Sample Diversity Papers

Diversity Paper

The term “at risk” has been used by the education system to describe students who are in need of periodic or constant intervention in order to succeed academically. These at risk youth are identified in adolescence as those who are not only unlikely to thrive during their transition into adulthood, but also those who are liable to be recruited into juvenile delinquency and gang activities. There are a number of factors that affect a child’s risk of academic failure. Among these are low socioeconomic status, instability in the home, domestic violence, and exposure to criminal activities and drug abuse. However there are a plethora of effective and promising at risk programs

The organization was also shown to contribute to an increase in homework completion among participating students. Comparable clubs, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, have seen similar successes. Both programs provide purposeful and engaged mentoring between volunteers and at risk youth and also involve a variety of youth development activities, including academic support, career awareness, financial literacy, sports and cultural activities, and community service (Ivry and Doolittle, 2003). Equivalently, youth development organizations targeted at late adolescence such as the Teen Outreach Program have seen less endangerment of pregnancy, school suspensions, and course failures in their at risk teen participants. In addition to these programs, Title 1 schools, which are federal programs in K-12 education, also exist to provide resources to schools to help low income communities meet state learning standards. Without these programs, many children will become on track to drop out by the high school level or fall

According to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, some key reasons for youth to join gangs are protection, enjoyment, respect, money, or because a friend is in a gang. Their research also finds that youth are at higher risk of joining a gang if they engage in delinquent behaviors, are aggressive or violent, experience multiple foster care transitions, have behavioral and academic issues at school, associate with other gang-involved youth, or live in communities where they feel unsafe and where many youth get into trouble (Howell, 2010). The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention also suggests that prevention and intervention at risk programs help to deter students from getting involved in gang violence and drug abuse. Programs like Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) visit schools across the country to prevent use of controlled drugs, membership in gangs, and violent behavior. Students who are involved in their program sign a pledge not to do drugs or become involved in gang activities, while being informed of the dangers of such activities. These programs help to create a secure understanding of the dangers of recreational drug use, before the child has exposure to such temptations and risks that could have adverse effects on their futures and duties as future