"The key, she said, is to show them alternatives to lives of violence and crime. She helps them work toward their high school diplomas. She helps them find jobs. As novel as it might seem, Mills takes them on field trips: to colleges, to museums, to tourist spots... In other words, she tries to give them a taste of what other kids experience - those who aren't hanging out in parks, flashing colors and dodging bullets."

Labels: at_risk, gangs, violence

"'The initiatives that we're putting in place with the funding is to really help these youth get back on track, help them and guide them to find their way so they can be successful occupationally, educationally, and throughout their entire lives,' said Berkshire Regional Employment Board youth director Heather Sherry."

Labels: at_risk, jobs, skills

"During that time, parents are interviewed, family needs are addresses and the student in counseled to end the disruptive behavior... Of the 67 students in the pilot program - which ran from April to Mid-October - 56 showed a positive change after two weeks, and 47 were still showing improvement after six weeks."

Labels: at_risk, expulsion, suspension

"I do not know her family or the intimate details of their situation, but because I do understand the view many take of mental illness, I can surmise. The family simply did not acknowledge the stranglehold mental or emotional illness has on an individual, and like many others, simply wanted Gotbaum to be provided with the rights and dignity afforded to any other grown woman to make her own decisions and to chart her own course of action. If she chose to travel alone, they let her."

Labels: at_risk, emotional_issues, mental_health

"Recent research shows that the highest rates of emotional problems can be found among upper middle-class children, whose parents have high levels of education and income. Affluent pre-teens and teenagers rate the highest for depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse of any group of children in the United States."

Labels: affluence, at_risk, suburban_teens

"What really blew my preconceptions about teens out of the water was talking to some of the young people involved in these programs. Sure, people in this age range, roughly from 13 to 21, still have a lot of growing up to do. But these particular young people, by the time they hit their thirties, will have ended up miles ahead of almost everyone I know, regardless of age."

Labels: at_risk, risky_behaviors, treatment_programs

"The youth foyer has been in the works for about four years, [Lorrie] Janatopoulos said, and will include 13 efficiency units and 2 two-bedroom units for parenting teens, along with a wide array of support services for the disadvantaged young adults aged 16-21."

Labels: at_risk, homelessness, support

"'A resolution and designated month will go a long way toward building awareness of the more than one million children and teens that are without homes and in crisis,' said Dan Schulman, CEO of Virgin Mobile USA. 'We trust November will serve as a call to action for Americans to learn more about this vital issue, as well as find ways to support the organizations working to help homeless youth in their own communities.'"

Labels: at_risk, awareness, homelessness

Labels: at_risk, parenting_help, resources_for_parents

"The businesses - which have yet to be recruited - will provide the jobs and some of the mentoring. For the first three months, churches and community groups will provide mentoring on topics including how to handle money, workplace ethics, conflict resolution and birth control."

Labels: at_risk, employment, jobs

"...the Reach Foundation runs programs, workshops and special events to give confidence, skills and unprecedented opportunities designed to maximize their full potential."

Labels: at_risk, guidance, skills

"Through the program, teen parents, dropouts, juvenile offenders, homeless youth, and others learn fundamental trade skills that will land them high-demand jobs and – for some – a chance at a college education."

Labels: at_risk, summer_programs, workshops

Labels: at_risk, reference, troubled_teenagers