Indicator: 71 - Youth in Community Service

Why This Is Important

Community service projects enable young people to engage in real-life problem-solving
in their schools and communities. Volunteering and working in the community is one way
to help young people develop stronger bonds to their community, which can help to prevent
them from engaging in risky behaviors. Creating opportunities for community service is one
way communities can promote collaborative partnerships.

 

Where We Stand

Similar to previous years, 48% of all youth reported doing some kind of community
service during an average week. Just under half of youth (48%) involved in community
service reported that the service activity was organized through their school. Of those
youth who reported doing community service, the average number of hours reported was
3 per week, with a range of 1 to 17 hours per week. Twenty-seven percent of youth
surveyed stated they spend one hour per week in community service. For 2004, there is
a statistical difference between genders; females (55%) report that they are involved in
community service more often than males (42%): In addition, females (3.4 hours) spend
significantly more time doing community service than males (2.5 hours).

 

 

Data Sources and Context

This Maine Marks indicator is adapted from the work of the Search Institute
( www.search-institute.org ) and their research into developmental assets of young people.
The developmental assets framework is popular with many who work in the field of youth
development. The data source for this indicator is a statewide telephone survey of youth
grade 9-12 conducted by Critical Insights, a strategic marketing research firm in Portland,
Maine. A total of 403 telephone interviews with Maine youth were done in November
2000, 402 in November 2001, 400 in November 2002, and 400 in December 2004. Due
to inadequate funding, no interviews were conducted in 2003.

Youth were asked: “During any average week, do you spend time doing community
service-related activities (such as helping out at a hospital, daycare center, food shelf,
youth program, community service agency, or doing other things)?” If they answered
“yes”, they were also asked the following questions:

• “During any average week, approximately how many hours do you typically spend
  doing community service—helping people in the community without getting paid?”
• “Was this community service program organized through your school as a service
  learning opportunity?”

Only the data in the “all” column is statistically representative of youth statewide
in grades 9-12. The other grade level information provided is a rough estimate
developed with weighted data using the attendance reports from the Maine State
Department of Education. An average of the proportion of students in each
secondary grade level was found over the past five years. This average proportion
was applied to weight these 2004 survey results. Therefore this information is
primarily descriptive and should not be used to make inferences about all youth in |
these grade levels in Maine.