Understanding at-risk youth

Dr. John Denboermaintains that his primary interest and specialization as a forensic psychologist lie in youth at odds with the law. Since children and teens' brains are still developing, their thinking and behaviors can still be corrected, and they may yet achieve good and healthy adult lives. It's important that we support and assist them through potentially difficult times. We can begin this by understanding what kinds of behaviors put youth at risk.

When we define youth-at-risk behaviors, these are activities that can potentially damage a child or teen's future: things that may involve their receiving injuries and a bad standing with the law. We can also categorize anything which endangers their economic future as an at-risk behavior. By looking at the concept through this lens, we get a clear sense of what activities may fall under the category.

Every other year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launches a report called the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which lists and measures the statistics of at-risk behaviors children and teens commit. They list at-risk behaviors as behaviors that may lead to accidents and injuries like violence, smoking, the use of substances like alcohol and drugs, risky sexual behaviors like unprotected sex, unhealthy eating, and lack of exercise or physical activity.

These teens and children may not know they are at risk because they are merely imbibing the behaviors their parents have ingrained in them, explains Dr. John Denboer. They may also be coping with the emotional trauma brought upon by the dysfunction in their families. While heaving normative views on others is not prescribed, it’s important to note that forensic psychologists can greatly help these individuals by steering them into more positive behaviors.

Finally, forensic psychologists can intervene by setting up programs like employment programs, substance abuse support groups, sex education training, and treatment centers. It’s not too late to point these individuals in the right direction – they just need the right advice on where to go, adds Dr. John Denboer.