Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Routt County Human Resource Coalition on Thursday will present an informational session for community members about encouraging youths.

Steamboat Springs recreation director Susan Petersen said the event is the result of several area agencies that serve youths coming together to plan a session for teachers, parents and other community members about healthy youth development.

Petersen said the event, "Assets: What All Youth Need to Succeed," will feature a three-hour presentation from Stephanie Hoy, the executive director of Assets for Colorado Youth, and will cover information and research for building healthy relationships with youth and providing them with the resources and tools they need to be successful.

"'Assets' isn't a program, per se. It's more of a philosophy that we're trying to revitalize here in Steamboat," Petersen said.

"The philosophy is essential to creating the building blocks the community needs for youth development. It's a very simple, but compelling philosophy anyone can grasp."

The session will focus mostly on 40 developmental assets, a set of "concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people."

The asset framework was developed at the Search Insti--tute of Minnesota and focuses on 20 internal and 20 external assets, such as empowerment, support, setting boundaries and developing positive ideals and values.

Petersen said people should attend the entire three-hour session.

"We're trying to help give parents and teachers some good tools and strategies to help our children.

"It has such a positive focus on our youth and the family," she said.

Assets for Colorado Youth is a nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to support adults raising healthy young people.

The group works with local parents, educators, youth-serving organizations and local and state agencies to provide "current research with time-tested knowledge about what it takes to build a strong community," according to the organization's Web site, www.assetsforcoyouth.org.

Petersen said Routt Coun--ty Partners, Grand Futures Prevention Coalition, Ameri--Corp, Routt County United Way and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation also will participate in the session, though none of the agencies will be making any formal presentation.

"Anyone who is excited or concerned about the youth in this community would gain something from attending the program," Petersen said.

Reservations are required because pizza and refreshments will be served during the program, Petersen said. Reservations will be accepted today and Thursday morning.

Petersen said youths are welcome to attend, though most of the content is geared toward adults.

-- To reach Alexis DeLaCruz, call 871-4234 or e-mail adelacruz@steamboatpilot.com