2000 Volunteer Leader Training Guide
Recognize Early Warning Signs of Troubled Youth
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Introduction • Target Audience • Objectives
• Handouts
• Suggestions for
Teaching the Lesson •
Review With Participants
• Closing Remarks
Introduction
Following recent incidents of school violence, parents, school personnel, and
students have been asking “Why didn’t we see it coming?” Did the youth say
or do anything that might have indicated an impending crisis? Did we miss an
opportunity to help? This Leader’s Guide is designed to help volunteer
leaders, parents and students identify early and imminent warning signs of
troubled youth and to help them recognize their role in preventing youth
violence..
Target Audience
- 4-H leaders
- Parents
- 4-H members
- Students
Objectives
To enable participants to:
- Identify early and imminent warning signs of troubled youth.
- Recognize the role of parents and students in preventing youth
violence.
Handouts
-
Early Warning Signs of Troubled Youth (Handout 1)
-
Critical Warning Signs of Troubled Youth (Handout 2)
-
Preventing Youth Violence: Tips for Parents (Handout 3)
-
Preventing Youth Violence: Tips for Students (Handout 4)
Suggestions for
Teaching the Lesson
Distribute Handouts 1, 2 and 3 if the audience is a group of parents.
Distribute Handouts 1, 2 and 4 if the audience is a group of students.
Say: In the wake of incidents of youth violence, news reports have
indicated that caring adults and youth reviewed over and over again the days
leading up to the incidents. They tried to recall whether the youth said or did
anything that indicated violent intentions, and they asked themselves and others
how they could have prevented the crisis. Violent incidents serve as wakeup
calls to members in other communities, who may ask “How can we prevent youth
violence from occurring in our schools?” Parents and youth need to be able to
recognize early warning signs of troubled youth for timely action. Parents need
to establish close, caring and supportive relationships with youth to be able to
accurately assess their needs, feelings, attitudes and behavior patterns.
Ask: What do you believe are the early warning signs of troubled
youth? (Give time for answers. Affirm correct answers.)
Say: The early warning signs of troubled youth are:
1. Social withdrawal. In some situations, gradual and eventually
complete withdrawal from social contact can be an important indicator of a
troubled emotional state. The withdrawal often stems from feelings of
depression, rejection, persecution, unworthiness and lack of confidence.
2. Excessive feelings of isolation. These feelings are sometimes
characteristic of children and youth who may be troubled, withdrawn or have
emotional problems that hinder development of social affiliations.
3. Excessive feelings of rejection. In the process of growing up and
in the course of adolescent development, many young people experience
emotionally painful rejection. Their responses to rejection depend on many
background factors. Without support, they may express emotional distress in
negative ways that include violence.
4. Excessive feelings of being picked on and persecuted. Youth who
feel constantly picked on, teased, bullied, singled out for ridicule and
humiliated at home or at school may initially withdraw socially. If not given
adequate support in addressing these feelings, some may vent them in
inappropriate ways, including possible aggression or violence.
5. Being a victim of violence. Children who are victims of violence –
including physical or sexual abuse – are sometimes at risk of becoming violent
toward themselves or others.
6. Low school interest and poor academic performance. It is important
to explore the reasons for a drastic drop in performance or for chronic low
performance. In some situations, such as when the low achiever feels frustrated,
unworthy and chastised, he or she may engage in aggressive behavior. It is
important to assess the emotional and cognitive reasons for the academic
performance to determine the true nature of the problem.
7. Expression of violence in writings and drawings. An
over-representation of violence in writings and drawings that is directed at
specific individuals (family members, peers, other adults) consistently over
time may signal emotional problems and the potential for violence. Because of
the danger in making a wrong diagnosis, it is important to seek the guidance of
a qualified professional, such as a school psychologist, counselor or other
mental health specialist to determine its meaning.
8. Uncontrolled anger. Anger that is expressed frequently and
intensely in response to minor irritants may signal potential violent behavior
toward self or others.
9. Patterns of impulsive and chronic hitting, intimidating and bullying.
Chronic hitting and bullying that occur early in children’s lives, if left
unattended, might later escalate into more serious behaviors.
10. History of discipline problems. Chronic disciplinary problems in
school and at home may suggest that emotional needs are not being met. Unmet
needs may be manifested in aggressive behaviors. These problems may cause youth
to violate norms and rules, defy authority, disengage from school and engage in
aggressive behaviors with other youth and adults.
