Faith Works Creates Opportunities for Youth in San Diego County

Safe Neighborhoods | Youth Development

Faith Works North San Diego County, July 28, 2009

In July, PICO affiliate Faith Works of North San Diego County, CA won twin victories in its "Lift Every Voice for Youth" initiative.  

In Oceanside, Faith Works congregations took a big step toward reducing school campus violence and bullying by hosting a town hall meeting with the associate superintendent of the school district and all the middle and high school principals. 

According to the most recent state-mandated school health survey, only 39% of Oceanside 7th graders felt safe in school restrooms, and over 20% of 9th graders had been in a physical fight on campus within the last year.  Faith Works put a face on the problem at the action meeting as one young victim struggled to hold back tears while she shared what it felt like to be cruelly harassed for being overweight.  Another teen spoke of his temptation to use drugs as a result of being bullied.  Most sobering was the testimony of a mother who discovered that her child was ready to commit suicide after years of victimization that she was not aware of. 

Faith Works leaders won a commitment from the school district to develop a comprehensive, school-wide safety strategy that will include students, parents, and all school personnel in creating a culture of respect, empathy, and tolerance at each school rather than relying solely on reactive zero tolerance policies and haphazard interventions. 

In Fallbrook, St. Peter's Catholic Community hosted a town hall meeting to launch a youth opportunity collaboration.  After over 400 visits with youth and parents and a parish wide survey, St. Peter's leaders learned that Fallbrook's lack of teen recreational opportunities was a major issue.  St. Peter's faith leaders won a commitment from youth-related groups such as the Boys and Girls Club and the local soccer league, as well as the San Diego County Parks and Recreation, to work with St. Peter's on its youth opportunity platform.