Breaking Down the Walls for Children at Risk: The Need for Preventative Interventions Vitto,2011 Dedicated to single mothers raising sons …

A child from a low-income family enters kindergarten with a listening vocabulary of 3,000 words, while a child of a middle-income family enters with a listening vocabulary of 20,000 words (Hart & Risley, 2001). Forty million adults in the U.S. can’t read well enough to read a simple story to a child (NCES, 2002).

· · From 1983 to 2003, over 10 million Americans reached the 12th grade without having learned to read at a basic level. In the same period, over 6 million Americans dropped out of high school (U.S. Department of Education, 2003) Two-thirds of American classrooms have fewer than 50 children’s books, and almost 60 percent of childcare centers buy fewer than one book per child a year (Neuman et. al, 2001).

What are possible setting events for at risk children?? Thirty-seven percent of American fourth graders read below the “Basic” level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test (NCES, 2003). Thirty-seven percent of American fourth graders read below the “Basic” level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test (NCES, 2003). Sixty percent of African-American, 56 percent of Hispanic, and 53 percent of American Indian fourth graders scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test. Fifty-five percent of fourth graders eligible for free or reduced lunch scored below basic (NCES, 2003). Sixty percent of African-American, 56 percent of Hispanic, and 53 percent of American Indian fourth graders scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test. Fifty-five percent of fourth graders eligible for free or reduced lunch scored below basic (NCES, 2003).

During the summer break, low-income students lose more than two months of reading achievement. By the end of fifth grade, low-income children fall more than two years behind their middle-income peers in verbal achievement as a result of summer learning differences

Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names

Poverty Places Children at Risk Number of children in the world = 2.2 billion = 2.2 billion Number of children living in poverty 1 billion (every second a child is born into 1 billion (every second a child is born into poverty) poverty)

U.S. Children Living in Poverty The official number of poor in the US in 2008 is 39.1 million people. More than half are children. The official number of poor in the US in 2008 is 39.1 million people. More than half are children. The data for 2008 are in and the numbers tell a troubling story: 44 percent of American children grow up in families that face serious struggles to make ends meet The data for 2008 are in and the numbers tell a troubling story: 44 percent of American children grow up in families that face serious struggles to make ends meet

One out of every two children in the United States will live in a single-parent family at some time before they reach age 18. According the United States Census Bureau, in 2002family

About 20 million children live in a household with only their mother or their father. This is more than one- fourth of all children in the United States.

A number of school-age children (5 to 17) speak a language other than English at home. These children make up nearly 1-in-5 in this age group. Most of them (7.1 million) speak Spanish at home.

In 2001 an estimated 721,500 State and Federal prisoners were parents to 1,498,800 children under age 18

Each week, child protective services (CPS) agencies throughout the United States receive more than 50,000 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect.

Studies show that ODD presents in 5-15% of all school aged children. (aacap.org) ODD is reported in boys almost twice as much as it is reported in girls. (Carlson and Gaub and Tamm 2001). This involves over 5 million students in the US.

Early appearing aggressive behaviors are the best predictor of juvenile gang membership and violence. (Reid, 2003)

Of the young children who show early signs of problem behavior, it has been estimated that fewer than 10% receive services for these difficulties. (Kazdin & Kendall, 2002)

According to 72 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America, and in most nations of the world. According to 72 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America, and in most nations of the world. *Fathering In America Poll January 2000

There are many children who begin their lives in poverty and without a secure attachment

At yearend of 2001, there were an estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison bars with children under 18.* At yearend of 2001, there were an estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison bars with children under 18.* *Bureau Of Justice Statistics (An 80% increase since June of 1998)

The impact of fatherlessness is far-reaching…. The impact of fatherlessness is far-reaching….

Three out of four teenage suicides occur in households where a parent has been absent.* Three out of four teenage suicides occur in households where a parent has been absent.* *Jean Beth Eshtain, “Family Matters: The Plight of America’s Children.” The Christian Century July 2003

Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse.* Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse.* *U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics Survey On Child Health Washington DC, 2002

75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.* 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes.* *Rainbows For All God’s Children

Children in single-parent families are 2-3 times as likely to have emotional & behavioral problems.* Children in single-parent families are 2-3 times as likely to have emotional & behavioral problems.* U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics National Health Interview Survey *U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics National Health Interview Survey Hyattsville, MD, 2003 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics National Health Interview Survey *U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics National Health Interview Survey Hyattsville, MD, 2003

Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.* Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.* *U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics Survey On Child Health Washington, DC GPO 2003 *U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics Survey On Child Health Washington, DC GPO 2003

85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.* 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home.* *Fulton Co. Georgia Jail Populations Texas Dept. of Corrections 2002

90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.* 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes.* *[U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census.]

Boys born to an unmarried teen mother are 10 times more likely to become a chronic juvenile offender.* Boys born to an unmarried teen mother are 10 times more likely to become a chronic juvenile offender.* *Source: Conseur, Amy et al. "Maternal and Perinatal Risk Factors for Later Delinquency." Pediatrics 99(2004): *Source: Conseur, Amy et al. "Maternal and Perinatal Risk Factors for Later Delinquency." Pediatrics 99(2004):

The “root cause” of crime, more than any other, is fatherlessness. Almost 70% of juveniles incarcerated in state reform institutions, 75% of teenage homicide perpetrators, and most gang members come from homes with no father present. Fatherlessness & Crime 2001 by Dave Kopel

All children need at least one person to believe in them

More than half of students with SBD drop out of grades 9- 12, the highest rate for all disability categories. (U.S. Department of Education, 2003 (U.S. Department of Education, 2003

Of those students with SBD who drop out of school, 73% are arrested within five years of Of those students with SBD who drop out of school, 73% are arrested within five years of leaving school. leaving school. (U.S. Department of Education, 2002)

The correlation between preschool-age aggression and aggression at age 10 is higher than that for IQ. (Kazdin, 2000)

Everyone needs love, especially when they feel they don’t deserve it

When a student struggles academically, we look for instructional solutions

We have to look for solutions when a student struggles behaviorally

“We need to start fighting crime in the high chair, not the electric chair.” George Sweat, Former Chief of Police Winston-Salem, North Carolina

For children who are at risk, the sooner we can provide support the better chance they have of succeeding.

If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all Pearl S. Buck

Positive Behavior Supports Check-in, Checkout Social skills training Mentoring Teach Organizational skills Self-monitoring New Comers Club There are things that schools can to support children who are at risk:

Targeted Strategies Showcasing Student’s talents Positive Peer Reporting Peer Tutoring Pre-teach Key Concepts Homework Club Evidenced Based Classrooms Wrap Around CPI/TCI Diffusion and De-escalation

The Impact of Mentoring… Can Change a Life

So let’s begin…