Childrens Report Card

Every two years, the California Department of Education administers the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) to 7th, 9th and 11th grade students.  The Resilience & Youth Development Module (RYDM) is used to measure student assets, and the relationship between risk and the capacity for healthy development and successful leaning.  The RYDM is an index of 56 questions measuring 17 external and internal assets. Students are classified as scoring high, moderate, or low in these assets. Most youth in Sacramento County reported access to assets needed to help them grow their personal strengths and confidence.  More than 9 out of every 10 youth score moderate or high in external assets in the community environment, and more than 8 out of every 10 score moderate or high in external assets in the school environment.

Why is this important?

• External assets are environmental supports and opportunities or protective factors that facilitate healthy and successful development in children and youth. Student perceptions of caring relationships, high expectations, and opportunities for meaningful participation in the home, school, community, and peer groups have been identified as the most robust and powerful environmental protective factors.
• Internal assets are positive developmental outcomes or personal strengths associated with healthy and successful development. Cooperation and communication, empathy, problem solving, self-efficacy, self-awareness, and goals and aspirations protect youth from involvement in health-risk behaviors such as violence, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse.

How are we doing?

• With only 8-14% of youth scoring "low" in total assets available, it appears that a vast majority of youth have at least adequate access to caring relationships, high expectations, and opportunities to participate in school and community life.
• By Comparison, between 29% and 36% of youth score "high" in total assets available in the school environment and between 64% and 68% score "high" in total assets available in the community environment.
• Youth perceive that they have fewer assets supporting them in school than in the general community.
  

Data Source: California Healthy Kids Survey