talk about strategies to achieve mygoals and ask for help when needed. 91% OF BI PARENTS wait up untilI make time to enjoy nature, music, art, and/or the many other thingsthat feed my creative spirit. I laugh and have fun with my family.I look for ways to support neighbors and my community. I often askmy kids, “What kind act did you do today?”What did you score?their teen comes home 97% OF BI PARENTS disagreewith the following sentence: “Teensshould be allowed to drink as long asthey don’t drive afterwards”* January 2017 Raising Resilience parent surveyAdd up your checkmarks and consider the following suggestions:BETWEEN 6-8: Congratulations! Pat yourself on the back for demonstrating most of the Compass Advantage framework of positive youthdevelopment! (See page 6 to learn more about the Compass Advantage.) Read more about how to help your child grow from the inside out atRootsofAction.com/ebook.BETWEEN 4-6: A work in progress! (Aren’t we all?) What attitudes and behaviors would you like to improve? Post the Compass Advantageon your refrigerator and write down a small action you will take this week. Share with a friend, or your family, what you commit to doing.Consider taking a parenting class or lecture (RaisingResilience.org) and enjoy many parenting resources at RootsofAction.com.BETWEEN 0-4: You matter! Caring for a child is a long journey that includes both rewarding and difficult times. Along the way, it is easyto lose touch of your own needs for physical and emotional health and well-being. Yet, your well-being really does matter, not only for your sakebut also for your kids. Luckily, you don’t have to do this alone. Ask for help from people you trust, like friends, family and counselors.8 BEYOND THE REPORT CARD Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance
Turning the Tide through Youth EngagementChildren and teens learn positive attributes when relationships with adults and peers enable youth to feelseen, heard and understood.LINK CREW peer mentoring helps BHS freshman feel supported.“I felt incrediblyempowered and excitedas I walked away from the TeenFocus Group. The kind of fire andwisdom that my peers and the adultshave for the future is something that Ithink we need to focus on in order foraction to be taken.”ANNA SCOTTBHS 11TH GRADERPEER-TO-PEER TUTORING for 6th-12th graders at BYS.GRATITUDE WALL notes of gratitude were collected bystudents for every teacher and staff member at BHS.BRAIN BREAKS create connection, decrease stress andimprove learning. These surprise acts of fun and play are designed byteens, for teens.SAKAI SCHOOL students contribute to yearly salmon release.Bainbridge Healthy Youth Alliance BEYOND THE REPORT CARD 9
Turning the Tide through PartnershipsChildren and teens deve
Bainbridge Dental Bainbridge High School Parent Teacher Student Organization* Bainbridge Island Historical Museum Bainbridge Island FC* Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Bainbridge Island Police Department* Bainbridge Island School District* Bainbridge Schools Foundation* Bainbridge Performing Arts Bainbridge P
