Work With Children To Stem Violence, Say Parents At Central Valley Meeting

Increased parental and community involvement are the most effective ways to curb rising youth problems, residents who gathered at a youth and family planning meeting said.

A handful discussed problems youths are facing and possible solutions Tuesday night at Central Valley High School. Residents placed youth violence and drug and alcohol abuse at the top of the list of problems.

“We see (youth violence) getting out of hand,” said Opportunity resident Cheryl Miller. “Our kids are afraid to walk home from school. They’re afraid to take the bus. That’s real scary for us and for them.”

The forum was organized as part of an effort to develop a county youth and family comprehensive plan to combat youth problem behaviors, said Frank Tombari, co-chairman of the Spokane County Youth and Family Comprehensive Network.

The meeting was the last of six held in the Spokane area, facilitated by Alliance Pacific, Inc.

Information collected at the meetings will be used to draft a 10-year community plan which will be presented to residents in April. Organizers said the plan will be completed in June.

Funding for programs to support the plan will come partly from state grants. Remaining funding must come from community groups and businesses, Tombari said.

Residents said support from community groups and businesses will help provide positive role models, but ultimately the responsibility for steering youths from trouble lies with parents.

“I work with a kid and I always end up working with the parents,” said Troy Todd, who works as a family counselor.

Dennis Kessner was frustrated because there were a number of empty seats at the meeting, which attracted only about six people.

“Look how many people that are in the Valley that didn’t make it tonight,” he said.

But organizers were not discouraged by the turnout. They sent packets home with half a dozen people who will reach hundreds more through their own neighborhood meetings, said Alliance spokesperson Kerry Lynch.

“The whole concept behind the legislation is local control,” said Connie Nelson, a member of the youth and family planning board. “We should know better where our problems are.”

, DataTimes