What Do Our Youth Think?
At the beginning of the Pro-100 sessions, more than 100 youth completed a survey to determine what issues youth think are important in their lives and communities. There were four issues that were expressed by a majority of the youth participants. Those issues were:
  • Jobs, Money and Economy
  • Family Communication and Single Parents
  • Lack of Teen Activities
  • Education and School Achievement
The youth then completed roundtable dialogues with their peers to further discuss these issues and define what the main issues were and what needed to be done to create change. Below is a compilation of their responses from these roundtable discussions.
Issue #1  -  Jobs, Money, and the Economy
"What are the challenges to youth getting jobs?"
  • Misconception of teens and ability to work in specific jobs
  • Lack of work experience
  • Age discrimination
  • Teens have to compete with adults for jobs
  • Employers think teens just play around
  • Transportation
  • Teens not taking things seriously
  • Family connections lead to better chances of becoming employed
"What are the challenges to parents getting jobs?"
  • Transportation
  • Outsourcing and competing for limited jobs
  • Available jobs to far away from where you live
  • Company closed down or moved to another location
"What changes would you like to see to improve job market and economy?"
  • Invest money in public transportation
  • Decrease gas prices
  • Bring more jobs to Indiana
  • Enforce age discrimination
  • Do something about inflation
  • Legislators should create more jobs
  • Lower age requirements for jobs
Issue #2  -  Family Communication and Single Parents
"What changes would you like to see regarding these issues?"
  • Open discussions and communication in families
  • Mentors for families
  • Men need to step up their game
  • Parents knowing when they are ready to have kids
  • Opportunities in the community other than drugs
  • Have family meetings
  • Young open to communicating with parents
  • More counselors to help families
  • More drug and alcohol treatment programs
  • Jobs for ex-felons
  • Jobs allow for family time
  • Mother and father help with parenting
  • Court ordered counseling before getting a divorce
  • More father programs and men for younger men to talk to
"What is the youth role in making changes?"
  • Get a job to help out the family
  • Stay out of trouble
  • Don’t have a baby at a young age
  • Be respectful and responsible for yourself
  • Listen to others/authority figures
  • Being helpful, considerate, and volunteering to help
  • Initiate communication and understand compromise
"What is the adult role in making changes?"
  • Set better examples for youth
  • Assist in there being less weapons and decrease gangs
  • Assume the parental role in the family
  • Stay out of other people’s personal lives
  • Set positive examples for kids
  • Make time to talk and more family time
  • Males held responsible
  • Give youth something to do with anger at parents
  • Higher salaries
  • Communication/Education about teen parenting
  • Drug/Alcohol awareness
  • Teach defensive communication
  • Find another caring adult to talk to
  • Make family events affordable
  • Know how to choose your partner
  • Eating meals together
  • Changes in the media
  • Changes in the way people look at youth
  • Community needs to be more supportive
Issue #3  -  Lack of Teen Activities
"What should be done for students home alone?"
  • Affordable day care for younger children
  • Free YMCA
  • More available programs, such as community center/gym, sport activities, tutoring (College prep courses)
  • Cash incentives to participate in programs
"Will crime change with more after school activities?"
  • Yes, because kids would be busy
  • Depends also on home life
  • Crime is universal for age groups
"What changes do you think need to happen regarding this issue?"
  • Implement year long passes at local afterschool programs
  • Need increased funds for transportation to and from afterschool programs
  • Need to improve safety and access to available programs
  • Community needs more activities and a better discount during school
  • Free day (ex. At YMCA) one to two days per month
  • More activities with more volunteers to assist
  • Offer programs at times youth will be available
Issue #4  -  Education and Student Achievement
"What changes need to happen to address this issue?"
  • More focused on students following the rules
  • Push us harder
  • Better training for teachers
  • Better teaching practices/interesting classes
  • More extracurriculars
  • Different ways to learn material
  • Make it illegal to drop out
  • Better teachers
  • Stricter policies
  • More support from parents, teachers, community, and legislators
  • More student choice
  • Equal funding
  • More career, technical classes, magnet programs
  • Smaller classes
  • More hands on and creative learning opportunities
  • Don’t hire teachers that hate kids, rather hire teachers that youth can relate to
"What is your role as a student promoting change in school?"
  • Better listening
  • Self responsibility
  • Respect between teachers and students
  • Talk to school personnel
  • Seek outside tutoring
  • Try harder and stay focused
  • Take advantage of opportunity
  • Provide leadership
"What is the adult role in promoting change in school?"
  • Get involved in school
  • Listen and compromise
  • Parent participation and training
  • Set incentives and guidelines
  • Talk with school officials
  • Listen to students
  • Parent engagement with school and youth
  • Provide parents better resources
  • Equality in student recognition
  • Adults should vote on school issues


Success Stories >> More

Discover what happens when
positive defeats negative.

Become a Volunteer
We have many opportunities for you to make a difference and assist us by way of the kind donation of your time.
>> Find out how


Reactive Attachment Disorder
Training Program
>> Learn more & register online

Learn what you
can do to keep
kids safe in cars.
>> Find out how

Needed Items >> View
Help us provide
basic necessities
for the children
in our care.

Advocacy >> Learn more
These are the issues we stand up for, speak out about, and that we believe are worth fighting for.

Make a Donation
You can assist us in
a multitude of ways.
Your generosity will
be invaluable to a
child in need.
>> How can I help?

Our History >> Learn more
Discover how we've provided a voice to children without one since 1851.

Caring Connection
Download & read our newsletter.
>> Select an issue



Visit the CB Store >> Shop!
Find apparel & gifts
at our online store!
Proceeds will help
us help kids!

Stay Informed >> Sign-up
   - Receive email updates.
   - Get important announcements.
   - Get info on current events.

Career Opportunities
Share your passion
for helping others
by joining us.
>> View job postings