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5 Ways to Help an At-risk Teen Find the Right Support

Some children require help to excel in transitioning to adulthood, academics, and getting into the job market. They may also have problems becoming financially independent. Such teens are referred to as at-risk teens or at-risk youths. At-risk teens’ characteristics include behavioral and emotional problems, low academic performances, truancy, and a complete lack of school interest. Usually, at-risk teens have no people around them to help them lead a good life. Whether a parent, teacher, guardian, or caregiver, some things can help the teen improve his social, academic, or occupational goals.

Listen to the teens

Most at-risk teens lack adults who can listen to them. They must get someone to listen to their thoughts, struggles, and fears. Listening shows that someone is caring and that the teen is important. When a teen feels that those around him are not caring, they also develop an “I don’t care attitude,” which negatively affects their lives. At times the teen may need financial support.

Get them the right support

Coming from different backgrounds, the teen may not have a responsible adult around them. As such, some may act out because of financial stress. Lending a hand to the teen by giving them a meal or money for necessities shows them someone around them is caring. Sometimes, the teen may need a counselor, tutor, or another supportive adult to help them deal with emotional, psychological, or educational needs. They may not know where to get such help, so finding and connecting them with the necessary support will go a long way in molding the teen’s life.

Mentoring the teen

Teens require a good role model and an adult they would like to emulate. Mentors can help teens have a different perspective about life which can help transform their lives. Without a mentor, teens tend to cause trouble, engage in risky behavior, and even neglect school.

Letting a teen know that someone cares will help them feel important, accepted, and seen, making them feel good about themselves. Some of them may feel unloved at home, and that kind gesture of showing you care means a great deal to them.

Share concern with others

Today, teens live in difficult times where parents are busy, so they lack someone to give them the attention they need. Sometimes the teen may come from a broken family, there may be incidences of domestic violence at home, drug abuse issues, or maybe physically, sexually, or emotionally abused. All these can cause a good teen to start having problems at school, engage in fights, use drugs, drink alcohol, and generally become a social misfit. A teen’s sudden changes must be quickly addressed to avoid developing and becoming a bigger issue in the future. It is important to share concerns with people around the teen, such as faith leaders, teachers, family, and other community leaders. The teen may need help from different people, so developing a support network will help them succeed more in life.

Make conversations

Teens have a lot of worries and, at times, may lack the ability to know how to deal with the worries. At times they can feel lost and concerned they cannot protect themselves. Issues like peer pressure can easily sway them as they are indecisive. Through daily conversations, you can give them the right guidance and steer them in the right direction. Talking with teens also helps build trust with them, and therefore, they can confide their worries to someone who will not judge or reprimand them. Remember, teens must be involved in making decisions that concern them, like career choices, dressing code, and friends. As such that it would help if they can have their opinions heard. Forcing decisions can cause a teen to be rebellious by engaging in harmful activities such as doing drugs, neglecting school, or getting into bad gangs.