Youth Needs Assessment
With revenue earned from the permanently endowed Youth Fund, the YAC addresses issues of concern and importance through grantmaking. In order to help them represent their peers, and in compliance with the Council of Michigan Foundations, the YAC surveys middle and high school students using a needs assessment survey every three years. The goal is to give students a chance to share what is important to them and to their community.
The 2010 survey revealed some new trends when compared to surveys from years past.
When asked ‘Which five issues have the greatest impact on you personally?’, more than two-thirds of students surveyed ranked “stress” as their greatest personal issue. Slightly fewer respondents felt the pressure to succeed was an issue for them. To a lesser extent, students surveyed also felt that pressure to work from parents, low selfâesteem and cliques or not “fitting in” were issues. Because the Community Foundation has identified youth substance abuse prevention as an area of focus and youth have so consistently noted their concern over the issue, the survey also asked “Why do teens use alcohol and other drugs?”. Their comments fit the larger trend of the survey responses: “To not feel reality. Have no emotions, forget everything. To have fun after a stressful week of school”; “To get away from their problems”; “Teens usually do drugs and drink because they think it will help them fit in or because that’s their way of coping”; “They use them to deal with stress”.
The YAC survey was not comprehensive and it was not scientific, but it was a sincere request for students to share the challenges they face and the opportunities they see. The Community Foundation’s YAC is currently reviewing grant requests for the fall cycle. They’ll keep the voices of their peers in mind when making difficult decisions about how to make grants that will benefit youth in Emmet County.
Review the results of the most recent survey, spring 2010. What do you think? Contact us - we'd love to hear your comments or suggestions.