1 an Introduction to at-risk Issues

8/8/2019 1 an Introduction to at-risk Issues

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An introduction to atAn introduction to at--riskrisk

issuesissuesPrepared byPrepared by

R. BalanR. BalanUMSUMS


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At risk children and youth : theAt risk children and youth : the

ecology of problemsecology of problems 1.We discuss and define the term at risk and1.We discuss and define the term at risk and

provide an overview of the book and a metaphorprovide an overview of the book and a metaphorfor unifying various aspects of concerns forfor unifying various aspects of concerns for

children and adolescents who are at risk.children and adolescents who are at risk. 2. We also provide overviews of the problems2. We also provide overviews of the problems

related to children and adolescents.related to children and adolescents.

3. We discuss environmental and societal issues;3. We discuss environmental and societal issues;

family, community, and school concerns andfamily, community, and school concerns andhighhigh--risk/lowrisk/low--risk behaviors, attitudes, and skillsrisk behaviors, attitudes, and skillsthat young people possess and develop.that young people possess and develop.


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Defining Youth at RiskDefining Youth at Risk

All youth experience some degree of riskAll youth experience some degree of riskas they progress from childhood toas they progress from childhood toadulthoodadulthood..

An increasing proportion of AmericanAn increasing proportion of Americanyouth, however, are at substantially higheryouth, however, are at substantially higherrisk for negative outcomes.risk for negative outcomes.

such assuch as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy,substance abuse, teenage pregnancy,

crime, violence, and academiccrime, violence, and academicunderachievement due to family, community,underachievement due to family, community,social, political, and economic conditions whichsocial, political, and economic conditions whichhave not created.have not created.


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At Risk For Not ReachingAt Risk For Not Reaching

Productive AdulthoodProductive Adulthood The problem is clearly greater than "youth notThe problem is clearly greater than "youth not

reaching full potentialreaching full potential..

These children are atThese children are atimmediate riskimmediate riskforfor notnot

surviving the violence in their neighborhoodssurviving the violence in their neighborhoods; not; nothaving adequate care or adequate food, much lesshaving adequate care or adequate food, much lessdeveloping thedeveloping the basic elementary skills of reading,basic elementary skills of reading,computation, and language.computation, and language.

Longer term,Longer term, they are at risk for not becomingthey are at risk for not becomingresponsible family members or participants inresponsible family members or participants in the workthe workforce or in the work of citizens in the larger world. Theseforce or in the work of citizens in the larger world. Theseyouth are the focus of the National Extension Youth atyouth are the focus of the National Extension Youth atRisk Initiative.Risk Initiative.


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Children will be exposed to "sex, drugs, and rockChildren will be exposed to "sex, drugs, and rock'n roll" at a very early age.'n roll" at a very early age. Teens will knowTeens will knowother kids that do drugs, drink alcohol, or smokeother kids that do drugs, drink alcohol, or smoke

cigarretes.cigarretes.Some parents will do all they can to raiseSome parents will do all they can to raisetheir kids righttheir kids right -- and their kidsmay stilland their kidsmaystillmake poor choicesmake poorchoices. The statistics we have. The statistics we have

gathered are amazing.gathered are amazing. At risk youth can beAt risk youth can beeither sex, any race, and any age. Each "group"either sex, any race, and any age. Each "group"has a different area where they are more at risk,has a different area where they are more at risk,but they are all youth at risk.but they are all youth at risk.


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contcont

AnatAnat--riskyouthisdefined bystatute asachildriskyouthisdefined bystatute asachildunderthe age of 18 whomeetsatleastone oftheunderthe age of 18 whomeetsatleastone ofthefollowingthree requirements:followingthree requirements:

Is absent from home for at least 72 consecutive hoursIs absent from home for at least 72 consecutive hourswithout parental consent; orwithout parental consent; or

Is beyond parental control such that his/her behaviorIs beyond parental control such that his/her behaviorendangers the health, safety, or welfare of the child orendangers the health, safety, or welfare of the child or

any other person; orany other person; or Has a substance abuse problem for which there are noHas a substance abuse problem for which there are no

pending criminal charges relating to the substancepending criminal charges relating to the substanceabuse.abuse.


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Child in need of servicesChild in need of services

Child in need of services is defined byChild in need of services is defined bystatute as a child under the age of18 whostatute as a child under the age of18 who

meetsmeets atleastoneatleastone of the following threeof the following threerequirements:requirements:

Is beyond parental control such that theIs beyond parental control such that thechild's behavior endangers the health,child's behavior endangers the health,

safety, or welfare of the child or othersafety, or welfare of the child or otherperson; orperson; or


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Has been reported to law enforcement as absentHas been reported to law enforcement as absentwithoutwithout consent for at least 24 consecutiveconsent for at least 24 consecutivehours from the parent's home, a crisis residentialhours from the parent's home, a crisis residential

center, an outcenter, an out--ofof--home placement, or a courthome placement, or a court--ordered placement on two or more separateordered placement on two or more separateoccasions;occasions; andand

Has exhibitedHas exhibited a serious substance abusea serious substance abuse

problem; orproblem; or Has exhibited behaviors that create a seriousHas exhibited behaviors that create a serious

risk of harm to the health, safety, or welfare ofrisk of harm to the health, safety, or welfare ofthe child or any other personthe child or any other person; or; or


