School-Based Efforts: A Plan to Support At-Risk Youth Week 4 Assignment EDU 644 Andrea Ward September 28, 2015 Dr. Linda Marsh

Introduction As the role of a social worker, I am presenting information as it pertains to at- risk youth. Because there is such a large amount of at-risk youth in world today, it is my duty to bring awareness. This presentation is directed to those involved in helping students in creating positive and helpful learning environments, motivating and encouraging communal efforts, increasing the involvement of parents, teachers, and staff, and ensuring that our youth is given the help they need in order to be successful.

Youth At Risk Eight Indicators of Youth At Risk Students with Learning Disabilities (NCSE, n.d.) Mental Illness Homeless Abused sexually, physically or emotionally (NCSE, n.d.) Ineffective parenting/abuse (NDPC, 2015) Lack of community support services or response (NDPC, 2015) Alcohol/Drug abuse Involved with delinquent peers (NCSE, n.d.)

Effects and Implications Long-term implications of behaviors on a student’s ability to achieve academic success Behaviors associated with being at-risk Short-term implications of behaviors on a student’s ability to achieve academic success  According to NCSE, n.d., these factors are behaviors: Running away Skipping school Drinking under age Engaging in sexual behavior Displaying disruptive behavior Bullying/Harassment Fighting Committing acts of vandalism Dropping Out/Truancy (NDPC, 2015)  Dropping out Health Issues Depression Randoms acts of disruptive behavior Failing grades Anger Anxiety Stress Violence Long-term health problems Low-paying jobs Unemployment Selling Drugs Low levels of Education Imprisonment Suicide

Solutions

Create a Framework According to the NCSE, n.d., these factors will ensure development and growth among students who are at- risk: Student Attendance Student Attachment Student Achievement Engagement, education, and development are interventions and strategies that can help students make improvements (NDPC, 2015).

Integrating a Framework It is critical to the development of students that we create a strategy and developmental approach in order to support youth at risk “Total integration of the framework encompasses staffing, policies, communications, and community outreach” (NCSE, n.d.) Basic Core Strategies; involving mentoring/tutoring, alternative schooling, service-learning, and after- school activities or opportunities (NDPC, 2015)

Participant Activity Construct an engaging activity that encourages the audience for the presentation to provide feedback regarding their own respective, potential role in supporting a school’s efforts to create and integrate a framework for students at risk, that encourages ideas for potential solutions, and states how participants will interact, collaborate, and share ideas to all in attendance Activity: Have all participants fill out a summary card to learn the changes that they would like to see in the overall design and approach to learning and supporting at-risk youth. Have all participants partake in a school-based survey that would allow them to access a basic questionnaire regarding the overall experience and learning for their child or student.

References National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.). Serving at-risk youth. Retrieved from http://schoolengagement.org/school-engagement- services/at-risk-youth  National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.). At-risk youth. Retrieved from http://www.schoolengagement.org/index.cfm/index.cf m/At-risk%20Youth  National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.).  Parental involvement in schools. Retrieved from http://www.schoolengagement.org/index.cfm/index.cf m/index.cfm/Parental%20Involvement%20in%20Schools National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.). Truancy. Retrieved from http://www.schoolengagement.org/index.cfm/index.cf m/index.cfm/Truancy  National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.). Youth development. Retrieved from http://www.schoolengagement.org/index.cfm/index.cf m/index.cfm/Youth%20Development   National Dropout Prevention Center/Network. (2015). Situations that put youth at risk. Retrieved from http://dropoutprevention.org/resources/statistics/situatio ns-that-put-youth-at-risk/