At-risk youth : a comprehensive response : for counselors, teachers, psychologists, and human service professionals / J. Jeffries McWhirter ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

McWhirter, J. Jeffries.

Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Youth with social disabilities--United States.

Youth with social disabilities.

Youth with social disabilities--Counseling of--United States.

Youth with social disabilities--Counseling of.

United States.

Physical Description:

xxii, 376 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

Belmont, CA : Brooks/Cole--Thomson Learning, [2004]

Summary:

This timely book addresses one of the greatest social, family, and community concerns of today--children and youth who are at-risk for a variety of problem behaviors. Whether the term "at risk" is associated with a local school district's problems, with child and adolescent suicide, violence, or school dropout, with the correction system's concerns about gangs or juvenile delinquency, or public health concerns of teen pregnancy, child abuse, AIDS and STDs, and drug and alcohol use, individuals considered "at risk" need the ongoing attention of professionals across many disciplines. To help prepare students for work with at-risk youth, this book provides conceptual and practical information on key issues and problems. Prevention and intervention techniques are described in the book to help future and current professionals perform their jobs successfully and to improve the lives of young people at risk.

Contents:

Part 1 At-Risk Children and Youth: The Ecology of Problems 1

Chapter 1 An Introduction to At-Risk Issues: The Tree 3

The Scope of the Problems: An Overview of the Ecology of At-Risk Youth 5

Case Study: The Andrews Family 10

At-Risk Problems and Issues 13

The At-Risk Tree: A Metaphor 14

Chapter 2 Environmental/Societal Factors That Contribute to Risk 19

The Ecological Model 21

The Economy and Poverty 22

Socioeconomic Status 29

The Widening Gap 30

Ennui and Purpose 30

Training for Life 31

Modest Proposals and Suggestions 32

Chapter 3 Family Problems of At-Risk Children and Youth 36

Societal Changes Affecting the Family 37

Changes within the Family 39

Family Problems and Problem Families 46

Child-Rearing Practices: Three Dimensions of Child-Rearing 48

Chapter 4 School Issues That Relate to At-Risk Children and Youth 57

The Value of Education 58

Research on Effective Schools 63

Educational Structure: Schools and Classrooms 71

Chapter 5 Individual Characteristics of High-Risk and Low-Risk Children and Youth 77

Resiliency and Invulnerability 79

Factors That Contribute to Resilience 79

Common Characteristics of Resilient Youth 82

Skills That Characterize High-Risk Versus Low-Risk Youth 82

Things to do to Increase the Five Cs 90

Part 2 At-Risk Categories 93

Chapter 6 School Dropouts 95

The Consequences of Dropping Out 100

Predictive Indicators and Type of Dropouts 101

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 104

Specific Intervention: Comprehensive, Competency-Based Guidance 109

Specific Intervention: Solution-Focused Counseling 111

Chapter 7 Substance Use and Addiction 114

Definitional Difficulties and Assessment 115

Some Determinants of Substance Use and Common Characteristics of Users 118

Some Consequences of Substance use 122

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 123

Specific Intervention: Motivational Interviewing 129

Chapter 8 Teenage Pregnancy and Risky Sexual Behavior 133

Precursors of Teen Pregnancy: Common Background Characteristics 136

Consequences of Early Childbearing 140

AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases 142

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 144

Specific Intervention: An Adlerian Model 146

Chapter 9 Antisocial Behavior, Delinquency, and Youth Gangs 156

The Scope and Nature of Antisocial Behavior, Delinquency, and Gangs 157

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 168

Specific Intervention: Reality Therapy 170

Chapter 10 School Shooters 177

Ecological Contributions to the Problem 179

Identifying Potential Shooters 181

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 183

Specific Intervention: Preventing School Shootings 188

Chapter 11 Youth Suicide 195

Risk Factors and Characteristics of Youth Suicide 199

Warning Signs of Suicide 204

Common Misconceptions of Suicide 207

Identification and Assessment Strategies 208

General Prevention and Intervention Strategies 211

Specific Early Intervention, Crisis Management, and Postvention 212

Part 3 Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Approaches 219

Chapter 12 A Prevention/Early Intervention/Treatment Framework and Other Environmental Considerations 221

A Comprehensive Prevention/Early Intervention/Treatment Framework 222

History of Prevention Programs 223

Description of the Framework 226

The Prevention/Treatment Continuum 229

Environmental Settings 229

Counselor/Psychologist/Teacher Interface 234

Additional Environmental Issues 235

Chapter 13 Core Components of Programs for Prevention and Early Intervention 240

Critical School Competencies 242

Concept of Self 247

Connectedness 251

Coping Ability 254

Control: Strategies for Cognitive Change 257

Chapter 14 Peer Interventions 264

Importance of Peers 265

Cooperative Learning and Peer Support Networks 268

Peer and Cross-age Tutoring Programs 273

Peer Mediation Programs 278

Peer Facilitation 283

Chapter 15 Family Interventions 285

Family Counseling 287

Alternatives and Adjuncts to Family Counseling 292

Chapter 16 Legal and Ethical Issues 304

The Legal System 305

Specific Legal Concerns 313.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 320-363) and indexes.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Anne and Joseph Trachtman Memorial Book Fund.

ISBN:

0534548717

OCLC:

52636797