This report describes the results of the Risk and Protective Factor Assessment completed as part of the work of Wilson Area Communities That Care Coalition. The Communities That Care system is a way for members of a community to work together to prevent youth problem behaviors, including substance use, delinquency, teen pregnancy, school drop out, and violence. The assessment was completed using the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) and publicly available data. The PAYS was administered to students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 in the Wilson Area School District in the Fall of 2021 with a 100% participation rate.
The data revealed that young people in the Wilson Area Community are motivated to follow society’s expectations and standards. In particular, young people reported high levels of the protective factor “Belief in Moral Order” and low levels of the risk factor “Rebelliousness.” The Wilson Area Community should work to build on this strength while enhancing other protective factors in its prevention efforts.
Community Priorities
Based on the analysis of the data and input from the community, the following priority risk factors were identified for the community to focus on over the next several years:
- Low Neighborhood Attachment (Community Domain)
- Depressive Symptoms (Peer and Individual Domain)
- Perceived Risk of Drug Use (Peer and Individual Domain)
- Parental Attitudes Toward Antisocial Behavior (Family Domain)
These risk factors were selected as priorities because the data indicated that they are among the most elevated throughout the Wilson Area Community. We recommend that the community give particular attention to implementing strategies or programs to address these four risk factors when developing a prevention plan.
Read the full assessment here: Community Assessment Report Final
