at-risk youth
Last updatedDefinition
At-risk youth is a term used to describe children, usually in order to advocate for preventive and interventionist policies and programs. Though this is a common term, the criteria for identifying “at risk” are not universally defined. The research organization Child Trends explains that in general terms, “at risk” refers to poor long-term outcomes such as poverty, incarceration, or early death, though particular programs may focus on preventing or achieving specific outcomes. In general, poverty is considered the greatest predictor of struggling to adapt or transition into adulthood. Studies have also indicated that factors such as discrimination on the basis of gender and sexuality can play a role in youths’ risk factors, as can adverse childhood experiences.
Some discussions note that calling individuals “at risk” in general may suggest the threat to the person’s well-being is within themselves, versus a product of systemic gaps that produce hostile environments and fall short of meeting their basic needs. Because the term “at risk” has no single definition and involves so many societal factors, being specific about how the term is being used (X is considered at risk of academic failure) is more informative to audiences. Avoiding phrasing that can be read as blaming or stigmatizing the individual with language like “delinquent” or “dropout” also takes those societal factors into account. For example: “The lack of tutoring options in X’s school due to underfunding has contributed to them being at risk of academic failure.”
Additional resources
- Why it’s wrong to label students ‘at risk’ (The Conversation)
- In New Orleans, A Second-Chance School Tries Again (NPR)
- Delinquent. Dropout. At-Risk. When Words Become Labels (NPR)
- Who are Opportunity Youth? (Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions)
- Term ‘At-Risk Youth’ Replaced With ‘At-Promise Youth’ In California Penal Codes (Sacramento CBS Local)
- School-Based Risk and Protective Factors for Gender Diverse and Sexual Minority Children and Youth (American Psychological Association)
Summary
At-risk youth is a term used to describe children in vulnerable situations that threaten their transition into adulthood. Because the term “at risk” has no single definition and involves so many societal factors, being specific about how the term is being used (X is considered at risk of academic failure) is more informative to audiences. Avoiding phrasing that can be read as blaming or stigmatizing the individual with language like “delinquent” or “dropout” also takes those societal factors into account. For example: “The lack of tutoring options in X’s school due to underfunding has contributed to them being at risk of academic failure.”