The youth, families, and communities of North Carolina face challenges which threaten their resiliency. Reduced resiliency in turn threatens the economic, social, and environmental well being of educational, corporate, and governmental systems on which the citizens of North Carolina depend.
The "Resilient Youth, Families and Communities Cooperative Extension Major Program" of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service will take action to strengthen the resiliency of youth, families, and communities. Resiliency is the ability to cultivate strengths to positively meet challenges. The program will focus on prevention programming designed to reduce "risk factors" and strengthen "protective factors." Program participants will act to bring together and involve educators, researchers, agency and organizational personnel, youth, families, communities, advocates, and practitioners who share an interest in strengthening the resiliency of North Carolina's youth, families and communities.
Risk factors are individual or environmental hazards that increase a child's vulnerability to negative developmental outcomes. Risk factors don't definitely guarantee a negative developmental outcome but increase the odds that problem behaviors will occur. On the other hand, protective factors are individual or environmental safeguards that enhance a child's ability to overcome risks. Protective factors serve as buffers to foster adaptation and competence in the child.
Objectives:
Youth in high risk environments will participate in community based programs resulting in youth acquiring coping skills, making informed decisions and developing a sense of purpose and future.
Families will participate in educational experiences enabling them to identify problems, determine solutions, and develop skills to cope with family adverse situations.
Community groups will take action to strengthen communities by creating environments which reduce youth and family risks through collaborative intervention and prevention programs in high risk communities..
