Strategies for Preventing Youth Antisocial and Violent Behavior Understanding Risk and Resiliency Along A Troubled Path Christine A. Christle Kristine Jolivette University of Kentucky 2002

Eddie’s Case

Eddie’s mother was 16 and unmarriedEddie’s mother was 16 and unmarried She dropped out of schoolShe dropped out of school She never saw Eddie’s father again and he never provided any financial supportShe never saw Eddie’s father again and he never provided any financial support

Adolescent Motherhood Nearly 500,000 babies are born annually to adolescents years of ageNearly 500,000 babies are born annually to adolescents years of age Sons of adolescent mothers are 2.7 times more likely to be incarcerated than sons born to mothers in their early 20'sSons of adolescent mothers are 2.7 times more likely to be incarcerated than sons born to mothers in their early 20's

Poverty The number of extremely poor children in single-mother families jumped by 26 % from 1996 to 1997The number of extremely poor children in single-mother families jumped by 26 % from 1996 to 1997 ($6,401 a year for a three-person family) ($6,401 a year for a three-person family) Best predictor of behavioral deviationBest predictor of behavioral deviation

Eddie’s Case When Eddie started school he was delayed in reading readiness and vocabulary skillsWhen Eddie started school he was delayed in reading readiness and vocabulary skills His other deficits were in following directions and peer relationshipsHis other deficits were in following directions and peer relationships

Cognitive Deficits Low SES children enter school with as little as 40 hours of exposure to print material compared to 1000 hours for high SES childrenLow SES children enter school with as little as 40 hours of exposure to print material compared to 1000 hours for high SES children They have lower vocabulary skillsThey have lower vocabulary skills They lack familiarity with following directionsThey lack familiarity with following directions

Failure Cycle Cognitive deficits lead to poor academic performanceCognitive deficits lead to poor academic performance Poor academic performance is a strong risk factor for delinquencyPoor academic performance is a strong risk factor for delinquency

Eddie’s Case Eddie’s school record showed poor academic performance overall and high rates of office referrals and suspensionsEddie’s school record showed poor academic performance overall and high rates of office referrals and suspensions By Middle School Eddie was involved with a deviant peer group, was often truant, and had been arrested for burglaryBy Middle School Eddie was involved with a deviant peer group, was often truant, and had been arrested for burglary At 16 he dropped out of schoolAt 16 he dropped out of school

Poor School Connectedness From 1989 to 1998 truancy cases increased in juvenile court by 85%From 1989 to 1998 truancy cases increased in juvenile court by 85% Truancy has been linked to youth delinquencyTruancy has been linked to youth delinquency From 1974 to 1998 suspension/expulsion rates went from 3.7% to 6.8%From 1974 to 1998 suspension/expulsion rates went from 3.7% to 6.8%

School Drop Out Truant and/or suspended youth are far more likely to drop out and become delinquentTruant and/or suspended youth are far more likely to drop out and become delinquent 82% of prison inmates are high school dropouts82% of prison inmates are high school dropouts 17 % of arrests in the U.S. in 2000 were persons under 18 years of age17 % of arrests in the U.S. in 2000 were persons under 18 years of age

Eddie’s Case In the year after Eddie dropped out he had been arrested for RECKLESS DRIVING, LARCENY, ROBBERY, and VIOLENT ASSAULT and BATTERYIn the year after Eddie dropped out he had been arrested for RECKLESS DRIVING, LARCENY, ROBBERY, and VIOLENT ASSAULT and BATTERY

Eddie’s case was transferred to criminal court and he is serving a sentence in a state prison The number of minors in state prisons has more than doubled in the past 12 yearsThe number of minors in state prisons has more than doubled in the past 12 years Youth transferred to criminal court recidivate more quickly, more often, & for more serious offenses than youth in juvenile courtYouth transferred to criminal court recidivate more quickly, more often, & for more serious offenses than youth in juvenile court

