There are many organizations and programs that target the at-risk community, aiming to help those who deal with issues like disease, low income, homelessness, abuse, drug addiction and other situations that interfere with daily living. This community has also been referred to as the "disadvantaged," but terms like these are now less frequently used due to concerns of political correctness and attributing detrimental labels to a population that already deals with significant troubles. People at risk are indeed disadvantaged, but calling them such might perpetuate a sense of inferiority and stigmatize them. "At-risk" is a more appropriate term because it signifies that the individual needs help, but that they aren't necessarily helpless.
The at risk community includes people of all ages, but some programs focus on at risk teens in particular because adolescence is seen as a crucial age where individuals are leaving childhood and taking greater responsibility, but they haven't yet reached the age where they have to take on the responsibilities of adults.
During adolescence, teenagers are making more choices for themselves and they begin to understand the burdens they have to face. It's a vulnerable period of time in which they can be easily influenced by their surroundings and peers, and it's important for at risk teens to make good choices and to take care of themselves.
A big area of concern for at risk teens is education. Many at risk teens tend to drop out of school and not earn their diplomas, which puts them further at risk because it severely limits their options in life. The lack of opportunities can make at risk teens resort to maladaptive behavior which digs them even deeper into the hole. Education is one of the biggest ways to succeed, and this is why keeping at risk teens in school is a big priority of the organizations that seek to help them.
A couple of the ways they attempt to accomplish this are to recruit students to speak to teenagers about the importance of staying in school and setting up tutoring and mentoring programs to support them academically and emotionally. The goal is to motivate at risk teens, to help them navigate the educational system, and to help them cope with the stress. Providing such services to at-risk teens gives them a chance to make it despite the challenges they face. In turn, at-risk teens can grow up to be adults that realize that change is possible, and help others who are in a similar situation.
The at risk community includes people of all ages, but some programs focus on at risk teens in particular because adolescence is seen as a crucial age where individuals are leaving childhood and taking greater responsibility, but they haven't yet reached the age where they have to take on the responsibilities of adults.
During adolescence, teenagers are making more choices for themselves and they begin to understand the burdens they have to face. It's a vulnerable period of time in which they can be easily influenced by their surroundings and peers, and it's important for at risk teens to make good choices and to take care of themselves.
A big area of concern for at risk teens is education. Many at risk teens tend to drop out of school and not earn their diplomas, which puts them further at risk because it severely limits their options in life. The lack of opportunities can make at risk teens resort to maladaptive behavior which digs them even deeper into the hole. Education is one of the biggest ways to succeed, and this is why keeping at risk teens in school is a big priority of the organizations that seek to help them.
A couple of the ways they attempt to accomplish this are to recruit students to speak to teenagers about the importance of staying in school and setting up tutoring and mentoring programs to support them academically and emotionally. The goal is to motivate at risk teens, to help them navigate the educational system, and to help them cope with the stress. Providing such services to at-risk teens gives them a chance to make it despite the challenges they face. In turn, at-risk teens can grow up to be adults that realize that change is possible, and help others who are in a similar situation.
About the Author:
I like blogging about health and christian books on my free audio books website daily.
0 comments:
Post a Comment