All Kids Are Our Kids: What Communities Must Do to Raise Caring and Responsible Children and Adolescents (Hardcover)

by Peter L. Benson (Author) "Imagine a U.S. city that is especially successful in raising caring, responsible, and healthy children and adolescents..." (more)
Key Phrases: thirty assets, thirty developmental assets, forty developmental assets, Search Institute, Culture Shift, All Kids Are Our Kids (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Building on the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," Benson, director of the Search Institute, a national youth research and education organization, calls for a new vision to support child and adolescent development. Although not ignoring basic needs for shelter, food, and safety, Benson concentrates on building development assets in young people based on the categories of support, empowerment, boundaries, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. The first part of the book focuses on defining these assets, and the second part deals with the community's role in developing these assets among youth. Appendixes support the recommendations. Appropriate for collections supporting community leaders and those who work with and advocate for young people.?Kay L. Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills., Md.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"This highly readable and engaging book encourages school leaders, families, and community members to unite in providing kids with building blocks for success." —The American School Board Journal

"In this sweeping and imaginative treatise, Peter Benson addresses the most pressing question of our day: How can we make our society into a more wholesome environment for raising young people? Benson takes us several giant steps toward finding a workable solution for the problem of how to restore community for youngsters throughout our society. Everyone interested in the future of youth in our society should read this valuable book." —William Damon, professor, Brown University

"At a time when too many are criticizing students, families, and schools, this volume redirects attention to students' skills, talents, promise, and possibilities. Peter Benson provides a useful vocabulary--developmental assets--and a comprehensive blueprint to strengthen families, schools, and communities." —Joyce L. Epstein, director, Center on School, Family and Community Partnerships, Johns Hopkins University

"This thoughtful book should be read by anyone--parents, youth workers, ministers, community leaders, and policymakers--concerned about the future of America's children and the vitality of communities which they love." —Emmy Werner, University of California, Davis, author of Overcoming the Odds

"Peter Benson presents a compelling and creative vision for promoting the positive development of youth and, in so doing, provides decision makers with a powerful means to develop new policies and programs that can enhance the life chances of young people across the diverse communities of our nation." —Richard M. Lerner, professor and director, Center for Child, Family, and Community Partnerships, Boston College

"Peter Benson presents a compelling vision for child and adolescent development. It represents a national call to action and offers a prescription for the kind of social change needed to implement the vision." —Karen Pittman, director of programs, International Youth Foundation, Baltimore, MD

"An essential guidebook for every community--Peter Benson show us how to create positive and responsive environments for today's young people--involving parents and a wide range of community resources in a rational research-based approach to planning and implementation." —Joy Dryfoos, author of Adolescents at Risk (1991) and Full-Service Schools (1994)

"This well-documented title details how members of a community working together can create a more positive environment for raising healthy children....This title is a valuable asset to any library reevaluating their role within their community or for those creating their mission statement for the first time." —Voice of Youth Advocates

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1st edition (October 2, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787910686
• ISBN-13: 978-0787910686
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #722,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important new approach to human development, January 22, 2001

By A Customer

Thus book bridges from science to practice, offering a new model for engaging many sectors of community-family, neighborhood, congregations,employers, schools-in creating settings and relationships to build developmental strengths. When one looks at youth through the lens of developmental assets, everything changes.

Implications for everything from public policy to neighborhood revitalization are discussed. This book would be a powerful textbook in all of those fields which train the next generation of community leaders.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All kids are our kids, June 26, 2006

By	Irene De Anda Lewis (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Outstanding resource for anyone who works with youth (or anyone who has a heart for youth). I am the director of a large youth and community center in Los Angeles and this book has truly motivated me to work to build a stronger "community" with local schools, parents, neighborhood agencies that focus on supporting kids and their families.

This book is a must read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant work, carefully explains how to be a better parent., October 13, 2005

By	Pattyjj "pattyjj" (IN) - See all my reviews

This asset-building approach to youth development and community development is solidly based on extensive research and meta-research. Thousands of youth have been surveyed to yield the great information. Written for parents, community volunteers and professionals who work with children & youth, it describes 40 qualities (or assets) which help youth thrive. The more of the 40 assets a youth has the better he/she does. A university student body president I knew felt he had 39 of the 40 assets; since I knew him to be a fabulous kid, it validated the asset-building framework for me. I urge every parent to get and read this, apply what you learn to your kids, and then go out and make your community more youth friendly. I have 3 copies; two of which are "loaners".