A presentation from Dr. Cynthia Struthers and Tiffany Williams-Colbeigh of the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs that explores the importance of youth involvement in community development, as seen in rural communities.

1. Community Connections and
Future Plans: The Illinois
Rural Youth Survey
Dr. Cynthia Struthers
Tiffany Williams-Cobleigh
Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs
Western Illinois University
Community Development Society Annual Conference
19-23 July 2014
Dubuque, IA

2. Why this survey?
• Engagement of youth in local community development
efforts.
• Young people can bring new and fresh ideas.
• They will feel invested and valued in their community.
Assumptions:
• Rural youth prefer to live and remain in rural
communities.
• They feel pressured to leave their community for:
• education/training beyond high school
• to find a job

3. Overview
• Findings Part 1: Community Connections
• Findings Part 2: Future Plans
• Findings Part 3: Pressure to Leave
• Findings Part 4: Rural vs. Urban
• Principles of Good Practice – The
Community Development Society
and Findings Part 5: Implications for
Community Development Practice

4. Methodology
• Contacted 348 rural schools:
superintendents/principals
• 24 schools participated
• 1,001 completed surveys

5. Findings Part 1
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

6. Community Connections: Teachers/School
Question Strongly
disagree
Disagree Agree
Strongly
agree
My teachers care
about me
(n=998)
2.6% 11.0% 68.5% 17.8%
There is at least
one adult at
school that I
could go to for
help with a
problem (n=990)
2.9% 7.8% 51.0% 38.3%

7. Community Connections: Home
Question Strongly
disagree
Disagree Agree
Strongly
agree
I feel very
close to at
least one of
my parents
(n=994)
1.8% 8.4% 37.3% 52.5%
I can get help
and support
when I need it
from someone
in my home
(n=990)
2.7% 8.3% 44.7% 44.2%

8. Community Connections: Parent Involvement
Question Strongly
disagree
Disagree Agree
Strongly
agree
At least one of my
parents goes to school
activities that I am
involved in (n=986)
5.9% 11.5% 40.2% 42.5%
At least one of my
parents volunteers at
community events
(n=992)
12.3% 30.3% 40.9% 16.4%

9. Community Connections: Other Adults
Question Strongly
disagree
Disagree Agree
Strongly
agree
Adults in my
community care
about people my
age (n=989)
7.5% 26.4% 54.4% 11.7%
There are adults
in my community
who would help
me if I needed
help (n=991)
3.6% 9.0% 58.2% 29.2%

10. Findings Part 2
FUTURE PLANS

11. PLAN to Do vs. WANT to Do
PLAN
Attend 4-year college 63.8%
Work 55.4%
Attend comm. college 35.2%
Get married 16.6%
Start a family 12.6%
Attend trade school 10.4%
Join military 10.3%
Other 10.3%
Start a business 5.4%
WANT
Attend 4-year college 68.2%
Work 53.8%
Get married 27.8%
Attend comm. college 27.2%
Start a family 23.7%
Other 12.8%
Start a business 11.7%
Join military 9.9%
Attend trade school 9.3%

12. What training is needed for
students’ desired careers?
Training needed Frequency Percent
None 95 10.2
Military 34 3.7
Associate’s degree,
trade school, or other
183 19.8
training (i.e. police)
Bachelor’s degree
or more
614 66.3
Total 926 100

13. Do plans match career goals?
Training Plan Career Goal
None 55.4% 10.2%
Military 10.3% 3.7%
Associate’s degree,
trade school, or other
45.6% 19.8%
training (i.e. police)
Bachelor’s degree
or more
63.8% 66.3%
Total *Students could check more
than one option for their
post-high school plans
100%

14. Findings Part 3
PRESSURE TO LEAVE

15. In your community, would teenagers
like to stay or move?
Answer Frequency Percent
Would like to stay 126 12.6
Would like to move 658 65.9
Would like to stay but
30 3.0
will have to move
Don’t know/Not sure 184 18.4
Total 998 100

16. Do you feel pressure to leave?
Answer Frequency Percent
YES 301 30.5
NO 685 69.5
Total 986 100

17. Where does the pressure to leave come from?
Source Percent
It’s internal-I feel I have to leave to achieve my future goals 78.3
Peers/friends 33.0
Mother 23.0
Father 19.3
Community 19.3
Other family members 18.0
Other 11.3
Teachers 9.3
Guidance counselor 6.3
Coaches 3.7
*Students could check more than one source

18. Findings Part 4
RURAL VS. URBAN

19. How do you rate your
community as a place to live?
Answer Frequency Percent
Very Poor or Poor 153 15.3
Fair 307 30.8
Good or Very Good 538 53.9
Total 998 100

20. How does your community compare to
other rural communities in Illinois?
Answer Frequency Percent
Much Worse or Worse 136 13.7
About the Same 472 47.5
Better or Much Better 385 38.8
Total 993 100

21. How does your community compare to
urban communities in Illinois?
Answer Frequency Percent
Much Worse or Worse 285 28.9
About the Same 338 34.2
Better or Much Better 365 36.9
Total 988 100

22. Where do you want to live 5
years from now?
Answer Frequency Percent
In this community 173 17.4
A different rural community 225 22.7
An urban community 261 26.3
Don’t know 334 33.6
Total 993 100

23. Where would you prefer to
raise children?
Answer Frequency Percent
In this community 285 28.6
A different rural community 307 30.9
An urban community 165 16.6
Don’t know 238 23.9
Total 995 100

24. Principles of Good Practice – The Community
Development Society
and Findings Part 5
IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE

25. What could your community do to
help you achieve your future goals?
Answer Frequency Percent
Education/training 157 25.8
Support 146 23.9
Internship/mentor/volunteer 75 12.3
Scholarships 68 11.2
Other 51 8.4
Job opportunities 47 7.7
Advice, college/career fair 39 6.4
Vocational/additional training or
26 4.3
activities
Total 609 100

26. What do you like least about
your community?
• Not enough things for teens to do
• Too small and rural
• Not enough businesses (restaurants,
grocery stores, retail shops)

27. What do you like most about
your community?
•The people
•Sense of community
•Small

28. CDS Principles of Good Practice
• Promote active and representative participation.
• Incorporate the diverse interests and cultures of the
community in the community development process.
• Work actively to enhance the leadership capacity of
community members.
• Be open to using the full range of action strategies to
work toward the long term sustainability and well
being of the community.

29. Summary of Findings
• Rural youth feel connected to teachers and parents.
• Most rural youth want to attend a 4-year university
and aspire to careers that require additional
education.
• They say that their community is a great place to
live, yet they wish to leave after high school.
• The desire to leave is mostly internal; they feel they
need to leave to reach their future goals.
• They emphasize that there are not enough activities
and venues for recreation outside of school.

30. What can communities do to
encourage youth to stay?
• Develop and/or promote activities and venues for youth
outside of school.
• Offer more opportunities for career and college
information so youth feel more prepared for life after
high school.
• Offer encouragement and scholarships.
• Offer more classes, job shadowing, mentoring programs,
and volunteer opportunities.
• Engage youth in community life: involve youth in
community development efforts. Let them have a
voice.