[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 131 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ``GREAT KIDS MAKE GREAT COMMUNITIES'' CAMPAIGN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 30, 1999

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on the occasion of the Tenth 
Annual Conference on Youth to applaud the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana 
for its efforts to reduce juvenile delinquency and improve the lives of 
children through its ``Great Kids Make Great Communities'' campaign, 
which has greatly benefitted from the efforts of Judge Charles F. Pratt 
of the Allen County Superior Court.
  The ``Great Kids Make Great Communities'' campaign challenges adults 
in the community to abandon their negative stereotypes of adolescents 
and instead view themselves as potential asset builders in the lives of 
area youth. This initiative is based on research that has identified 40 
developmental assets that all youth need to become responsible, caring 
and successful adults. These assets include family support, religious 
activity, commitment to learning, community service and other character 
traits which reduce the likelihood of delinquency among young people.
  I strongly endorse the community's commitment to encourage adults to 
pro-actively build relationships with area youth. It is clear to me 
that regardless of how well intentioned, federal programs alone cannot 
deliver the results our youth deserve. I am convinced that only through 
the combined efforts of parents, the young people themselves, churches, 
our schools, and other mentoring organizations can society fully equip 
our young people with the building blocks necessary for success.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the following resolution regarding this 
initiative in the Record. I commend it highly.

       WHEREAS, research by the Search Institute has identified 40 
     Developmental Assets that All youth need to grow into healthy 
     productive adults; and
       WHEREAS, the research demonstrates that children receiving 
     thirty or more of the developmental assets are more likely to 
     excel in school, embrace cultural diversity, resolve 
     conflicts nonviolently, and resist the temptations of drugs 
     and alcohol; and,
       WHEREAS, the Search Institute has laid the framework for 
     communities to shift their thinking from problem solving to 
     vision building, from seeing the problems some children 
     present to embracing the opportunities we have to improve the 
     lives of the children, from focusing only on troubled youth 
     to focusing on ALL youth; and,
       WHEREAS, the community should be encouraged to work 
     together to serve as resources to parents and families to 
     secure the 40 assets each child needs; and,
       WHEREAS, the GREAT KIDS MAKE GREAT COMMUNITIES campaign is 
     Allen County's initiative to communicate the promise and 
     vision of the 40 developmental asset concept in our 
     community; and,
       WHEREAS, all of the youth of Fort Wayne are important; and
       WHEREAS, the value our children have to Fort Wayne should 
     be communicated to our children in meaningful ways; and,
       WHEREAS, the Tenth Annual Conference on Youth is an 
     opportunity for this community to affirm to all youth their 
     importance and value as citizens of this community;
       Now therefore, all the children and youth of Fort Wayne are 
     great kids and are a part of what makes Fort Wayne a great 
     community.

     

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