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Is in need of necessary services, including food,Is in need of necessary services, including food,shelter health care, clothing, educational, orshelter health care, clothing, educational, orservices designed to maintain or reunite theservices designed to maintain or reunite the

family;family; andand Lacks access to or has declined to utilize theseLacks access to or has declined to utilize these

services;services; andand

Whose parents have evidenced continuing butWhose parents have evidenced continuing but

unsuccessful effortstomaintainthe familyunsuccessful effortstomaintainthe familystructure orare unable orunwillingtostructure orare unable orunwillingtocontinue effortstomaintainthe familycontinue effortstomaintainthe familystructurestructure


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CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITHCONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH

AT

AT

--RISK S

TUDENT

SRISK S

TUDENT

S What conditions predict whether a studentWhat conditions predict whether a student

will be at risk? What conditions predict thewill be at risk? What conditions predict the

likelihood of a student dropping out oflikelihood of a student dropping out ofschool before graduation?school before graduation?

What conditions predict whether a studentWhat conditions predict whether a studentwill go through high school having awill go through high school having a

frustrating and unrewarding timefrustrating and unrewarding time----regardless of actual graduation?regardless of actual graduation?


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dropoutsdropouts

Researchers have found that it is possibleResearchers have found that it is possibleto identify potential dropouts earlyto identify potential dropouts early----asasearly as elementary school (McDill,early as elementary school (McDill,

Natriello and Pallas 1986). Hodgkinson (p.Natriello and Pallas 1986). Hodgkinson (p.12) found in his research a widely held12) found in his research a widely heldview that "view that "we intervene toolate inthewe intervene toolate inthecourse ofastudent'sdevelopmentcourse ofastudent'sdevelopment,,that certain parts of the profile of athat certain parts of the profile of adropoutdropout--prone student may be visible asprone student may be visible asearly as the third gradeearly as the third grade."."


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At the same time, there are a great variety ofAt the same time, there are a great variety ofconditions associated with being at risk.conditions associated with being at risk.Researchers who have investigatedResearchers who have investigatedcharacteristics correlated with a high likelihoodcharacteristics correlated with a high likelihood

of dropping out mention demographic,of dropping out mention demographic,socioeconomic and institutional characteristicssocioeconomic and institutional characteristicssuch as:such as:

Living in highLiving in high--growth statesgrowth states

Living in unstable school districtsLiving in unstable school districts Being a member of a lowBeing a member of a low--income familyincome family Having low academic skills (though notHaving low academic skills (though not

necessarily low intelligence)necessarily low intelligence)


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Having parents who are not high schoolHaving parents who are not high schoolgraduatesgraduates

Speaking English as a second languageSpeaking English as a second language

Being singleBeing single--parent childrenparent children

Having negative selfHaving negative self--perceptions; beingperceptions; beingbored or alienated; having low selfbored or alienated; having low self--esteemesteem

Pursuing alternatives: males tend to seekPursuing alternatives: males tend to seekpaid work as an alternative; females maypaid work as an alternative; females mayleave to have children or get marriedleave to have children or get married


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At risk denotes a set of presumed causeAt risk denotes a set of presumed cause--effects dynamics that place an individualeffects dynamics that place an individualchild or adolescent in danger of futurechild or adolescent in danger of futurenegative outcomes.negative outcomes.

At risk designates a situation that is notAt risk designates a situation that is notnecessarily current but that can benecessarily current but that can be

anticipated in the absence of intervention.anticipated in the absence of intervention.


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The atThe at--risk continuumrisk continuum

Minimal riskMinimal risk favorable demographics,favorable demographics,positive family, school and socialpositive family, school and socialinteraction, Limited psychosocial andinteraction, Limited psychosocial andenvironmental stressors.environmental stressors.

Remote riskRemote risk-- negative demographics, lessnegative demographics, lesspositive family, school, and socialpositive family, school, and social

interaction and some stressors.interaction and some stressors.


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High riskHigh risk-- negative family, school andnegative family, school andsocial interaction, numerous stressors andsocial interaction, numerous stressors anddevelopment of personal atdevelopment of personal at--risk markers:risk markers:negative attitudes, emotions and skillnegative attitudes, emotions and skilldeficienciesdeficiencies

Imminent riskImminent risk-- development of gatewaydevelopment of gateway

behaviors and activities.behaviors and activities.


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AtAt--risk category activityrisk category activity-- at risk for moreat risk for moreintense maladaptive behavior, youngintense maladaptive behavior, youngpersons activity places him or her solidlypersons activity places him or her solidlyin the risk category, at risk for otherin the risk category, at risk for othercategories, young persons children will becategories, young persons children will beat risk.at risk.


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AtAt risk problems and issuesrisk problems and issues

Cause or effect?Cause or effect?

One of the difficultiesOne of the difficulties-- in trying toin trying to

understand atunderstand at--risk problems isrisk problems isfragmentation of knowledge.fragmentation of knowledge.

-- school dropout, drug, alcohol abuse,school dropout, drug, alcohol abuse,risky sexual activity, juvenile delinquency,risky sexual activity, juvenile delinquency,youth suicide and other problems areyouth suicide and other problems areusually studied separately.usually studied separately.


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ATAT--RISK RESEARCHRISK RESEARCH

Separate low expectationsSeparate low expectations

Need for successNeed for success

Lack of consistent disciplineLack of consistent discipline No teacher involvement, accountabilityNo teacher involvement, accountability

Lack of attention to needs of individualLack of attention to needs of individual

Lack of engagement in learningLack of engagement in learning

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1 an Introduction to at-risk Issues

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