Every child and teen needs a strong and healthy "web of support." This web is formed by caring adults who cast "strings," or protective factors. The more protective factors a young person has, the more likely they are to grow into a successful adult. We encourage adults and kids to ensure each child has at least 5 adult "Anchors" in their web. In turn, each Anchor needs the support of other adults
to form their own healthy webs. Research supports the notion that an optimal number of Anchors for any one child is 5. The fewer Anchors a child or teen has, the fewer protective factors in their lives, and the more likely they are to engage in risky behaviors. To encourage healthy behavior, add more strings from more Anchors! "Strings" can range from the tangible (safe home, nutritious food, ease of reading, appropriate clothings, etc.) to the intangible (curiosity, integrity, compassion, laughter, gratitude, self-respect, self-regulation, etc.). Kids "catch" these strings from adults - they don't absorb them from the air! Taking the time to be a strong Anchor in a child's web is one of the best contributions an adult can make to their own community and the world in general. Kid's webs can experience "scissor cuts," like divorce, death of an Anchor, medical diagnosis, etc. The solution to those serious events is to strengthen their webs, by adding more strings from more Anchors. Community norms also have a powerful influence on a teen's web. If the norm in the community is to allow underage drinking, for example, all the lectures, posters, and announcements to "don't drink" will have limited impact. On the other hand, positive community norms can have a powerful protective influence as well. Our goal is to help all 6,000+ kids in Hastings have strong webs of support - they each deserve nothing less.
