NCJ Number
166091
Date Published
1992
Length
128 pages
Annotation
Children at risk are discussed with respect to their characteristics, services that exist to meet their needs, and efforts to integrate these services, based on a literature review.
Abstract
The analysis focuses on youths ages 10-15. It uses a conceptual framework that integrates previous theory and research by proposing four components of a risk definition: risk antecedents, risk markers, problem behaviors, and outcomes. Risk antecedents include poverty, neighborhood, and family dysfunction as measured by parental drug abuse and reported child abuse and neglect. Risk markers include poor school performance and child protection services or out-of-home placement. Problem behaviors and outcomes include early sexual behavior, truancy and school dropout, running away and homelessness, drug use and drug abuse, delinquency, and adolescent mortality. Traditional services have tended to function within single organizational systems such as education or mental health and to treat only the behaviors or conditions relevant to their area of expertise. Integrated service models to deliver comprehensive services to youth and their families are receiving increased attention recently. Issues that have emerged from earlier efforts at service integration include the underlying views of youth and their service needs, the nature of the service delivery network, the services to be offered, how and where they are to be delivered, program administration, staffing, funding, and evaluation. 168 references