In conjunction
with CHANGE, Hope Enterprise conducted research on resilience among
teens in the community of Clarendon in Jamaica. The research used
an assets-based approach to identify resilient individuals who succeed
despite their high risk profile. The research was designed to identify
those factors within the individual and in the home, community and
school level that protect teens against high risk behaviors, including
early, unprotected sex; violence; drug and alcohol use and suicide.
The research
data shows an overall protective effect of caring relationships.
High expectations and opportunities for meaningful participation
at home, school or in the community also played a role in preventing
teens from engaging in high risk behavior. Both risk behavior and
their protective factors are interrelated and mutually reinforcing.