11. History of violent and aggressive behavior. Unless provided with
support and counseling, a youth who has a history of aggressive or violent
behavior is likely to repeat these behaviors. Aggressive and violent acts may be
directed toward other individuals, be expressed in cruelty to animals or include
fire setting. Youth who engage in behaviors such as bullying, defiance,
stealing, vandalism, lying, cheating and fire setting also are at risk for more
serious aggressive behavior.
12. Intolerance for differences and prejudicial attitudes. An intense
prejudice toward others based on racial, ethnic, religious, language, gender,
sexual orientation, ability and physical appearance may lead to violent assaults
against those who are perceived to be different. Membership in hate groups or
the willingness to victimize individuals with disabilities or health problems
also should be treated as early warning signs.
13. Drug and alcohol use. Drug and alcohol use lead to reduced
self-control and exposes youth to violence, either as perpetrators, as victims
or both.
14. Affiliation with gangs. Youth who are influenced by gangs may
adopt antisocial values and behaviors, such as extortion, intimidation and cause
fear and stress among other students. Gang-related violence often results in
injury and/or death.
15. Inappropriate access to, possession of and use of firearms.
Families can reduce inappropriate access and use of firearms by restricting,
monitoring and supervising children’s access to them. Children who have a
history of aggression impulsiveness or other emotional problems should not have
access to firearms and other weapons.
16. Serious threats of violence. Recent incidents of youth violence
across the nation clearly indicate that detailed and specific threats to commit
violence against oneself or others should be taken very seriously.
Say: Use the following principles to ensure that you do not
misinterpret early warning signs of troubled youth.
1. Do no harm. The early warning signs should not be used as rationale
to exclude, isolate or punish a child. Nor should they be used as a checklist
for formally identifying, mislabeling or stereotyping children. Formal
disability identification under federal law requires individualized evaluation
by qualified professionals. In addition, all referrals to outside agencies based
on the early warning signs must be kept confidential and must be done with
parental consent (except referrals for suspected child abuse or neglect).
2. Understand violence and aggression within the home, school and
community context. Some kids respond through aggressive or violent acts if
they lack positive coping skills to deal with stress in their lives.
3. Avoid stereotypes. It is important to be aware of stereotyping
youth based on race, socioeconomic status, cognitive or academic ability or
personal appearance. Stereotypes can harm youth, especially when they are
unfairly accused.
4. View warning signs within a development context. Kids at different
development levels express their social and emotional needs differently. It is
important to know what is developmentally typical behavior, so that behaviors
are not misinterpreted.
5. Understand that troubled youth typically exhibit multiple warning
signs. It is common for youth who are troubled to exhibit multiple warning
signs repeatedly and with more intensity over time. It is important not to
overreact to single signs, words or actions.
Say: Some warning signs we have just discussed are critical enough to
indicate that a youth is very close to behaving in a way that is potentially
dangerous to self and/or to others.
Critical warning signs may include:
• Serious physical fighting with peers or family members
• Severe destruction of property
• Severe rage for seemingly minor reasons
• Detailed threats of lethal violence
• Obsession with firearms and other weapons
• Self-injurious behaviors or threats of suicide
Critical warning signs may occur just once or may be presented as a sequence
of overt, hostile behaviors or threats directed at self, peers, staff or other
individuals. These require an immediate response. When warning signs indicate
that danger is close at hand, safety must always be the first and foremost
consideration. If possible, without putting yourself in danger, remove the
person(s) from the situation that is setting him or her off. Tell someone you
trust and respect about your concerns and ask for help. This could be a family
member, guidance counselor, teacher, school psychologist, coach, clergy, school
resource officer or friend. If you are worried about being a victim of violence,
get someone in authority to protect you. Do not resort to violence or use a
weapon to protect yourself.
Review With Participants
Handout 3. Preventing Youth Violence: Tips for Parents (if the audience is a
group of parents)
Handout 4. Preventing Youth Violence: Tips for Students (if the audience is
a group of students)
Closing Remarks
Recognition of early warning signs of troubled youth will enable
parents, school personnel, other caring adults and students to avert youth
violence through timely action. We have seen that there is much that parents and
students can do through home, school and community partnerships to help troubled
youth. School personnel also can play an important role in preventing and
responding to violence through the violence prevention and response plan.
Adapted from: Dwyer, K., Osher, D., and Warger, C. (1998).
Early Warning, Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools. Washington,
D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services.
Swarna Viegas, Extension Specialist - Youth Development
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