Breaking the Stereotype of
At-Risk Students
NOVEMBER 11 TH , 2011
Introductions
 Katie Burton
 Kara Larkin
Goals for this session:
 Who are at-risk youth?
 Characteristics of at-risk youth
 Challenges
 Strategies
 Guidance lessons
Who are at-risk youth?
Definition:
At-risk youth are children who are
more likely to drop out of school due
to a variety of demographic,
socioeconomic, and institutional
characteristics.
Some characteristics of at-risk youth:
 Chronic poverty
 Absence from school
 Single parent
 Low motivation and self-
 Bad grades
esteem
 Homelessness
 Poor social skills
 Toxic environment
 Negative peer influence
 Drug use
If a teen is experiencing more than four of the following
warning signs, they could be at-risk.











Has the teen ever been suspended, expelled,
been truant, or had their grades drop?
Is the teen verbally abusive?
Does the teen struggle with basic family rules
and expectations?
Does the parent have difficulty getting the teen
to do basic household chores and homework?
Has the teen had problems with the law?
Does the parent have to pick their words
carefully when speaking to the teen, so as not to
elicit a verbal attack or even rage from them?
Is the teen in danger of dropping out of high
school?
Does the teen associate with a suspect peer
group?
Has the teen lost interest in former productive
activities, sports, hobbies, or childhood friends?
Has the teen ever displayed any evidence of
suicide?
Does the teen seem depressed or withdrawn?













Is the teen sexually promiscuous?
Has the teen’s appearance or personal hygiene
changed?
Is the teen deceitful and manipulative?
Has the teen been caught stealing money or
personal items from their family?
Is the teen severely lacking in motivation?
Does the teen sometimes lie regarding their
activities?
Does the teen display outbursts of temper?
Does the teen lack self-worth and self-esteem?
Does the teen defy established rules regardless of
the consequences?
When trying to deal with the teen, do the parents
feel powerless?
Does the teen have a problem with authority?
Do the parents suspect the teen is experimenting
with drugs or alcohol?
Does the teen ever display violent behavior?
Risk along a continuum
Minimal
Risk
Remote
Risk
High Risk
Imminent
Risk
At-risk Behavior
High SES
Less Positive
Depression
Smoking
Hard Drugs
Few Psychosocial
stressors
Some
Stressors
Anxiety
Early sexual
activity
Teenage mother
Good Schools
Single Parent
Aggression
Alcohol
Been in prison
Positive Peers
Bad Crowd
Hopelessness
Legal Trouble
Dropped out of
school
Good Family
Minority
Status
Poor school
grades
Severe school
problems
Dropped out of
school
Students from low income, low skill, low education families are twice as likely to
drop out as students from affluent families. (from Randall Grayson, PhD.)
Strategies
 Family
 Self
 Friends/Mentor
 School
 Community
Family
 Focus groups
 Supportive family member
 Community Resources
 Involvement
 Relationships
Self
 Self-esteem
 Motivation
 Empowerment
 Social skills
 Ignite Hope
 Control
 Relationships
Friends & Mentors
 Positive peer influence
 Mediation
 Problem-solving
 Mentor
 Relationships
School
 Basic skills
 High Expectations
 Proper classroom placements
 School involvement
 Relationships
What does my student need right now?
Community
 Connectedness
 Philanthropy
 Relationships
 Opportunity for positive activity
Guidance Lessons
 Stereotype Lesson
 Diversity Activity
 Meyers Briggs
 Question Ball
 Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
 Speakers
 Career options

Resources
Grayson, Randall, Ph.D. “At-Risk Youth and Resilience
Factors”. www.visionrealization.com.
10 October 2011.
Bradley, Michael J. “Who is At-Risk”. www.at-risk.org
10 October 2011.
Oakes, Duane D. Elise Sweet, and Mutinkhe Kaunda.
“Challenges and Strategies: Working with At-Risk
Youth”. www.mesacc.edu. 12 October 2011
A good resource for counselor’s: http://at-risk.com/