Community Connections and Future Plans: The Illinois Rural Youth Survey

Dr. Cynthia Struthers Tiffany Williams-Cobleigh Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs Western Illinois University Community Development Society Annual Conference 19-23 July 2014 Dubuque, IA

Why this survey? • Engagement of youth in local community development

efforts.

• Young people can bring new and fresh ideas.

• They will feel invested and valued in their community.

Assumptions:

• Rural youth prefer to live and remain in rural communities.

• They feel pressured to leave their community for:

• education/training beyond high school

• to find a job

Overview

• Findings Part 1: Community Connections

• Findings Part 2: Future Plans

• Findings Part 3: Pressure to Leave

• Findings Part 4: Rural vs. Urban

• Principles of Good Practice – The Community Development Society and Findings Part 5: Implications for Community Development Practice

Methodology

• Contacted 348 rural schools: superintendents/principals

• 24 schools participated

• 1,001 completed surveys

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Findings Part 1

Community Connections: Teachers/School

Question Strongly disagree

Disagree Agree Strongly

agree

My teachers care about me (n=998)

2.6% 11.0% 68.5% 17.8%

There is at least one adult at school that I could go to for help with a problem (n=990)

2.9% 7.8% 51.0% 38.3%

Community Connections: Home

Question Strongly disagree

Disagree Agree Strongly

agree

I feel very close to at least one of my parents (n=994)

1.8% 8.4% 37.3% 52.5%

I can get help and support when I need it from someone in my home (n=990)

2.7% 8.3% 44.7% 44.2%

Community Connections: Parent Involvement

Question Strongly disagree

Disagree Agree Strongly

agree

At least one of my parents goes to school activities that I am involved in (n=986)

5.9% 11.5% 40.2% 42.5%

At least one of my parents volunteers at community events (n=992)

12.3% 30.3% 40.9% 16.4%

Community Connections: Other Adults

Question Strongly disagree

Disagree Agree Strongly

agree

Adults in my community care about people my age (n=989)

7.5% 26.4% 54.4% 11.7%

There are adults in my community who would help me if I needed help (n=991)

3.6% 9.0% 58.2% 29.2%

FUTURE PLANS

Findings Part 2

PLAN to Do vs. WANT to Do

PLAN Attend 4-year college 63.8%

Work 55.4%

Attend comm. college 35.2%

Get married 16.6%

Start a family 12.6%

Attend trade school 10.4%

Join military 10.3%

Other 10.3%

Start a business 5.4%

WANT Attend 4-year college 68.2%

Work 53.8%

Get married 27.8%

Attend comm. college 27.2%

Start a family 23.7%

Other 12.8%

Start a business 11.7%

Join military 9.9%

Attend trade school 9.3%

What training is needed for students’ desired careers?

Training needed Frequency Percent

None 95 10.2

Military 34 3.7

Associate’s degree,

trade school, or other

training (i.e. police)

183 19.8

Bachelor’s degree

or more 614 66.3

Total 926 100

Do plans match career goals?

Training Plan Career Goal

None 55.4% 10.2%

Military 10.3% 3.7%

Associate’s degree,

trade school, or other

training (i.e. police)

45.6% 19.8%

Bachelor’s degree

or more 63.8% 66.3%

Total *Students could check more

than one option for their

post-high school plans

100%

PRESSURE TO LEAVE

Findings Part 3

In your community, would teenagers like to stay or move?

Answer Frequency Percent

Would like to stay 126 12.6

Would like to move 658 65.9

Would like to stay but will have to move

30 3.0

Don’t know/Not sure 184 18.4

Total 998 100

Do you feel pressure to leave?

Answer Frequency Percent

YES 301 30.5

NO 685 69.5

Total 986 100

Where does the pressure to leave come from?

Source Percent

It’s internal-I feel I have to leave to achieve my future goals 78.3

Peers/friends 33.0

Mother 23.0

Father 19.3

Community 19.3

Other family members 18.0

Other 11.3

Teachers 9.3

Guidance counselor 6.3

Coaches 3.7

*Students could check more than one source

RURAL VS. URBAN

Findings Part 4

How do you rate your community as a place to live?

Answer Frequency Percent

Very Poor or Poor 153 15.3

Fair 307 30.8

Good or Very Good 538 53.9

Total 998 100

How does your community compare to other rural communities in Illinois?

Answer Frequency Percent

Much Worse or Worse 136 13.7

About the Same 472 47.5

Better or Much Better 385 38.8

Total 993 100

How does your community compare to urban communities in Illinois?

Answer Frequency Percent

Much Worse or Worse 285 28.9

About the Same 338 34.2

Better or Much Better 365 36.9

Total 988 100

Where do you want to live 5 years from now?

Answer Frequency Percent

In this community 173 17.4

A different rural community 225 22.7

An urban community 261 26.3

Don’t know 334 33.6

Total 993 100

Where would you prefer to raise children?

Answer Frequency Percent

In this community 285 28.6

A different rural community 307 30.9

An urban community 165 16.6

Don’t know 238 23.9

Total 995 100

IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE

Principles of Good Practice – The Community Development Society

and Findings Part 5

What could your community do to help you achieve your future goals?

Answer Frequency Percent

Education/training 157 25.8

Support 146 23.9

Internship/mentor/volunteer 75 12.3

Scholarships 68 11.2

Other 51 8.4

Job opportunities 47 7.7

Advice, college/career fair 39 6.4

Vocational/additional training or

activities

26 4.3

Total 609 100

What do you like least about your community?

•Not enough things for teens to do

• Too small and rural

•Not enough businesses (restaurants, grocery stores, retail shops)

What do you like most about your community?

•The people

•Sense of community

•Small

CDS Principles of Good Practice

• Promote active and representative participation.

• Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the community in the community development process.

• Work actively to enhance the leadership capacity of community members.

• Be open to using the full range of action strategies to work toward the long term sustainability and well being of the community.

Summary of Findings

• Rural youth feel connected to teachers and parents.

• Most rural youth want to attend a 4-year university and aspire to careers that require additional education.

• They say that their community is a great place to live, yet they wish to leave after high school.

• The desire to leave is mostly internal; they feel they need to leave to reach their future goals.

• They emphasize that there are not enough activities and venues for recreation outside of school.

What can communities do to encourage youth to stay?

• Develop and/or promote activities and venues for youth outside of school.

• Offer more opportunities for career and college information so youth feel more prepared for life after high school.

• Offer encouragement and scholarships.

• Offer more classes, job shadowing, mentoring programs, and volunteer opportunities.

• Engage youth in community life: involve youth in community development efforts. Let them have a voice.