Breaking Down the Breaking Down the WallsWalls

for Children at Risk:for Children at Risk:The Need for The Need for Preventative Preventative InterventionsInterventions

Vitto,2011Vitto,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 Thirty-seven percent of American fourth graders read below the “Basic” level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress “Basic” level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test (NCES, 2003).(NAEP) reading test (NCES, 2003).

Sixty percent of African-American, 56 percent of Hispanic, and 53 Sixty percent of African-American, 56 percent of Hispanic, and 53 percent of American Indian fourth graders scored below the “Basic” percent of American Indian fourth graders scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test. Fifty-five percent of fourth graders level on the NAEP reading test. Fifty-five percent of fourth graders eligible for free or reduced lunch scored below basic (NCES, 2003).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 worldNumber of children in the world

= 2.2 billion= 2.2 billion

Number of children living in povertyNumber 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 The official number of poor in the US in 2008 is 39.1 million people. More than half are children.million people. More than half are children.

The data for 2008 are in and the numbers tell a The data for 2008 are in and the numbers tell a troubling story: 44 percent of American children troubling story: 44 percent of American children grow up in families that face serious struggles to grow up in families that face serious struggles to make ends meetmake 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 2002

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 Studies show that ODD presents in 5-15% of all school aged children. (aacap.org)school aged children. (aacap.org)

ODD is reported in boys almost twice as much ODD is reported in boys almost twice as much as it is reported in girls. (Carlson and Gaub and as it is reported in girls. (Carlson and Gaub and

Tamm 2001). This involves over 5 million Tamm 2001). This involves over 5 million students in the USstudents in the US..

Early appearing aggressive behaviors are the Early appearing aggressive behaviors are the best predictor of juvenile gang membership best predictor of juvenile gang membership

and violence.and violence. (Reid, 2003)(Reid, 2003)

Of the young children who show early signs of Of the young children who show early signs of problem behavior, it has been estimated that fewer problem behavior, it has been estimated that fewer

than 10% receive services for these difficulties. than 10% receive services for these difficulties. (Kazdin & Kendall, 2002) (Kazdin & Kendall, 2002)

According to 72 % of the U.S. population,According to 72 % of the U.S. population,fatherlessness is the most significant fatherlessness is the most significant

family or social problem facing America, family or social problem facing America, and in most nations of the worldand in most nations of the world..

According to 72 % of the U.S. population,According to 72 % of the U.S. population,fatherlessness is the most significant fatherlessness is the most significant

family or social problem facing America, family or social problem facing America, and in most nations of the worldand in most nations of the world..

*Fathering*Fathering In America Poll January In America Poll January

20002000

*Fathering*Fathering In America Poll January In America Poll January

20002000

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

attachmentattachment

At yearend of 2001, there were an At yearend of 2001, there were an estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison

bars with children underbars with children under 18 18.*.*

At yearend of 2001, there were an At yearend of 2001, there were an estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison estimated 1,372,700 dads behind prison

bars with children underbars with children under 18 18.*.**Bureau Of Justice Statistics*Bureau Of Justice Statistics

(An 80% increase since June of 1998)

The impact of fatherlessnessis far-reaching….

The impact of fatherlessnessis far-reaching….

Three out of four teenage suicides Three out of four teenage suicides occur in households where a parentoccur in households where a parent

has been absent.*has been absent.*

Three out of four teenage suicides Three out of four teenage suicides occur in households where a parentoccur in households where a parent

has been absent.*has been absent.*

*Jean Beth Eshtain, “Family Matters: The Plight of America’s Children.” The Christian CenturyJuly 2003

*Jean Beth Eshtain, “Family Matters: The Plight of America’s Children.” The Christian CenturyJuly 2003

Fatherless children are at a Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drugdramatically greater risk of drug

and alcohol abuseand alcohol abuse.*.*

Fatherless children are at a Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drugdramatically greater risk of drug

and alcohol abuseand alcohol abuse.*.*

*U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics Survey On Child HealthWashington DC, 2002

