Expert advocates ‘resiliency’ in kids
Federal and state funding cuts the past few years have jeopardized healthy development of America's children, says a national leader in the field, calling on Hawaii educators and health officials to be advocates for kids.
"These funding cuts and shifts in priority are not acts of God or nature," Michael D. Resnick told more than 500 delegates at the Seventh Annual State Health Education Conference last month at the Hawaii Convention Center. "They are the results of moral and political choices.
"What kind of values are these," he asked, when the government spends $20,000 to $40,000 a year on a prisoner but won't invest $1,500 a year in after-school tutoring, mentoring or other programs for kids?"
Resnick is professor of pediatrics and public health and directs the Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center at the University of Minnesota.
"Reducing Risks and Building Protective Factors: Critical Steps in Promoting the Resiliency of Our Youth" was his address at the conference, organized by the Department of Education and Comprehensive School Health Education Committee. Meadow Gold Dairies and Kaiser Foundation were co-sponsors.
"Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds" was the theme of the event.
In his address and an interview later, Resnick stressed the importance of nurturing resiliency in youth, which he pointed out is the ability to bounce back after adversity.
One of the earliest studies of the concept involved a group of children born on Kauai in 1955 who were at risk for poor outcomes because of poverty, family instability and health problems. They were followed until their 40s.
In a paper published last month, "Healthy Youth Development: Science and Strategies," Resnick and a colleague noted that while many children experienced negative outcomes as they became adolescents and adults, including teen pregnancy, delinquency and mental health problems, about one-third of the children "became competent and successful adults" because of resiliency.
Resnick said the idea of resilience comes from physics and metallurgy -- the development of building materials with internal strength and external supports to resist stress.
Studies around the world have shown similar protective factors enable young people to build internal resources and external support to function well despite multiple stresses, Resnick said.
He cited ADD Health, a study ordered by Congress that he has been involved with, which began in 1994 with 90,000 adolescents from 80 communities across the country.
Its findings show the importance of "connectedness" to families or other caring adults, to school and to the community as protective factors, he said.
Protective factors promote emotional health of young people and buffer them against the possibilities of unprotected sex, substance abuse and self-directed violence, he said.
"There is no excuse, saying we don't know what kids need now," he added. "The body of evidence is there. Now it's about marshaling the political will to build the agenda and make it our priority."
