by Allan Vyhnalek
Grundy County Extension Director
for Iowa State University Extension to Communities
Youth are making a lot of news these days, but not much of it is good. Recently newspapers and national television newscasts reported an increase in crime among juveniles. Particularly alarming, according to these reports, is the increase in the wanton violence of crimes committed by youth. So infrequently does the public hear anything good about young people that many are convinced that the next generation of adults are shiftless, violent and valueless, and will surely lead the country to ruin. Well, that' s not the case with the youth in Grundy CountyÑand probably not true of youth, as a whole, anywhere.
Black Hawk/Grundy Mental Health and ISU Extension in Grundy County conducted a survey of Grundy County youth in spring 1995. The survey was done with more than 1,500 youth, grades 6 - 12, in Grundy County. The goal of the survey was to find out specifically what youth needs were in the county.
Black Hawk/Grundy Mental Health received the resources for conducting the survey through a grant and Grundy County Extension helped organize the effort. Results from the survey include:
-87 percent agree or strongly agree that they have hope for their future.
-75 percent plan to attain an education level of BS degree or greater.
-86 percent agree or strongly agree that they feel safe in their community.
-77 percent do not use any form of tobacco products.
-80 percent of the parents know where their children are after school.
-84 percent attend church at least once a year or more.
-66 percent do not drink any alcoholic products. The use of alcohol and tobacco products
increases as the youths get older which is normal for this age group. The percentage of youth who do not use alcohol goes from around 90 percent non-use in sixth grade to about 45 percent non-use in twelfth grade. The gateway age, or largest percentage increase age, for use of these products is 16 years old.
The survey also pointed out aspects of the youth behavior that needs monitoring. Youth indicated they did not have enough time to do what they wanted. A significant number of young people know a gang member. County-wide, 38 percent of the youth indicated that they knew someone who belongs to a gang. Some youth indicated they were bored. In addition, 17 percent (which represented about half of those who drink) of the youth consumed five alcoholic drinks twice or more during the last month.
The challenge that Grundy County faces now is to find out if the mentioned gang activity is from "gang wanna-be's" or from "formal organized groups." Also we would like to know what the youth's definition of "being bored" is. Either youth think they are bored and are not, or there might be a problem to address.
The results of this survey will be used to identify program needs and provide baseline data for further information gathering. Using the information to improve the quality of life for youth in Grundy County will be an important overall goal. It is hoped that each community can use the information to enhance the environment for youth. The work with the Grundy County Youth Survey is not completed. Next steps include publicizing the results of the survey, checking out results with the youth, and working with interested communities to form groups that will formulate plans to address some of the issues.
If you would like more information about the youth survey completed, contact the Grundy County Extension Service, 602 Eighth Street, Grundy Center, Iowa 50638; phone (319) 824-6979.
Contacts:
Terry L. Besser, ISU
Extension Sociology, (515) 294-6508
Del Marks, ISU Extension
Communication Systems, (515) 294-9807
