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o overcome adversity when they can draw on protective forces within the individual, family, school and community. "It may be that focusing too much on risk factors may be harmful, because it may convey a message that we expect young people to engage in risky behaviors," said social worker Maisha Sullivan, M.S.W., a study co-author. Currently a member of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, she formerly directed the Urban Initiative of the City of Philadelphia, which commissioned the research.

The students did not ignore challenging issues in their environment, such as crime, drugs and poverty, but did offer positive alternatives to the draw of the street. Many students mentioned the importance of recreation programs, community centers and after-school activities, and 12th graders in particular stressed the need for adult role models.

"Policy-makers concerned with urban environments should continue to address risk factors affecting young people, but should also look beyond reduction of risk," said Dr. Ginsburg. Further studies, he added, should address how the protective effects of education, jobs and job training, connections to caring adults, and community-based programs might shape positive outcomes for urban adolescents.

The students participating in the survey and focus groups attended five high schools and four middle schools, all in North Philadelphia, in 1997. Approximately 65 percent of the 1,761 students completing useable surveys were African American, 24 percent were Latino, 3 percent were white, 2 percent were Asian and 6 percent were "other." The researchers found that the students gender or race had little effect on how they ranked the ideas.

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Contact: John Ascenzi
Ascenzi@email.chop.edu
215-590-7332
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3-Jun-2002

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