Published: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009 / Updated: Friday, Nov. 06, 2009 09:47 AM

What's best for the children? Rock Hill takes a closer look

More than 20,000 children and teens in York County abuse drugs or alcohol, some beginning as early as age 10, according to a new study by the city of Rock Hill.

A group of community leaders want to quell those statistics by challenging employers and individuals to consider what's best for children before making decisions. The group has adopted locally the Kansas City-based "# 1 Question: Is it good for the children?" campaign.

At the third # 1 Question Summit Thursday, about 50 community and business leaders came together to expand the efforts to bring the awareness campaign to the forefront of people's minds.

"I think anyone, everyone can incorporate this question into their lives," said Sylvia Echols, chair of ambassadors for # 1 Question. "[It] means asking, 'Is this good for the children in their personal life, civic life, faith life and work life?'"

During the meeting, Rock Hill officials presented the first # 1 Question report, which addresses the economic factors, education and social behavior that often affect a child's well-being. The report includes local statistics on the well-being of children that can be compared annually, Echols said.

"It's a statistical picture, but a picture of real children, real youth in our community," Echols said. "Statistics can be dry sometimes, but these numbers represent real children - babies, preschoolers, children in our schools and teens that are in trouble."

The initiative has some business leaders looking at how their practices fit in this motto and what they can do more to think about children.

Lee Gardner, president of Family Trust Federal Credit Union, is one of these leaders. He's been on board with the program since the beginning.

"We follow exactly that principle when we make decisions that affect our business, our employees and our members," Gardner said. "…We do a lot in the schools. Helping young people understand the value of money and understanding their credit reports."

Gardner, like more than 20 other business leaders in the community, has taken a look at how to do what's best for children, whether that means giving an employee time off work to go to a school function, mentoring children or giving to charities that can help children in need.

Winthrop University supports the initiative by asking each incoming freshman to bring a children's book to orientation. This year more than 3,000 books were donated.

The initiative stems from a resolution approved by the Rock Hill City Council in April 2007 to support the awareness campaign, and the council has worked with the Rock Hill Commission for Children and Youth to further this mindset. Kansas City's Partnership for Children came up with the idea for the # 1 Question in 1996.

What can you do?

Business: Offer flexible hours, help with child care issues, scholarship foundation, partner with schools

Parents: Talk to the children, set rules and stick to them, schedule family time, work with schools to support children

Neighbors: Get involved in youth activities, know the children in your neighborhood, support youth fundraising activities

#1 Question study results

291 children in York County are homeless

17 percent of children are not ready for first grade in York County

21 percent of Rock Hill students are not successful in school by third grade

15 percent of 620 licensed liquor businesses in the county sold or served alcohol to minors between July 2008 and June 2009

112 York County juvenile court cases were deemed violent or serious in 2007-2008

Source: Is it good for the children annual report.

For more information on # 1 Question, call 803-329-5620