Mission: A call to individuals, families, businesses and other organizations to give children, youth and adolescents the care and support they need.
History:Children First Olmsted County was conceived in the Spring of 1996 by a group of caring Olmsted County community members who heard of the research done by Search Institute on developmental assets for children. The members of FACES - Family Action Collaborative - Youth Services Action Team chose to promote and financially support the survey and the initiative, which became Children First Olmsted County.
Through the cooperation and collaboration of many, nearly 4,000 students in grades 7,9 and 11 in Olmsted County were surveyed in October of 1996, to determine how many assets the children of this county possessed. The results of this survey were enlightening and a wake-up call to adults on the needs of our children. The survey showed us that our children possess too few assets and as a result, may engage in at risk behavior. The challenge to the adults was to focus on building assets for youth in a variety of ways through their families, organizations, faith communities and neighborhoods. Search Institute has identified a set of 40 developmental assets or building blocks that children need for the normal development of health and well being. The survey results showed that on average, Olmsted County youth possess 18.9 assets. This figure shows us that our young people are struggling to construct their lives without an adequate foundation upon which to build.
Email: faces@infonet.isl.net