All Kids Are Our Kids: What Communities Must Do to Raise Caring and Responsible Children and Adolescents

By Peter L. Benson

Book Overview

This thoughtful book should be read by anyone--parents, youth workers, ministers, community leaders, and policymakers--concerned about the future of America's children and the vitality of communities which they love. --Emmy Werner, University of California, Davis, author of Overcoming the Odds Based on research from the renowned Search Institute, this groundbreaking critique of American culture offers practical strategies for uniting and mobilizing communities around a shared vision of healthy development. Peter L. Benson introduces forty developmental assets-building blocks of healthy development. These assets--such as family support, intergenerational relationships, clear and consistent boundaries and expectations, participation in constructive activities, and community focus on values--are essential for all youth, regardless of background. Yet too few young people have these support structures in their lives. To increase assets among all kids, the author provides a compelling vision for a healthy community and specific recommAndations for individual, family and community action.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0787910686
• ISBN13: 9780787910686
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.7" x 1.2" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

All kids are our kids

Outstanding resource for anyone who works with youth (or anyone who has a heart for youth). I am the director of a large youth and community center in Los Angeles and this book has truly motivated me to work to build a stronger "community" with local schools, parents, neighborhood agencies that focus on supporting kids and their families. This book is a must read!

Brilliant work, carefully explains how to be a better parent.

This asset-building approach to youth development and community development is solidly based on extensive research and meta-research. Thousands of youth have been surveyed to yield the great information. Written for parents, community volunteers and professionals who work with children & youth, it describes 40 qualities (or assets) which help youth thrive. The more of the 40 assets a youth has the better he/she does. A university student body president I knew felt he had 39 of the 40 assets; since I knew him to be a fabulous kid, it validated the asset-building framework for me. I urge every parent to get and read this, apply what you learn to your kids, and then go out and make your community more youth friendly. I have 3 copies; two of which are "loaners".

Important new approach to human development

Thus book bridges from science to practice, offering a new model for engaging many sectors of community-family, neighborhood, congregations,employers, schools-in creating settings and relationships to build developmental strengths. When one looks at youth through the lens of developmental assets, everything changes. Implications for everything from public policy to neighborhood revitalization are discussed. This book would be a powerful textbook in all of those fields which train the next generation of community leaders.

Finally, something based on research

If you are someone who is looking for information related to child and community development that is based on actual research, this is for you. It's based on more then someone's opinion or beliefs. The book is somewhat academic and may not be an easy read, but it is useful information. If you are a parent, youth educator, or community worker you need to know and understand the developmental assets.