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Youth at Risk
KNR 270
Who is considered “at risk”?
Children and adolescents who for a variety of reasons are at risk of becoming juvenile offenders
OR are in danger of negative future events
50% of youth population 36 million
Factors that place youth at risk
Socially disadvantaged backgrounds Lack of basic academic skills
Problems in school Feelings of alienination
Could be gang membership Limited family support Low SES Parental separation or divorce
Factors that place youth at risk
Physical, social, or sexual abuse Alcoholism
Their own or their parents Frequent residential moves Violence, physical aggression,
destruction of property
Resiliency
Not all youth with negative factors become at risk
Some are resilient
They resist negative and make positive contributions
What factors are protective or help with resiliency?
Neighborhood resources Presence of a caring adult Perceived competence Positive attitudes toward future Sense of belonging Others?
What can recreation do?
Provide stimulating and challenging activities Outdoor activities Ropes courses Foster interpersonal skills Foster acceptance of others Foster cooperation
What can recreation do?
Emphasize autonomy and choice Involve youth in planning activities
Create positive, caring, and accepting environments
Encourage family involvement Reduce fees for programs
What can recreation do?
Early prevention programs With severe behavior problems may
need to collaborate with CTRS Caring leaders Others?
What skills do leaders need?
Experiential education Conflict resolution Youth development Behavior management Ability to develop rapport Ability to set boundaries Process & debriefing skills
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