Report identifies need for teen-centered activities in Wasco County

“The point of this is to make you aware,” Jones says into the camera. “Wouldn’t it be great if every parent who sees these things instead of starting to sneak into their kids’ rooms would start building a relationship with them?”

The video is part of YouthThink’s “Hiding in Plain Sight” campaign, one of many initiatives the substance use prevention organization provides to youth and families through community-based programs in Wasco County.

“We are striving to find the root causes of harmful and risky behaviors and strengthen the protective factors that can help our future generations become more resilient and successful,” Jones said at a Wasco County Commissioners Meeting on July 3.

YouthThink is a program of the Wasco County Youth Services department and is supported by a variety of grants including a federal Partnership for Success grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

In addition to working as the county’s Prevention Coordinator, Jones serves as the Vice-Chair for Governor Tina Kotek’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission.

Jones appeared before the commissioners to share findings from YouthThink’s 2023-24 needs assessment, which offers a window into the lives of teens in Wasco County. To create this report, YouthThink held listening sessions and gathered data from nearly 200 high school and middle school students from The Dalles High School, St. Mary’s Academy, and The Next Door LGBTQ+ Youth Advisory Council.

“YouthThink is not just about substance use prevention; we aim to address the broader environmental and societal issues that impact our youth,” Jones stated.

In a phone call, Jones told Columbia Gorge News one of YouthThink’s key observations about the teen experience today is isolation. The organization outlined in its report recommendations for addressing digital distractions, a need for community and access to positive activities.

Teens say access to fun activities reduces risky behaviors

According to the needs assessment, the single greatest concern teens brought up in listening sessions was the need for “fun, accessible, youth- and family-focused activities.”

“Many youths expressed that the lack of engaging activities led them to unhealthy behaviors such as excessive screen time and substance use,” Jones said.

The report notes that many students said the same thing without being prompted: “There’s nothing to do here.” Teens noted a lack of youth-focused businesses like bowling alleys or arcades.

The participants also shared concerns about public areas, pointing out that the public pool closes amid high temperatures for staffing reasons. Students found the Discovery Center was “not seen as a compelling activity,” and Riverfront Park was perceived as too small.

Teens say they need more safe spaces

Safety concerns were also prominent, with students reporting they felt unsafe in public spaces.

“Some kids talked about not feeling safe walking to school, which impacts their physical exercise and overall well-being,” Jones explained.

Students also repeatedly mentioned an incident last year when a 29-year-old woman was found deceased near The Dalles High School.

“Even when new resources are built, or old ones improved, if they are overrun with adults who are drinking or simply loitering — youth won’t utilize them,” the report notes, illustrating with the example of The Dalles Skate Park.

The report quotes a student who told YouthThink that while the skate park has been repaired, the student can’t go without being harassed and yelled at.

“I’m not trying to be mean, but I don’t want to have to step over needles to skate. I’d rather go somewhere else … or just stay home,” the student said.

To address these concerns, YouthThink recommends that county leadership provide incentives to businesses that provide fun, safe places for youth to enjoy. The report includes suggestions like tax credits for youth-focused businesses, grants for businesses to expand their operation to create an activity specifically for teens, and infrastructure support like a youth district or plaza.

Maintaining public spaces was another recommendation, such as adding lights to the skate park, and continuing efforts to address homelessness in the area so spaces are accessible to all.

YouthThink’s programs show successes amid rising substance abuse

“Substances like alcohol, marijuana, and vapes have become go-to stress relievers for many youths,” Jones said. “Media plays a crucial role in normalizing substance use, and our youth are bombarded with these messages daily.”

YouthThink has been actively implementing several programs to address these issues. The “What’s Strong With You” program at The Dalles Middle School focuses on enhancing resilience among students through individual coaching and peer support groups.

“This program builds on existing skills youth demonstrate and supports them in identifying internal qualities to empower and avert potential problems,” Jones explained.

“Most of Us Don’t” is a campaign focused on providing real data about teen alcohol consumption to combat the perception that most teens are drinking. A 2019 survey of Wasco County showed “83% of eighth graders had not drank alcohol in the past 30 days,” while “72% of 8th graders thought that most 8th graders had at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days,” the campaign’s webpage states.

Additionally, the organization has been involved in overdose prevention efforts in collaboration with North Central Public Health. Over the past three years, nearly 2,000 doses of Narcan have been distributed, and the implementation of the ODMAP program has significantly improved the tracking and response to overdoses in the county.

“Our overdoses from 2022 to 2023 jumped 56%, which is alarming,” Jones stated. “We are working hard to distribute Narcan and educate our community on overdose prevention.”

Commissioner Hege expressed his deep appreciation for the work being done by YouthThink, stating, “The challenges our kids face today are immense, and your dedication to making a difference is truly commendable.”

In her closing remarks, Jones expressed her gratitude to the community for its ongoing support of YouthThink and emphasized the need for continued collaboration. “Our youth are our future, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they have the environment and resources they need to thrive,” she concluded. “With every decision we make, we need to hit the pause button and ask, ‘What about the children?’”