User:Areyes12/At-risk students

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History of the Term "At Risk Youth"

The term "at-risk" came into use after the 1983 article "A Nation at Risk," published by the National Commission on Excellence in Education. The article described United States society as being economically and socially endangered. At-risk students are those students who have been labeled, either officially or unofficially, as being in danger of academic failure. In the U.S., different states define "at-risk" differently, so it is difficult to compare the varying state policies on the subject.

Students who are labeled as "at-risk" face a number of challenges that other students do not. According to Becky Smerdon's research for the American Institutes for Research, students, especially boys, with low socioeconomic status (and therefore more likely to be labeled "at-risk") show feelings of isolation and estrangement in their schools. Educational philosopher Gloria Ladson-Billings claimed in a 2006 speech that the label itself actually contributes to the challenges. Her view is that, "We cannot saddle these babies at kindergarten with this label and expect them to proudly wear it for the next 13 years, and think, 'Well, gee, I don't know why they aren't doing good.'" There is an ongoing conversation among experts in this field about the importance of asset-based terminology. In 2021, the National Journal of At-risk Youth actually changed their name to the National Journal of Youth Advocacy and Resilience as a way to employ asset-based terminology about youth and to better describe the perspective of those in the field.

History of Prevention for "At-Risk Youth"

At the time of the mid-20th century, the term, "at-risk" wasn't identified or acknowledge in society. However, during the 1960s and 1970s, there was a pivotal point in how society viewed juvenile offenders and their approach to restorative justice. Studies have shown that punitive measures were often ineffective in addressing the reduction in juvenile crimes. Through research and findings, it resulted in factors that effect a youth's action and increase risk in encountering the juvenile system. It later identified that at-risk youth have a higher chance entering the juvenile system. Subsequently, the need for preventative juvenile justice services, specifically from community services, to help youth, take preventive action, and navigate youth entering and exiting the juvenile system. Preventative juvenile justice services became needed at the end of the 1970s and there is still current debates on preventing juveniles from entering the juvenile system.

Early intervention

There are several different forms of interventions for at-risk youth. Interventions are generally considered effective if they have positive impacts on individuals' risk behavior, academic achievement, pro-social behavior, sexual behavior, and psychological adjustment. Effective interventions can also serve as a preventative measure for future risk behavior, and it can help at risk-youth avoid entering the juvenile systems. There is a significant correlation between high-risk youth and higher rates of juvenile system involvement. Through research and findings, factors such as low socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, gender, and psychosocial histories of mental health and substance abuse have resulted in an increased risk that a youth will encounter the juvenile system. People have discovered the need for juvenile justice services, specifically community services to take preventive action and to support youth as they navigate entering and exiting the juvenile system.