Prevention And Resilience Theory Concepts In Low-Income High School

1524 Words7 Pages

Sonia Gonzalez, SW 242, June 16thth, 2023
Setting and population of interest
This paper explores the application of prevention and resilience theory concepts, specifically in predominately low-income high school settings with a focus on low-income minority high school students. By examining the challenges faced by these students and the protective factors present in their community, we can explore practices in schools using a resilience perspective, analyze the theory’s limitations, and provide recommendations for practices that better support the well-being of these students, their families, and the community as a whole.
Environmental risks
Low-income high schools are located in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities that often face …show more content…

They can serve as a source of strength and motivation, empowering students to face and overcome challenges instead of possibly being anxious or discouraged by them. It is a factor that has shown to be an essential component in fostering resilience. Given the significant impact these supportive networks and relationships have in mitigating the impact of adverse childhood experiences, it is important for schools to facilitate opportunities for meaningful connections between students and school-based personnel (Breedlove et al., …show more content…

Many schools implement harsh disciplinary and punitive practices that do not address the underlying causes of many students’ disruptive behaviors and fail to promote resilience (Honsinger & Brown, 2019; Wuest and Subramaniam, 2022). For example, zero-tolerance policies and strict rules that result in severe consequences for minor infractions. These harsh and punitive practices may lead students to lose motivation to engage in their education and may experience feeling disconnected from their teachers and school community (Lustick, 2017). By solely focusing on harsh consequences and punishment, these practices fail to consider and address the underlying factors that may be contributing to these disruptive behaviors, things like trauma or having unmet needs. As a result, the opportunity to provide appropriate support and interventions that could effectively address these factors is overlooked. Not only does this approach fail to promote resiliency but it may also exacerbate the challenges many low-income minority students already face, further perpetuating a cycle of disengagement, mistrust, and negative outcomes (Lustick,