A Promising Path Protective Factors Can help promote ResiliencyCan help promote Resiliency Can help a person to make better choices in the presence of multiple risksCan help a person to make better choices in the presence of multiple risks Preventive strategiesPreventive strategies are more efficient and effective than reactive strategies

Eddie’s Case At 16, pregnant and unmarried Eddie’s mother received help from the Prenatal and Infancy Home Visitation by Nurses programAt 16, pregnant and unmarried Eddie’s mother received help from the Prenatal and Infancy Home Visitation by Nurses program She had a healthy baby, learned many good parenting skills, and learned of other resources to help her get a job and to raise her sonShe had a healthy baby, learned many good parenting skills, and learned of other resources to help her get a job and to raise her son

Prenatal and Infancy Home Visitation by Nurses Findings: Improved women's prenatal healthImproved women's prenatal health Reduced pregnancy complications, child abuse, neglect and injuries to children, welfare dependence, substance abuse and criminal behavior on the part of mothersReduced pregnancy complications, child abuse, neglect and injuries to children, welfare dependence, substance abuse and criminal behavior on the part of mothers

Eddie’s Case Since there were no positive male role models for Eddie, his mother enrolled him in the Big Brothers ProgramSince there were no positive male role models for Eddie, his mother enrolled him in the Big Brothers Program Eddie enjoyed the relationship with his “Big Brother” who often read to him, helped him with social and academic skills, and took him cyclingEddie enjoyed the relationship with his “Big Brother” who often read to him, helped him with social and academic skills, and took him cycling

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Findings: Participants attended school more, got better grades, and had better relationships with their parents and peers than those who did not participate in the programParticipants attended school more, got better grades, and had better relationships with their parents and peers than those who did not participate in the program

Eddie’s Case Eddie’s school has a school- wide system of positive behavior support in which expectations are taught and reinforced. Errors are proactively corrected.Eddie’s school has a school- wide system of positive behavior support in which expectations are taught and reinforced. Errors are proactively corrected. Eddie received individualized instruction in academics and social skillsEddie received individualized instruction in academics and social skills

Positive Behavior Support Three Levels Universal - School-wide assessment School-wide prevention Targeted - Student assessments Group interventions Intensive - Individualized-Multidisciplinary assessments &interventions Individualized-Multidisciplinary assessments &interventions

Universal ElementsRules agreed upon by team - willing/able to enforce agreed upon by team - willing/able to enforce posted, brief, positively stated posted, brief, positively statedRoutines avoid problem contexts, times, groupings, etc. avoid problem contexts, times, groupings, etc. consistent consistentArrangements clear physical boundaries clear physical boundaries supervision of all areas supervision of all areas ExamplesExamples Bully Prevention Program, PATHS Bully Prevention Program, PATHS

Targeted Elements used when universal interventions do not apply, or are not effectiveused when universal interventions do not apply, or are not effective used for individual or small number of studentsused for individual or small number of students necessary for 3-10% of school populationnecessary for 3-10% of school populationExample Functional Family Therapy, small group instructionFunctional Family Therapy, small group instruction

Intensive Elements planning for involvement of community resources as necessary planning for involvement of community resources as necessary in-depth and continuous assessment from a variety of sources and perspectives in-depth and continuous assessment from a variety of sources and perspectives necessary for 1-3% of school population necessary for 1-3% of school populationExample Multisystemic Therapy Multisystemic Therapy

Eddie’s Case In Middle School Eddie became involved in cyclingIn Middle School Eddie became involved in cycling At 16 Eddie was employed part- time at a bicycle shopAt 16 Eddie was employed part- time at a bicycle shop

A Promising Path Identify and understand the relationship of risk and resiliencyIdentify and understand the relationship of risk and resiliency Implement appropriate, empirically proven prevention strategiesImplement appropriate, empirically proven prevention strategies –Systematically –With fidelity –Extensively –With stability

Discussion