4 Troubled Teens Blog

Ron Huberman, the chief executive officer of Chicagos violence-plagued public school system is working to improve the lives of students who are at greatest risk. A Nov. 4 editorial in the New York Times lauded the Hubermans efforts:

The ambitious plan will offer mentoring, counseling and jobs to high-risk students. To determine who they are, Mr. Huberman analyzed the cases of more than 500 young people who were killed or wounded in gun violence over the last two years. The analysis suggests that nearly 10,000 of the citys 113,000 high school students are at risk of becoming victims of gun violence and need help.

Their lives follow a clear pattern. They are absent from school more than 40 percent of the time, on average. They have fallen behind and are more likely to be enrolled in special education. And they generally attend 38 of the citys nearly 140 public high schools. &

The plan & deserves full and enthusiastic support from the city, community groups and from the business community, which could play an essential role by providing the young participants with jobs.

Labels: violence, schools, chicago, at_risk

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The Boys & Girls Club in Redwood City, California recently got some serious upgrades. Bright red paint, sound-dampening panels and a top-of-the-line audio recording system have transformed it into a digital multimedia center.

Laying down a hip-hop track or filming a documentary are only part of what the academy at the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse is about. Club officials say troubled teens drawn by the opportunity to use the high-tech studio will get mentoring to help them stay out of trouble. -- Source: Mercury News (San Jose, CA)

The upgrades were made possible through a partnership with both the Peapod and Adobe Foundations. A $360,000 grant will fund the academy for three years, where young people will be able to receive training in video, audio, photography, design and art.

Labels: at_risk, grants

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On Saturday, Aug. 1, an Indiana dance group will host a fundraiser for a local charity. Members of The NRG Dance Co will be washing cars from 1 to 5 p.m., with proceeds going to benefit the organization Hopeful Tomorrow.

Hopeful Tomorrow is a national children's charity dedicated to providing disadvantaged and at-risk children the opportunity to pursue their passion and dreams in physical, cultural and fine arts programs. A creative and physical outlet, as well as a positive mentor, can make a huge difference in the life of an 'at-risk' child. (Source: The Indianapolis Star)

The event will take place at Texas Roadhouse on East U.S. Highway 36 in Avon, Indiana. More information is available at www.hopefultomorrow.org.

Labels: at_risk, fundraiser, indiana, benefit

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When it comes to at-risk or troubled teens, "acting out" is rarely a good thing. But for the past six years, an innovative program in Atlanta, Georgia, has given a new -- and hopeful -- meaning to that often angst-inspiring term.

In a June 18 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, writer Jamie Gumbrecht explained how a group of dedicated women help struggling girls get their lives back on track through the magic of drama:

Since Synchronicity Performance Group began its Playmaking for Girls program in 2002, it has put dozens of runaways, teen mothers, dropouts and abuse survivors on stage as performers. ...

They pore over short plays about bad boyfriends, great girlfriends, supportive grandmothers, an evil witch, a pit bull named Spike, and a white Persian cat named Fluffy. They're hard stories about loss, parenthood and juvenile justice, but they almost always have happy endings.

Each girl is in at least two plays, and she has to mold each character's identity, filling in the gaps left by teenage playwrights.

According to the program's website, Playmaking for Girls is "a community outreach program, dedicated to engaging young women in the creation of theatre as a tool for creative expression, community healing and personal growth." The program consists of four components -- an afterschool program, detention center workshops, satellite workshops, and the public performance.

Labels: at_risk, girls, drama

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When Carol Gotbaum headed to the Phoenix airport, she undoubtedly had no idea that the airport's interior would be the last thing she'd ever see. News outlets around the world have repeatedly run the video and accompanying story of her arrest and subsequent death at Phoenix's Sky Harbor. For some, it raises the question "what were the police thinking, leaving a woman alone who was clearly so distraught?" For Kathy Scott, however, it raises a different question: where was Gotbaum's family?

"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."

The problem, Scott goes on to say, is that those who suffer from mental and emotional disorders are often in states-of-mind that prevent them from making good, wise decisions. Though friends and family members may cringe at the idea of restricting a loved one's "freedoms", those restrictions can keep them on a safe path toward recovery.

Labels: emotional_issues, mental_health, at_risk

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Charlotte Mills of Modesto, California, spends her days talking to kids who are caught up in drugs, gangs, and violence. She's not a cop or a court-appointed attorney; she's more like a "life coach" for at-risk teens.

"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."

The program is a collaborative effort between Stanislaus County Juvenile Probation and the Center for Human Services where Mills is an employee. Jerry Powers, probation chief for Stanislaus County, believes programs like this are vital, and far less expensive than the cost of keeping someone in jail. Source: Modesto Bee

Labels: violence, at_risk, gangs

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A $125,000 state grant is allowing a Massachusetts program to continue helping at-risk teens find jobs. The program, Youth Build, exists for the sole purpose of getting kids off the streets and into jobs where they can develop marketable skills.

"'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."

Not only do the kids benefit from this program, but so do local businesses who are feeling the pinch of a depleted workforce. Read more at CapitalNews9.com

Labels: jobs, at_risk, skills

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Students in a British Columbia school district now have an alternative to the standard "stay-at-home" suspension. A new program, called iR3 (Intervention, Reflect, Refocus and Reintegration) gives students who are suspended the option of attending a recreation center instead.

