The city is launching six new web videos in the hopes of teaching more people about the 40-asset youth program.
The videos went online this week, and to encourage people to watch them the city is offering prizes and has created a short survey.
The 40-asset program was endorsed by council as city policy two years ago, but Insp. Warren Dosko has been talking about the program since 2007. Since the program launched he’s noticed a sea change in the thinking about youth issues.
“People understand the importance of why we need to do this,” he said. “What we are talking about is a major cultural shift in attitudes toward youth.”
The program encourages adults to engage with youth and help them to develop 40 developmental assets that research shows increases the chances a young person will have a successful life.
Three of the videos highlight the basic tenets of the program and talk about ways adults can use the program to get to know youth. There are also three personal stories about people using the program in St. Albert.
They were produced for the city at a cost of $12,600.
Dosko said he hopes the videos encourage people to use the program.
“We hope they become a motivating factor with people and gives them the encouragement to actually get involved with youth.”
Kyle Dubé, one of the people profiled in the videos, said he was happy to appear.
“The program makes sense when we look at young people, quite often what they are lacking in their lives we can act as a community to put it into their lives.”
Dubé grew up in St. Albert and now works with high-risk youth. He admits to being a bully in his teens, before a youth pastor and a chance encounter with a homeless man helped him obtain some assets.
He said he didn’t know it at the time, but looking back he sees the impact.
Dosko said the program hasn’t changed youth crime rates dramatically, but he has seen some positive signs and the program isn’t a quick fix.
“We need to be patient with that and see where it goes, but ultimately that is the long-term strategy that youth get more assets and engage in less risky behaviours.”
The videos can be viewed at www.stalbert.ca/asset-videos.
