School Connectedness

1
School Connectedness Non-School-Hour
Programming
(Hawkins and Catalano)
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Importance of School Connectedness
American adolescents stand a better chance of
avoiding risky behavior when they experience and
express strong connections to their school.
Blum Rinehart, 1997
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Voices of Youth
The importance of youth leadership
Kids Too Program
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School Connectedness
Young people feel connected to their schools
when

• They feel close to people at school,
• Are all treated fairly and equally,
• Get along with teachers and peers, and
• Are involved in school decisions.

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The Need
Young People in Hawaii Report
University of Hawaii, Center on the Family
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Connected to Schools
38 of middle school students said they felt
unsafe at school or on their way to or from
school during the past 30 days.
Hawaii Middle School Youth Risk Behavior Survey,
2001
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Supports Opportunities for
School Connectedness

• Support high academic and behavioral expectations
• Encourage active involvement
• Encourage goal setting, academic achievement, and
  positive social development

Hawaii Youth Substance Abuse Prevention
Strategy, 2001
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School Connections are Protective
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School Connections are Developmental

• School connections and youth involvement in
  school decision-making result in increasing
• Academic achievement
• Civic competence
• Sense of community
• Pro-social attitudes and behaviors

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Strategies from Laulima in Action
Create a system which supports basic principles
of healthy children /healthy communities
Proposed Activities 3.2 Coordinate through
interdisciplinary and interagency
activitiesmultiple components of the school,
community and families in school health
instruction, health services, school environment,
health promotion, physical education, food
services and counseling services.
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Practical Application
Examples for creating school connectedness
include activities that

• Actively involve youth in researching and taking
  action on issues important to them within their
  schools and communities
• Empower young people to promote peaceful
  solutions to problems

Examples can be seen in programs such as Public
Adventures (www.bpy.n4h.org)
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Prepare for Action
Points to Ponder

• What do you/does your organization already do to
  promote School Connectedness?
• What resources do you/ does your organization
  bring to the table that will foster a coordinated
  approach to School Connectedness?

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