...Students at Risk – An American Epidemic EDU 490: Interdisciplinary Capstone Shmeka L. Williams June 27, 2009 Abstract Socioeconomic status is a very real problem for children in American society. It affects many areas of their lives, but most importantly, it affects their education. For this reason, it is imperative that parents, teachers, administrators, and communities ban together to ensure that at-risk students from low socioeconomic backgrounds are given the same opportunities as those from a higher socioeconomic background. We can do this by eliciting the best teachers, quality schools, and administrators to instruct these disadvantaged children. We can also do this as parents by making sure that we have educational attainment as our goal for our children by providing different instructional avenues in the home to facilitate learning and desire for learning by our children. If all of these parts of the puzzle can be put in place correctly, then at-risk youth at least have an equal opportunity to succeed in this world of inequality that we all live. Equality in the public school system is a joke. In other words, it does not exist. There are certain criterion that must be met before schools can even start to be considered equal: “equal access, common curriculum, differential curriculum, desegregated schooling, and equality of results” (Riordan 2004, p. 2). In some underdeveloped countries, certain people are excluded from an education...
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...Preparing At-Risk Youth for the Future A large fraction of American youth perform poorly in high school, and many of these youth fail to obtain a high school degree. The costs of failure in high school are growing, both for the individual student and for society overall. Mathematica researchers have conducted many of the most important studies of at-risk youth and interventions designed to address their educational needs. Synthesizing Lessons from Dropout Prevention Programs We have studied a diverse array of dropout prevention approaches, ranging from small programs in a single school to those designed to address the dropout problem in clusters of schools or entire school districts. Mathematica's staff are also principal investigators for the What Works Clearinghouse comprehensive review of evaluations of dropout prevention programs. Our staff are assessing the strength of the evidence on the effectiveness of dropout prevention initiatives and synthesizing the lessons from these studies for policymakers and educators. Re-Engaging Out-of-School Youth Youth who drop out of high school represent a loss of human potential. For the Office of Vocational and Adult Education within the U.S. Department of Education, Mathematica conducted case studies of six dropout recovery programs that help youth ages 16 to 21 return to school, earn a high school credential (either a diploma or GED), and prepare for further education and jobs. Drawing on site visit interviews and an analysis of...
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...reviewing educational literature, federal reports, and state legislative mandates regarding the term at risk youth, it has been shown that the term does not have a clear, consistent, and agreed-upon definition. The term is most often accepted as an individual’s susceptibility of dropping out of the education system, but it extends further. It extends to specific life circumstances and experiences that hinder healthy development and increase the likelihood that youth will “underachieve in school despite adequate intellectual endowment and, as a result, will underachieve as [an adult]” (Comer, 1987). Factors that increase risk in children include certain behaviors, environments, and developmental patterns such as: compromised mental health, school struggle and failure, alcohol and drug consumption, law-breaking/deviancy, poverty, sexual activity, minority status, dysfunctional family dynamics, absenteeism/truancy, and under resourced schools (Capuzzi & Gross, 2006; Milkman et al., 1996; Stepney, 2001). A better definition of at risk youth is youth who are failed by one or more adults of an...
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...INTRODUCTION Programs for at risk youth are growing rapidly across the world. In today's unstable, fast paced, and highly competitive environment, at risk youth are especially vulnerable, unless an intervention is delivered in an effective and timely manner. Generally, at risk youth have several risk factors which put them into this category; including a single parent home, numerous stressors, poverty, lack of support, and/or evident signs of emotional or behavioral issues (McWhirter et al., 2012). Specifically, the definition of at risk youth involves individuals who have certain "cause-effect dynamics"( McWhirter et al., 2012, p.45) that will most likely result in negative outcomes down the line. In a sense, the outcome is yet to be determined,...
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...James Spencer HUS345 THE EFFECTS OF MENTORING AT-RISK YOUTH Abstract: Mentoring has arguments both for and against its effectiveness in relation to at-risk youth. These programs have been known to help in areas of self-esteem, attitudes toward drugs and alcohol, grades, attendance and disciplinary problems in school. Although, the scope of at-risk youth can be quite narrow, if administered correctly it can be inclusive of all teens with emotional and behavioral problems. These programs should not be considered a quick fix to such a large problem, but it can be used as a means to an end. Mentoring programs for youth and teens considered to be at-risk have begun to grow throughout the country. Not all programs agree on a generalized approach, but it is fair to say the concept is the same when dealing with this group of youth. The term mentor is basically described as a trusted counselor or teacher. The term at-risk, for purposes of this study, relates to youth from single parent households, who exhibit emotional and behavioral problems. The overall consensus is to pair a responsible and caring adult with a troubled adolescent youth. The ultimate goal is for a relationship to form and to build a bond of trust with an adult who can in turn, help them deal with the troubles...
