School-Based Efforts: A Plan to Support At-Risk Youth Carline Dupont EDU 644: Child & Family Welfare (MTS1526A) Prof. Karen Conzett July 26, 2015

My Role As a social worker, my duties are to ensure the safety and welfare of individuals who are at-risk, especially the youth. I am also responsible for the gathering of communities and the appropriate/competent professionals to help deter youth at-risk. In order to do so, I must present different strategies that will help support our youth at-risk. There are several indicators of youth at –risk. Learning disabilities Emotional adjustment Family adaptation School dropout Juvenile Delinquency Substance abuse Domestic transition Homelessness

Youth at Risk A youth at-risk requires constant intervention, in order to succeed in life. They may be emotionally, physically or mentally disturbed. Or suffer from physical and/or mental abuse. With that being said, they are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood. Youth at-risk lacks Nurture Guidance Respect (both ways). Meaning they are probably not getting respect from their peers or parents. Therefore, they become rebellious and abrasive. Education Love

Effects and Implications Being labelled a youth at-risk comes with many effects and implications. For example; Fighting drug dealing shoplifting Truancy (Running away) underage drinking applying graffiti and vandalism

Solutions There are many extremely imperative solutions for trying to solve the effects and implications that our youth are bearing. For example; Positive approaches (from parents and professionals). Building strong and positive bonds with our youth. Talking WITH and not TO them. As adults, we should listen to them to try to understand their battle, as oppose to listening to give a response. Especially a feedback they do not want to hear. PARENT INVOLVEMENT should be at 100%. Show them you care and are involved in everything. Show support in all of the positive things they want to be involved in. Lead by example. Do not drink or smoke around them if you are encouraging them not to. Professional Development workshops for educators. It is always a plus for educators and or other professionals to continuously acquire new knowledge, that can help our youth at-risk.

Participant Activity Our youth should be encouraged to conduct and or participate in community affairs. Having our youth plan and execute a community festival will definitely boost their self- esteem and promote team work. It can even build new friendships between their peers and respect for everyone around them. The festival must be planned out within a month. That way they know they have a deadline that must be met, which will teach them discipline. They must report to us on a weekly basis what they have planned and if any bookings have to be done. They will also be in charge of all bookings.

A pic of A Youth at-risk

References The National Center for School Engagement. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2015, from http://www.schoolengagement.org Chapter 4: Youth Factors for Youth Violence. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Morrison, G., & Cosden, M. (1997). LD Online. Retrieved July 20, 2015