NOVEMBER 11TH , 2011

Breaking the Stereotype of

At-Risk Students

Introductions

Katie BurtonKara Larkin

Goals for this session:

Who are at-risk youth?Characteristics of at-risk youthChallengesStrategies Guidance lessons

Who are at-risk youth?

At-risk youth are children who are more likely to drop out of

school due to a variety of demographic, socioeconomic,

and institutional characteristics.

Definition:

Some characteristics of at-risk youth:

Chronic povertySingle parentBad gradesToxic environmentNegative peer

influenceDrug use

Absence from schoolLow motivation and

self-esteemHomelessnessPoor social skills

If a teen is experiencing more than four of the following warning signs, they could be at-risk.

Has the teen ever been suspended, expelled, been truant, or had their grades drop?

Is the teen verbally abusive? Does the teen struggle with basic family

rules and expectations? Does the parent have difficulty getting the

teen to do basic household chores and homework?

Has the teen had problems with the law? Does the parent have to pick their words

carefully when speaking to the teen, so as not to elicit a verbal attack or even rage from them?

Is the teen in danger of dropping out of high school?

Does the teen associate with a suspect peer group?

Has the teen lost interest in former productive activities, sports, hobbies, or childhood friends?

Has the teen ever displayed any evidence of suicide?

Does the teen seem depressed or withdrawn?

Is the teen sexually promiscuous? Has the teen’s appearance or personal

hygiene changed? Is the teen deceitful and manipulative? Has the teen been caught stealing money

or personal items from their family? Is the teen severely lacking in motivation? Does the teen sometimes lie regarding

their activities? Does the teen display outbursts of

temper? Does the teen lack self-worth and self-

esteem? Does the teen defy established rules

regardless of the consequences? When trying to deal with the teen, do the

parents feel powerless? Does the teen have a problem with

authority? Do the parents suspect the teen is

experimenting with drugs or alcohol? Does the teen ever display violent

behavior?

Risk along a continuum

Minimal Risk

Remote Risk

High Risk Imminent Risk

At-risk Behavior

High SES Less Positive

Depression Smoking Hard Drugs

Few Psycho-social stressors

Some Stressors

Anxiety Early sexual activity

Teenage mother

Good Schools

Single Parent

Aggression Alcohol Been in prison

Positive Peers

Bad Crowd Hopelessness

Legal Trouble

Dropped out of school

Good Family Minority Status

Poor school grades

Severe school problems

Dropped out of school

Students from low income, low skill, low education families are twice as likely to drop out as students from affluent families. (from Randall Grayson, PhD.)

Strategies

FamilySelfFriends/MentorSchoolCommunity

Family

Focus groupsSupportive family memberCommunity ResourcesInvolvementRelationships

Self

Self-esteemMotivationEmpowermentSocial skillsIgnite HopeControlRelationships

Friends & Mentors

Positive peer influenceMediationProblem-solvingMentorRelationships

School

Basic skillsHigh ExpectationsProper classroom placementsSchool involvementRelationships

What does my student need right now?

Community

ConnectednessPhilanthropyRelationshipsOpportunity for positive activity

Guidance Lessons

Stereotype LessonDiversity ActivityMeyers BriggsQuestion BallHealthy vs. Unhealthy RelationshipsSpeakersCareer options

Resources

Grayson, Randall, Ph.D. “At-Risk Youth and Resilience Factors”. www.visionrealization.com.10 October 2011.

Bradley, Michael J. “Who is At-Risk”. www.at-risk.org10 October 2011.

Oakes, Duane D. Elise Sweet, and Mutinkhe Kaunda. “Challenges and Strategies: Working with At-Risk Youth”. www.mesacc.edu. 12 October 2011

A good resource for counselor’s: http://at-risk.com/