13 of 23

Write now Article Tools

Family is the Key to Unlocking Delinquency

This article originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Baptist Times Magazine. Baptist Times is the official publication of the Council of Baptist Pastors in Detroit, MI and the vicinity. The publisher requested that I submit the article because of my extensive work with inner-city youth, as well as because of my life roles of father and mentor. I hope you enjoy it. I welcome your feedback.

When the Baptist Times asked me toi write this article, I was delighted to be of service. As a twenty year veteran and executive, with the Detroit Police Department, I am no stranger to juvenile crime, data collection, statistical analysis, charts and comparisons, and research and statistics.

However, I aim to help parents identify many of the social, economical, and societal factors that directly or indirectly impact the problem of juvenile delinquency. Large metropolitan areas experience it more, if for no other reason, because of the density of the population. But, this is a problem that plagues all communities, no matter the size or population.

Imagine for a moment that all of the solutions to the problems associated with juvenile delinquency are locked in a room. Now let your imagination visualize a key that unlocks the door to that room. Now, finally, let's assume that the name of that key is "family". If our imaginations and the assumptions were accurate, then we could conclude that family is the key to solving problems associated with juvenile delinquency.

According to the Encarta definition, family is "a group whose members are related in origin, characteristics or occupation." The reason this definition jumped out at me is because it removes the "so-called" perception that family be associated by blood or lineage. Family isn't just mother, father, sister, brother, although that is the nucleus. Family is the role that all adults play in the live sof young people that they interact with daily. Family is just like any other key. Some keys simply don't work because of some flaw or another. Others worked at one time or another, but through time, wear and tear, they stopped working altogether. Then there are those reliable keys that work consistently well.

Young people who become delinquent in their behavior have either been part of a family that never worked or stopped working along the way. A key or family that doesn't work can't unlock the door. Behind the door lies the following knowledge points that should help parents steer

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Is parent attitude the key to effective discipline??
We want to hear your view. Write now!