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...Youth Offending – A critique of the possible risk factors. By Caren Rossall Student I.D - 20166665 Abstract This report provides an insightful outlook on the potential risk factors associated with delinquent youths. An analysis of the mixed method research carried out by the author is provided. Questionnaires were distributed between 2, diverse areas which provided a set of contrasting opinions and beliefs. Personal, information is also shared on the topic from the interview with a previous youth offender. Why it is that children and young people become involved in criminal activities has been the focus of leading researchers for many years, resulting in a wide and varied literature base for this particular study. Some of the contemporary material has been evaluated and used in conjunction with the primary data attained. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to unravel some of the possible risk factors associated with youth offending. Why it is some children, as they grow up, become involved in criminal activities while others respect the law and stay out of trouble has been a largely debated question for many years (Utting et al, 1993). Not only has this topic been chosen as it is of great interest to the researcher but the classic British longitudinal studies of youth offending appear to be many years old. Existing literature from theorists, professionals, government reports and any other secondary research carried out regarding this chosen topic will...
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...An At-Risk Youth As a fish that cannot go without swimming, Samantha cannot go without food. At age four, Samantha Stevens weighs fifty-four pounds and is among the obese range for her age and weight (Donvan and Patria). According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, about 17% of children from the ages of 2-19 are obese. This has become a hot topic throughout America during the last decade, therefore, the government has been forced to take action and provide hop to society. Two main programs have been seen to be effective, both having a different approach to reducing the obesity rates in America, those are the WIC (Women, Children and Infants) and the We Can! program. By demonstrating the structure of both programs, the benefits provided, and the impact and results on children’s health, this essay will demonstrate that by providing families food as well as empowering them, the obesity rate is most likely to decrease. Women, Infants, and Children (known as WIC) is a Federal Grant program that targets low-income and naturally at-risk families (WIC). WIC provides vouchers for supplemental, nutritious foods, along with counseling and health-related screenings for prevention. “1-4 Low income is a risk factor for poor dietary quality and for low consumption of fruits and vegetables (Herman).“ Low-income people have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables, creating a bigger possibility for them to get sick more often or obtain at-death-risk diseases. In order to receive...
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...Chapter 1 THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Background of the Study Today’s teenagers generation are more curious especially on things that are new to them, that’s why some of them are joining peer groups that offers sense of brotherhood and acceptance. It enables young people to express their selves without fear of rejection or exclusion. Friends and barkadas serves as the avenue where you can initiate your first steps towards adulthood. In teenagers perception the word “new” is adventurous, exciting, and enjoyable. Fraternity is an ongoing group of people that have a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, form an allegiance for a common purpose and engage in unlawful or criminal activity (Hess 2010). In the United States there are large number of Filipino gang membership around the Southern California region (SoCal) and generally the entire West Coast region. Due to their Hispanic culture they are more assimilated with other Latino gangs. There are thousands of Filipino gang members which mostly center around the California region, Chicago, New York, and Miami. They represent a diverse array of backgrounds and affiliations with some being with the Bloods, Crips, Sureños, Norteños, Peoples, and Folks. A number of gangs in the Philippines are known to be active around the nation, the majority being centered in Manila with locations in and around the general Metro Manila region. One of the most infamous areas in the City is Tondo, Manila. Tondo is known to be the...
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...EDU 644 Week 4 Assignment School-Based Efforts A Plan to Support At-Risk Youth To Buy This material Click below link http://www.uoptutors.com/edu-644-new/edu-644-week-4-assignment-school-based-efforts-a-plan-to-support-at-risk-youth This assignment is an opportunity for you to apply what you learned from this week’s discussions in a relevant way based on your own preferred area of focus. In this assignment, you will look through the lens of a particular professional role that you either have related experience in or intend to take in an anticipated professional practice. The roles to select from relate to one or more professions that are integral to assisting children and families at risk. Assuming the role of the professional you have identified, your task in this assignment is to prepare a professional presentation for a diverse group of professionals, such as school principals or district administrators, social service providers or community outreach providers, medical professionals, and other related service providers. Using the information gleaned from the two discussions this week and the National Center for School Engagement website, as well as the three articles listed under Required Resources as supporting research, you will prepare a professional presentation with the purpose of informing participants of facts pertaining to youth at risk as it relates to student academic success. Additionally, your goal is to not only bring awareness to the forefront regarding truancy...
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...purpose of the this research is to try and identify and asses the high-risk factors in youth population as well as protective circumstances, also prevention for gang related violence and to inform primary prevention strategies. The article mentioned that little research has been done on mental health such as suicidal ideation and depression since this factor might be crucial since they are common amongst youth that are involved in delinquency activity has been increasing in many urban areas it is observed to be at an “epidemic level”. Members of a gang are more incline to be involved in criminal activity and violence than peers who are not affiliated with any gangs. Based on the research article about five percent of the population in the U.S. has ever affiliated with a gang and gang membership in many urban area has reached a percentage of about fourteen to thirty one percent. Memberships of gangs has a high impact on a youth’s health, prevention efforts can be done when youth are in they’re early adolescent age and discouragement of being in a gang or the desire to be in a gang might compellingly decreased the number of youth being recruited and also the number of gang related violence or activities. The study that was done showed an approach by public health to understand the factors that rise the risk and also the protection against, affiliation of gang on youth who lives in communities that are high risk on gang activities such as high level of crime that are serious, unemployment...
