Introducing Initiative and Addressing Necessary Support
The problem of peer pressure in community stands out when it comes to the welfare of teenagers. In particular, youth have difficulties in developing skills that will help them resist peer pressure from teenagers who are still abusing drugs. Therefore, the question of peer pressure needs to be addressed because it requires an in-depth analysis of social, cultural, and political backgrounds of teenagers.
The role of social workers here is confined to evaluating how family and educational environments influence teenagers. Lack of support from the close relatives and friends seems to be the major obstacle in resisting negative influences of drug-addicted teenagers. With regard to this background, the implemented initiative should reduce the peer pressure and introduce a healthy social and psychological environment in schools.
Recruiting the Committee
In order to put the initiative into practice, a specialized committee should be organized to take responsibility for creating new principles and regulations. The first step for the initiative plan accomplishment refers to encouraging adults, particularly to problematic teenagers’ parents who should take an active part in lives of their children (Ambrosino et al., 2005).
The group should conduct lectures on the basis of education and upbringing for families to be aware of the challenges and constraints. There should also be volunteers who would agree to work with the teenagers under peer pressure.
Mission: Development and Challenges
Making positive changes in community is the most challenging task and, therefore, the mission will focus on the prompt techniques promoting those changes. The first step to accomplishment will include creating new principles of moral and character development among the teenagers.
My vision of the initiative, therefore, is strongly associated with shaping and cultivating new moral skills and social competencies that can allow teenagers to resist negative impact of peer pressure. In order to achieve the main goals and visions of the initiative, it is necessary to redefine the previously established norms of ethics and morale in society (Fisher, 2003).
This step is especially challengeable because it entails significant efforts that parents should make to improve the situation. While implementing the change, I provide strict instructions both to parents and to volunteers about the negative consequences of peer pressure. In such a way, I have managed to come to an agreement concerning the measure to be taken to alleviate the problem.
Community Focus
Lakewood, California, is a great place for raising family and participating in recreation programs. Lakewood Center is a perfect sit for initiating these programs and promoting training and development for the target group. The community should be on guard of such social problems as substance abuse among teenagers (Nucci, 2008).
To be more exact, they should be interested in the underpinnings of the problem, including psychological and moral background in families and school. Academic counselors in schools should pay attention not only to teenagers experiencing peer pressure, but also to the children who negatively influence their peers.
Explaining the Initiative with Regard to the Five Action Strategy
The concept of the Five Action Strategy provides efficient approaches to encouraging, identifying, and connecting all necessary people, activities and programs to empower the collective effort and solve the problem. Within these perspectives, the given initiative manages to incorporate all five action strategies, including adults engagement, mobilization of young people (volunteers), program introduction, activation of sectors, and introduction of civic decisions.
References
Ambrosino, R., Ambrosino, R., Heffernan, J., and Shitlesworth, G. (2007). Social Work and Social Welfare: An Introduction. US: Cengage Learning.
Fisher, D. (2003). Assets in Action: A Handbook for Making Communities Better Places to Grow Up. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.
Nucci, L. (2008). Handbook of Moral and Character Education. US: Taylor & Francis.