Risk Factors

Upon completion of a comprehensive review of community data and Pennsylvania Youth Survey data, the CTC For Youth Board identifies risk factors that increase the likelihood of youth drug use and violence, as well as those protective factors that shield youngsters from problems. Prioritization of these risk and protective factors results in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan to step ahead of problems with far-reaching and long-lasting solutions.

What are Risk Factors?
Risk factors such as availability of drugs, family conflict, academic failure, and favorable attitudes toward problem behavior are those conditions that increase the likelihood that a child will develop one or more behavior problems in adolescence. The CTC Risk and Resource Assessment Committee reviewed community and youth data for twenty risk factors that have been linked by research to be predictive of youth anti-social behavior.

What are Protective Factors?
Protective factors, like individual characteristics, bonding, healthy beliefs and clear standards, are aspects of adolescent’s lives that counter risk factors or provide a buffer against them. A key strategy of CTC is to enhance protective factors that promote positive behavior, well being, and personal success.

What Risk Factors has CTC Identified for Youth in the Norristown Area?
In Spring 2007 the Risk and Resource Assessment Committee of the Norristown CTC For Youth Board has identified four priority risk factors that can lead youth in the greater Norristown area to adopt problem behaviors:

1. Family Management
   Families experiencing stress such as marital problems, unemployment, poor communication skills, have a more challenging time working through the pre-adolescent and adolescent stages without tremendous turmoil or negative outcomes. Poor family management practices include lack of clear expectations of behavior, failure of parents to monitor their children, and excessively severe or inconsistent punishment.
2. Lack of School Commitment
   This refers to the young person who no longer sees their role of student as a viable one and no longer appreciates the value of an education. The truancy data collected by the CTC Risk and Resource Assessment underscores the significance of this risk factor in the Norristown Area.
3. Favorable Attitudes Toward the Problem Behavior
   In elementary school, kids express anti-drug, anti-crime, pro-social attitudes. In middle school, as others they know participate in such activities, their attitudes often shift toward greater acceptance of these behaviors.
4. Availability of Drugs and Firearms
   The more available alcohol and other drugs are in a community, the higher the risks that youth will abuse drugs. Research has shown a corresponding increase between the availability of firearms and an increase in violent crime rates, committed by and against adolescents.

How is CTC Responding to These Risk Factors?

Norristown CTC provides prevention education through forums, presentations, community outreach, summer recreation calendars and informational mailings. In addition, the CTC For Youth Board sponsors a series of programmatic strategies to assist schools and families in helping youth to avoid problematic behavior:

Guiding Good Choices
A five-week curriculum designed to assist parents in preparing their children to make positive decisions and identifying the early warning signs of substance use.

Life Skills Training
A national model substance abuse prevention curriculum for middle school students that strengthens decision-making and resistance skills.

Norristown Truancy Abatement Initiative
Norristown Area School District staff and community partners promote attendance and education of youth through a variety of programs and services.

Norristown Police Department SafeKids
A three pronged initiative, designed by the Norristown Police Department, to minimize the risks that children face at home, school and in their community. It includes youth education in the Norristown Area School District elementary schools using the Eddie Eagle Gun Safety Program, parent education and community outreach.

SPARKS (Strong Parents Actively Raising Kids Safely)
A free family counseling program that helps families of students dealing with attendance concerns.

Staying Connected With Your Teen
A five-week curriculum that teaches parents how to decrease the chances that their teens will become involved in dangerous situations and stop unhealthy behaviors before they begin.

Join Us!

You can help make a difference in the lives of our youth by joining our CTC Youth Prevention Board; lending your expertise; spreading the word about CTC to your friends and family; or donating your services to support youth-based organizations. For more information, contact Angela S. Bell, Esq., CTC community mobilizer, at 610-630-2111 ext. 236 or abell@fsmontco.org.

Family Services is proud to be the lead agency/fiscal agent for Norristown Area CTC for Youth. Family Services is a nonprofit social service agency that serves children, seniors and families throughout Montgomery County, Pa.

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