"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."

A plan is now in the works to expand iR3 to become a district-wide program.

Looking to help the teenager in your life? Visit Teen Boarding Schools for programs for troubled teens.

Labels: at_risk, suspension, expulsion

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The phrase "at-risk" usually conjures images of inner city environments; kids who grow up in poor or broken homes and turn to risky behavior in attempts to find acceptance and belonging. But recent studies have shown that the face of at-risk kids is changing and their geographic locations are shifting.

"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."

Affluent parents often place high expectations on their kids. In and of itself, that's not a bad thing. But when the expectations aren't coupled with encouragement and help, a teen or pre-teen can quickly become overwhelmed, and thoughts like "I'm not good enough" start entering his head. Sadly, research has found that, on average, parents spend less than 5 minutes a week engaged in meaningful conversation with their kids, while the kids spend over 1,600 minutes a week watching television. Parental involvement is key for this new segment of "at-risk" kids.

Labels: at_risk, affluence, suburban_teens

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There are a lot of programs out there designed to help troubled or at-risk youth. Wendy Ponte found four such programs that reach out teens in unique ways.

"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."

The programs highlighted by Ponte include CityKids, Art in Action Youth Leadership, Seeds of Peace, and Chat the Planet. Read more at Mothering.com.

You can find help for parents of troubled teens at ByParents-ForParents.com.

Labels: risky_behaviors, treatment_programs, at_risk

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On Tuesday, the Virginia City Council approved a $150,000 grant submission which would fund a youth foyer project. The project would provide young people with support systems and housing.

"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."

The staff for the new foyer would include two caseworkers and two to three night and weekend paraprofessionals. The foyer housing concept is considered a successful model for helping young people achieve self-sufficiency. Read more at VirginiaMN.com.

Residential schools offer troubled teens a structured environment and support like therapy and counseling. Find a residential school at BoardingSchoolsInfo.com.

Labels: homelessness, support, at_risk

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In June, the House of Representatives heard testimony from - among others - singer/songwriter Jewel about the condition of homeless teens in America. Jewel, herself, was homeless as a teenager and knows firsthand the dangers of the streets and the difficulties of making a better life. The initiative to designate November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month was launched in conjunction with Virgin Mobile's The RE*Generation campaign aimed at connecting at-risk and homeless youth with people who want to help.

"'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.'"

As part of the RE*Generation campaign, Virgin Mobile created the TXT2CLOTHE initiative which allows mobile phone users from any wireless carrier to send a text message that results in a piece of clothing being donated to a homeless teen.

Read more online.

Labels: awareness, homelessness, at_risk

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At-Risk-Youth.com is a new website/blog dedicated to providing troubled adolescents and their parents with valuable and timely information about the issues that face today's youth. When adolescents exhibit destructive behaviors, parents often feel helpless and confused about how to help their child, who may struggling with issues such as substance abuse, violence, weight management, learning disabilities, eating disorders, and other behavioral and emotional issues. At-Risk-Youth.com provides parents with the information and resources that will help their children reach their full potential.

At-Risk-Youth.com provides parents and their children with helpful tools, such as information about therapeutic programs, rehabilitation programs, and boarding schools, along with information for parents about the issues that their children are facing. The resources provided by At-Risk-Youth.com are intended to help families deal with these complex issues so that they can make the choices that will help get their children back on the right path.

Labels: at_risk, parenting_help, resources_for_parents

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James Shelby, president and CEO of the Greater Sacramento Urban League, unveiled a plan last Tuesday called the Year-Round Employment Program. With the help of 150 businesses, the plan will employ 300 at-risk African-American teens and provide mentors to teach them life skills.

"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."

An estimated 25 - 30% of young black men live below the poverty line, and 19-44% of them drop out of high school and never finish. The Year-Round Employment Program hopes to reduce those numbers. Read more at SacBee.com.

Labels: jobs, at_risk, employment

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Jim Stynes may be better known among Australian circles than American ones, but his work with at-risk teens is something people around the world understand. In 1994, Stynes co-founded a non-profit organization called Reach, whose purpose is to offer guidance and help for at risk teens.

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

Reach currently runs 16 different programs in 400 locations throughout Australia. Read more online.

Labels: at_risk, skills, guidance

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For four years, Becky Shumake has headed up a program called Summer Building Trades. Working in conjunction with The Heart of Texas Workforce Commission, she has given many at-risk teens the chance for a future they may not have otherwise.

"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."

Teens who are interested in the program have to apply and go through an interview process. Their 40-hour work week is spent at non-profit groups and college workshops.

Read more at WacoTrib.com.

Labels: at_risk, summer_programs, workshops

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Many parents begin worrying about their children the moment they reach their teenage years. The teen years are difficult, sometimes confusing, and often frustrating for both you and your teenager. But is he really in trouble? Is she really "at risk"? This survey asks some important questions that can help you gauge the overall well-being of your teen.

"This can serve as a point of reference for you in understanding the severity of the problems your teen is currently facing." Read more.

Learn what a troubled teen is and find parenting tips for parents of teenagers online.

Labels: troubled_teenagers, at_risk, reference

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