At-Risk Youth: A Case Study

African American males start life off being at-risk just because of their race and gender. Carson (2014) discovered that in 2013 3% of all African American males were in prison and only 0.5% of all white males were in prison. At risk does not only translate to prison sentences but also a lack of education and a difficult time obtaining decent work. The lack of these resources is also likely to result in poverty. Toliver (2013) suggests that the lack of educational and work opportunities has translated to an increase in poverty and mortality in black males. Toliver also suggests that mentoring at risk youth is a solution to the uneven distribution of young black males being at-risk. What is at-risk youth? Leventhal and Brooks Gunn (2000) define it as when developmental needs are not properly addressed, mostly because of external factors, which can result in future delinquent or risky behaviors. Children growing up in neighborhoods or families where they are surrounded by similar behaviors or a lack of developmental needs are considered at-risk. Cherie and Berhane (2012) found that the peers adolescents associate with have …show more content…
The most at-risk population in urban areas are African American males. Positive Action is an Evidence-Based Practice that has shown positive changes in at-risk youth. Although it does not always show significant change in every area, additional intervention may be used to work on these specific skills. Youth in urban areas are already more at-risk, but because African Americans and Males are both more at-risk than their counterparts, it is important to intervene with urban black male youth. These life skills that could be obtained from Positive Action can be used as protective factors against the risk factor in the boys lives. Using this program with African American males may teach them new life skills that can have a positive effect on their