Helping At-Risk Youth Succeed
Sometimes, at-risk youth aren’t who we might imagine them to be. They can come from all walks of life: rich, poor, middle class, black, white, or Native American; the list can go on ad infinitum.
It’s essential not to get bogged down with stereotypes, shame-based behaviors, or feel like you have failed as a parent. I have two sons, earn a low-middle-class wage, have a college education, and love my kids more than life itself. They were raised the same, in the same house, with the same parents, and yet, my youngest is an at-risk youth while his brother basically had an uneventful school experience.
Symptoms of an at-risk youth can manifest at any time. Here are some to look out for:
- A significant drop in grades, despite trying or not
- Fear and anxiety over going to school, to sleep, or taking part in age-appropriate activities
- Repeated physical complaints
- Tremendous amount of difficulty with concentrating at school or home
- Acting out sexually or with eating disorders
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