*U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics Survey On Child HealthWashington DC, 2002

75% of all adolescent patients in75% of all adolescent patients inchemical abuse centers come fromchemical abuse centers come from

fatherless homes.*fatherless homes.*

75% of all adolescent patients in75% of all adolescent patients inchemical abuse centers come fromchemical abuse centers come from

fatherless homes.*fatherless homes.**Rainbows For All God’s Children*Rainbows For All God’s Children

Children in single-parent familiesChildren in single-parent familiesare 2-3 times as likely to have are 2-3 times as likely to have

emotional & behavioral problemsemotional & behavioral problems.*.*

Children in single-parent familiesChildren in single-parent familiesare 2-3 times as likely to have are 2-3 times as likely to have

emotional & behavioral problemsemotional & behavioral problems.*.**U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics

National Health Interview SurveyNational Health Interview SurveyHyattsville, MD, 2003Hyattsville, MD, 2003

*U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. National Center For Health Statistics National Health Interview SurveyNational Health Interview Survey

Hyattsville, MD, 2003Hyattsville, MD, 2003

Fatherless children are Fatherless children are twicetwiceas likely to drop out of school.*as likely to drop out of school.*Fatherless children are Fatherless children are twicetwice

as likely to drop out of school.*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 prisonsgrew up in a fatherless home.*

85% of all youths sitting in prisonsgrew up in a fatherless home.*

*Fulton Co. Georgia Jail PopulationsTexas Dept. of Corrections 2002

*Fulton Co. Georgia Jail PopulationsTexas 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.]*[U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census.]

Boys born to an unmarried teen motherare 10 times more likely to become

a chronic juvenile offender.*

Boys born to an unmarried teen motherare 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): 785-790.

*Source: Conseur, Amy et al. "Maternal and Perinatal Risk Factors for Later Delinquency." Pediatrics 99(2004): 785-790.

The “root cause” of crime, more than any other, is The “root cause” of crime, more than any other, is fatherlessness. Almost 70% of juveniles fatherlessness. Almost 70% of juveniles

incarcerated in state reform institutions, 75% of incarcerated in state reform institutions, 75% of teenage homicide perpetrators, and most gang teenage homicide perpetrators, and most gang

members come from homes with no father present.members come from homes with no father present. Fatherlessness & Crime 2001 by Dave KopelFatherlessness & Crime 2001 by Dave Kopel

All children need at least one person to believe in

them

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

Of those students Of those students with SBD who drop with SBD who drop out of school, 73% out of school, 73% are arrested within are arrested within five years of five years of

leaving school.leaving school. (U.S. Department of Education, 2002)(U.S. Department of Education, 2002)

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

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

When a student struggles When a student struggles academically, we look for academically, we look for

instructional solutionsinstructional solutions

We have to We have to look for look for

solutions solutions when a when a student student

struggles struggles behaviorallybehaviorally

““We need to We need to start start

fighting fighting crime in the crime in the high chair,high chair,not the not the electric electric chair.”chair.”

  George Sweat, Former Chief of PoliceGeorge Sweat, Former Chief of Police

Winston-Salem, North CarolinaWinston-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,If our American way of life fails the child,it fails us allit fails us all

Pearl S. BuckPearl S. Buck

Positive Behavior SupportsPositive Behavior Supports

Check-in, CheckoutCheck-in, Checkout

Social skills trainingSocial skills training

MentoringMentoring

Teach Organizational skillsTeach Organizational skills

Self-monitoringSelf-monitoring

New Comers ClubNew Comers Club

There are things that schools can to support children who are at risk:

Targeted StrategiesTargeted Strategies

Showcasing Student’s talentsPositive Peer ReportingPeer TutoringPre-teach Key ConceptsHomework ClubEvidenced Based ClassroomsWrap AroundCPI/TCI Diffusion and De-escalation

The Impact of Mentoring…The Impact of Mentoring…

Can Change a LifeCan Change a Life

So let’s begin…So let’s begin…