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...Homeless LGBT Youth Patricia Lynard Literature Review SOWK 469 Applied Social Work Research Kofi Danso, Instructor Minnesota State University, Mankato March 6, 2013 Background/Intervention Someone who identifies as homeless LGBT youth is someone who fits into three categories combine. Firstly, they are young usually between the ages of 13-17 years of age. They are also homeless which loosely describes a person without a regular dwelling. There are several reasons why someone may become homeless; some examples include financial difficulties or family problems that force someone out of their home. The last category is an individual who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). It is estimated that people who identify as LGBT make up 20% of the homeless population (Van Leeuwen, Boyle, Salomonsen-Sautel, Baker, Garcia, Hoffman, & Hopfer, 2006). When these categories are combined the individual is considered homeless LGBT youth, which is the focus of this literature review. The interventions for homeless LGBT youth are limited, but they can access local homeless shelters they however run the threat of being harassed by other people using the facilities for their sexual orientation. There a few organizations designed to help the homeless LGBT youth these interventions provide emergency housing for LGBT youth who have either been thrown out or have run away from their homes (Rosario, Schrimshaw, & Hunter, 2012). Purpose The purpose of this literature...
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...Youth crime is a serious problem in Canada today and has been for many years. From 2000-2010, there have been decreases in the overall youth crime rate, properly crime rate, and violent crime rate, although youth crime remains high in many areas ("A Statistical Snapshot"). At-risk youth frequently become involved in criminal activity after joining a gang. Although Canadian youth from all socioeconomic backgrounds may join a gang, those who do so often come from low income backgrounds and single parent or foster homes or they may have a mental illness. Aboriginal youth are particularly susceptible to joining gangs due to the high levels of poverty and violence that plague many Aboriginal communities. Traditional methods of crime prevention...
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...prevention activities. Communities That Care is a tool used to guide a community through the assessment and prioritization of risk and protective factors most in need of attention and links those priorities to evidence-based and data driven programming to address them. It is important to remember that the Communities That Care system is simply a tool to aid in building a prevention infrastructure referred to as the Strategic Prevention Framework process. Communities That Care and Strategic Prevention Framework are not programs nor are they administrative names for program implementation. They exist and work together in helping communities get organized, identify problem areas based on community data, make knowledgeable decisions pertaining to how these problems should be addressed, and evaluate any actions taken to counter the problem areas. Each phase of the Communities That Care system fits well into a coordinating phase of the Strategic Prevention Framework process, and it is clear that sustainability and cultural competency as key components to every part of building a prevention infrastructure. This report describes the results of the risk- and protective-factor assessment completed as part of Elkhart County's Communities That Care effort. The Communities That Care system is a way for members of a community to work together to prevent youth problem behaviors, including...
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...prevention utilizing a risk prevention paradigm which uses evidence based intervention to control and prevent future risks of offending. Actuarialism was defined by Feeley and Simon (1994) as being a defined approach to crime control and management which dispenses with concerns about the meaning or motives behind offending and replaces these with an emphasis on ‘technologies’ of ‘risk minimization’ and the elimination of potential threats to social order. The Risk Factor Prevention Paradigm (RFPP) uses risk assessment and survey to identify factors in the key domains of a young person’s life that statistically increase the likelihood of offending or decrease its likelihood (Case, 2007. p. 92). Youth justice today is increasingly dominated by risk management however it has been heavily criticized. In this essay an explanation will be given of what the risk factors are, what the RFPP is and how actuarial practices are based on this methodological approach. It concludes that a focus on actuarial principles in the current youth justice system works against the fundamental principles of individualization in the criminal justice system . Society has become increasingly concerned with risk and the management of it. It is defined as being an uncertain prediction of future behaviour with the possibility that the behaviour will be harmful or negative. The National Crime Council’s Document Tackling the Underlying Causes of Crime (2002) provides five categories of risk factors which are quantified...
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...Decrease the HIV/STI Risk Behaviors of African American Youth: Can We Control Future Trends? Beatrice Simiyu Capstone Project Dr. Bruce Johnson Abstract As a result of the need to recognize successful human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) interventions tailored for African American youth, a literature review of six HIV/STI randomized controlled trials interventions targeting African American youth conducted in the United States were evaluated. A comparative analysis was used; the settings, procedures and outcomes of the different interventions targeting African American youth were compared, contrasted and combined to ultimately identify trends that are likely to initiate and possibly sustain change in HIV/STI risk behaviors among African American youth who are a vulnerable group. Variables were evaluated by the various intervention impacts on reducing sexual risk behaviors by an indication of a delay in first sexual intercourse, a decline in the number of sex partners and frequency of sex, and increase in condom use and a reduction in positive STI outcomes. Outcomes were used to facilitate identification of public health strategies that might be most beneficial in targeting African American youth and pinpoint what manner current public health strategies neglects to focus on their needs. The research and practice implications of the findings imply that enhancing future HIV/STI targeting African American youth necessitates the prioritization...
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