Researchers have found that

* 700,000 students drop our of high school each year:

* 500,000 teenagers give birth each year;

* 24,000,000 children live in poverty;

* 14,000,000 children are being raised by a single parent;

* 2,000,000 children suffer from some form of abuse each year;

* 3,000,000 students and teachers are victims of crime each year;

* 500,000,000 robberies, burglaries, assaults, and rapes are committed in schools each year, and;

* 7,000 teenagers commit suicide each year.

A definition of at-risk-youth is as follows;

....at-risk youths are children who are not likely to finish high school or who are apt to graduate considerably below potential. At-risk factors include chemical dependency, teenage pregnancy, poverty, disaffection with school and society, high-mobility families, emotional and physical abuse, physical and emotional disabilities, and learning disabilities that do not qualify students foe special education abut nevertheless impede their progress (Minag, 1988, p. 14).

From a school perspective

*tardiness;

*absenteeism;

*poor grades;

*truancy;

*low math and reading scores;

*failing one or more grades;

*rebellious attitudes toward school authority;

*verbal and language deficiency;

*inability to tolerate structured activities, and;

*dropping out of school.

Crisis management vs. Prevention?

From a mental health perspective -

*drug and alcohol use and abuse;

*eating disorders;

*gang membership;

*pregnancy;

*suicide or suicide ideation;

*depression;

*sexual abuse;

*violence;

*withdrawal and isolation;

*low self-esteem; and

*school;-related problems.

From a home/family perspective -

*failing to obey rules or directives;

*avoiding taking part in family activities;

*spending a great deal of time alone in their room;

*being secretive about friends and activities;

*not communicating with parents or siblings;

*displaying values and attitudes different from family;

*resisting going to school or discussing school activities;

*arguing about everything; and

*staying away from home as much as possible.

Looking at Suicide -prevention model

Oppositional defiant disorder - model of treatment