2008 PROFILE OF YOUTH TOWN OF TRUMBULL

1. Presented By RYASAP Catalyst for Community Change Bridgeport, CT In Cooperation With The Search Institute, Minneapolis, MN duBay Horton Associates, Bridgeport, CT October 2008 2008 PROFILE OF YOUTHTOWN OF TRUMBULL

2. 2008 PROFILE OF YOUTHDEMOGRAPHICS 470 youth surveyed, an 18% sample of youth grades 7 – 12 in Trumbull. Racial and ethnic breakdown 84% White 3% African American 5% Hispanic 4% Multi-racial 4% Asian/Pacific Islander 1% Native American

3. DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETSEXTERNAL ASSETSPositive experiences and support a young person receives fromformal and informal connections to the community

4. DEVELOPMENTAL ASSETSINTERNAL ASSETSThings a community and family nurture within youth sothey can contribute to their own development

5. SETTINGS FOR POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

6. ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT ASSETS Individuals do not need the entire range of assets to thrive. Combinations of assets across domains reflect equally positive adolescent development. Having more assets is better than having a few. Having strong assets in one category can offset weak assets in another. However, life is easier to manage if one has assets in all domains. Continued exposure to positive experiences, settings and people, as well as opportunities to gain and refine life skills, supports young people in the acquisition and growth of these assets.

7. HIGHLIGHTSTOWN OF TRUMBULLASSETS The average number of assets increased from 17.7 of 40 developmental assets in 2005 to 20.3 in 2008. assets increased in every grade with the largest increases of 2 points or more in the 7th, 8th and 10th grades. There were increases in all asset categories with 36 of 40 developmental assets either increasing or remaining the same. This was the strongest improvement in the greater Bridgeport region. The strongest asset categories were Support, Boundaries and Expectations, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity. 28 of 40 developmental assets increased 5% or more with increases of over 10% in Caring School Climate, Positive Family Communications, Service to Others, available Youth Programs, Bonding to School, School Engagement, Equality and Social Justice, Caring, Sense of Purpose, Self Esteem, and Personal Power. All 8 Thriving Indicators increased with Maintains Good Health (+12%) and Values Diversity (+10%) leading the indicators. The only developmental assets to show a decrease in Trumbull were Personal Safety (-6%), Time Alone at Home (-3%), and one hour or more of Homework per day (-4%). The Town of Trumbull demonstrated the largest per pupil increases in developmental assets of any the greater Bridgeport communities.

8. ASSETS 1998 – 2008TOWN OF TRUMBULL

9. ASSETS BY GRADE LEVEL

10. THRIVING INDICATORSThose indicators that predict future thriving behaviors

11. THRIVING INDICATORSMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

12. SUPPORT

13. SUPPORTMINICIPAL COMPARISONS

14. EMPOWERMENT

15. BOUNDARIES AND EXPECTATIONS

16. BOUNDARIES ANDEXPECTATIONSMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

17. CONSTRUCTIVE USE OF TIME

18. COMMITMENT TO LEARNING

19. COMMITMENT TO LEARNINGMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

20. POSITIVE VALUES

21. POSITIVE VALUESMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

22. SOCIAL COMPETENCIES

23. SOCIAL COMPETENCIESMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

24. POSITIVE IDENTITY

25. POSITIVE IDENTITYMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

26. HIGHLIGHTS1998 – 2008RISKY BEHAVIORS Only 8% of Trumbull teens smoked tobacco in the last 30 days with less than 3% smoking more than one-half pack a day or more. 33% of teens drank alcohol in the last 30 days a reduction of 6% over 2005. 16% [a 9% decrease since 2005] had more than 5 drinks at a time which included 38% of high school juniors and 33% of seniors. 17% of Trumbull teens smoked marijuana, a reduction of 6% since 2005. All forms of risky behavior decreased from 2005 to 2008 showing a very positive trend. All forms of violent behavior – carrying a weapon, used a weapon, hurt someone, group fighting and bullying behavior decreased by 6% overall. All Predictive deficits decreased by 4% or more. 23% of Trumbull teens have had sexual intercourse including 53% of high school seniors. 8% of youth attempted suicide, a 3% decrease from 2005 and 9% of youth reported being sad or depressed most of the time, a 5% decrease from 2005.

27. YOUTH REPORTING RISKY BEHAVIORS

28. RISKY BEHAVIORSMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

29. RISKY BEHAVIORSMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

30. YOUTH REPORTING PREDICTIVE DEFICITS

31. ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA30 DAY USE

32. TOBACCO, ALCOHOL & MARIJUANA30 DAY USEMUNICIPAL COMPARISONS

33. ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGSAGE OF ONSET

34. PARENTAL APPROVALALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA USE

35. PEER APPROVALALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND MARIJUANA USE

36. CONCLUSIONS Trumbull showed major gains in all major asset and thriving behaviors categories. It has the highest number of assets in Greater Bridgeport in 15 of 40 developmental asset categories. These improvements are directly attributable to its work through the Trumbull Partnership Against Underage Drinking or TPAUD. RYASAP recommends that TPAUD document its methods and successes in order to replicate this coalition in the greater Bridgeport region. Trumbull had similar reductions in all substance abuse categories, proving the Search Institute hypothesis that the more assets young people have, the less likely they are apt to be involved in risky behaviors. Peer disapproval of alcohol and marijuana use was the highest of any community. Peer driven programs like PARTY, which includes Trumbull youth and peer-driven gambling education programs in Monroe and Fairfield have been very successful and should be expanded to address increasing all developmental assets and reducing all risky behaviors. Although all of the risky behaviors and developmental asset indicators are moving in a positive direction, there is room for improvement in the areas of binge drinking, hours of homework per day and public safety.