RYASAP Survey Results A Mixed Bag for Monroe Youth

A RYASAP survey of area youth shows Monroe students in grades seven to 12 have higher self esteem, a sense of purpose and optimism for the future than the regional average, but organization president, Robert Francis, notes that the percentage of young people who say adults provide them with a caring environment is low across the board.

Francis made a presentation on the results from 387 Monroe students participating in the survey last spring to Board of Education members at their Tuesday night meeting.

"A lot of communities focus like a laser beam on alcohol issues and start alcohol programs," he said. "There might be things that disturb you." Then he glanced at two Masuk High School student representatives seated to his left and added, "What disturbs me is young people not thinking we care about them."

Of the Monroe students surveyed, 73% reported having high levels of love and support from their family, but only 26% reported having positive communication with their parents, 51% of receiving adult support from non-parents, 30% said their school provides a caring environment and 24% responded that their parents are involved in their succeeding in school.

Only 29% reported having positive adult role models.

Francis said there are 40 assets and thriving indicators, which include things such as experiencing school success, exhibiting leadership, helping others informally, resisting danger, overcoming adversity and valuing diversity.

In Monroe, 8% of the students surveyed displayed 31-40 assets, 39% had 21-30 assets, 41% had 11-20, and 12% had 0-10.

Substance abuse among Monroe teens and preteens has dropped by 7% since the last survey, according to Francis.

Monroe students reporting having used tobacco in the past 30 days accounted for 8% of the 387 pupils, 28% had consumed alcohol, 19% drank to get drunk in the past two weeks and 23% used marijuana in the past year.

Monroe had the lowest amount of gambling among youths surveyed in Trumbull, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford and Francis attributed that to the Gambling Awareness of Monroe through Educating our Students (GAMES) program at Masuk.

Francis credited Monroe with having had strong support for town youth among the First Selectman's Office, Superintendent's Office and the Monroe Police Department. He also said most who participated in the survey believe there are a lot of youth programs in town.

"Masuk is one of the best community centers I've ever seen," Francis said.

"I think it's important that this is your report," Francis told school board members. "I think it's something for you to study as a group and see what you want to do about it."

Board of Education Chairman Darrell Trump said he would like to form a committee that includes members of the community to assess the survey results.

To review all of Monroe's survey results and compare them with the region, click on the pdf file with this article.

RYASAP has programs in youth and young adult leadership development; juvenile justice advocacy and diversion; health promotion; training and replication; and human services and education systems and policy reform. It has surveyed area youth since 1985.