All youth may face some risk factors that can lead to the problem behaviors of: Substance Abuse, Delinquency, Teen Pregnancy, School failure/ dropping out of school, and Violence. While all youth face some risk factors, Hawkins & Catalano’s research found that youth that face multiple risk factors at home, in school and in the community, are more likely to exhibit more problem behaviors as adolescents. The young people of the Cayman Islands are challenged on the path to healthy development by risk factors in their community, schools, family and among themselves.
There is a plethora of documents and reports highlighting this fact; here is an excerpt from some of them:- COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSES OF SOCIAL BREAKDOWN & VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTH IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS 2001 “The rapid social changes impacting our communities have intensified the struggle for existence and have produced a system of individual rather than the traditional communal responsibilities. Caymanian communities appear to have become urbanized due to rapid economic growth…. This urbanization process has resulted in a weakening of the bonds that once held families and the communities together, which is the essence of what we have defined as ‘social breakdown’.” RISK FACTOR: Low neighborhood attachment and community disorganization ADOLESCENT PROBLEM BEHAVIOR PREDICTED: Violence, substance abuse and teen pregnancy YOLANDA FORDE CRIMINALITY REPORT – COMMUNITY/ ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT The lack of involvement in conventional activities has long been cited as a cause of delinquency; and conversely, individuals who are involved in constructive, group-based activities are less likely to become delinquent. For example, the Social Development Model shows that communities can promote healthy behaviors by communicating healthy beliefs and clear standards for behavior to young people. The strategy identifies three processes through which this is done:
Youth must have opportunities for active participation in the family, school, and community
Youth must have the skills necessary to succeed in these opportunities for involvement
Youth must have consistent recognition or reinforcement for their efforts and accomplishments.
RISK FACTOR: Gang involvement, Early and persistent antisocial behavior, Early initiation of the problem behavior etc. ADOLESCENT PROBLEM BEHAVIOR PREDICTED: Violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, delinquency and school drop-out or academic failure More recently documents such as the National Assessment of Living Conditions (Poverty Assessment) and the Census 2010 has highlighted the issues of social exclusion and unemployment, especially among the youth population.
The recommendations in each of these documents are similar but specifically the criminality report encouraged Stakeholders and practitioners in community and youth development agencies in the Cayman Islands to note the findings in the study with regard to the apparent correlation between the lack of involvement in positive group-based activities and the risk of imprisonment. It stated that combined with other risk factors, a lack of participation in wholesome, organized activities along with associating with deviant peers can certainly increase the likelihood of offending among young idle men.
Due to the complexity of these issues and the need for asset-building programs in each district, CIYDC has formed a community mobilizing campaign called the Supporting Cayman Youth Campaign and a leadership and resiliency program during the summer. Our programs not only introduce our young people to asset building, but also keep them on the right track, enhance their academic achievement, support their social development, and strengthen schools, families, and the community.
J.D. Hawkins, Catalano, R.F., & Miller, J.Y. (1992). Risk and protective factors for alcohol and other drug problems in adolescence and early adulthood: Implications for substance abuse prevention. Psychological Bulletin 112, 64-105.
Yolanda Forde, Disposing Factors to Criminality in the Cayman Islands, June 2006
