Seminar At Risk Children

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SeminarAt Risk Children

• Dr. Cleveland Houser
• Prison Ministry Consultant
• and Trainer,
• North American Division

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At Risk Children

• Definition At risk children are children whose
  lives are complicated by adverse circumstances
  steming from family and environmental
  abnormalities.

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It IS A Fact

• Most at risk children are children of
  incarcerated men and women.

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The Affects of Fatherhood

• The Affects of The Decline of Fatherhood
• It is a major cause of many disturbing problems
  that plague American society.
• a. Crime, Premature Sexuality, out of
• Wedlock Births.
• b. Deteriorating Educational Achievements
• c. Depression, Substance Abuse, Poverty,
• Alienation.

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The Effects of Fatherhood Cont.

• Many people believe that fatherlessness
• is related to violence and delinquency.
• Having a father in the home is no guarantee that
  a crime want be committed, but appears to be an
  excellent form of prevention.

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The Affects of Fatherhood Cont.

• Research Shows That
• 60 of American rapist come from fatherless
  homes.
• 70 of adolescent murders grew up in fatherless
  homes.
• 70 of long term prison inmates grew up in
  fatherless homes.

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The Affects of Fatherhood Cont.

• Teen suicide has tripled
• When the father is out of the home the household
  income drops by at least 25 and poverty occurs.
  Child poverty exceeds that of the elderly.

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Children of Prisoners

• Many things can wait. Children cannot.
• Today their bones are formed, their blood is
  being made, their senses are being developed.
• To them we cannot say tomorrow. Their name is
  today. Johann C. Arnold

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Children of Prisoners

• Children of Prisoners are Image Bearers
• Made in the image of God.
• Known by God
• The fatherless and orphaned
• Forgotten and labeled by society
• Most likely to become prisoners

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Violence Ripples to Children

• Violence is immoral because it seeks to humiliate
  the opponent rather than win his understanding
  it seeks to annihilate rather than convert.
  Violence is immoral because it strives on hatred
  rather than loveViolence ends by defeating
  itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors
  and brutality in the destroyers. M L King

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Risk Factors Ages 3 and Under

• Inadequate nutrition
• Environmental toxins
• Diminished maternal interaction
• Trauma and abuse
• Substance Abuse
• Low quality child care

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Assessing Risk Factors of At Risk Children

• Multiple At Risk Factors of Children
• Live in violent neighborhoods
• Inadequate parental care
• Lost of self-respect
• Hopelessness, resentful, rage, defeat
• Vulnerable to sexual abuse
• Numbness and interpersonal racism

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Signs of At Risk

• Family conflict, abrupt changes in behavior
• Manipulative, Lying, stealing
• Bullying, runs away, disorderly conduct
• Hangs with the wrong crowd
• Defiant, bi-polar disorder, depressed
• Low self-esteem, self-mutilation
• Substance abuse, sexually active

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Signs of At Risk

• Never at fault, uncontrollable anger
• Poor emotional control
• Lack of motivation, school suspension
• I hate you attitude
• You cant make me attitude
• Cant keep friends
• Fighting, violence, gang involvement

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What Put Children at Additional Risk

• Racism
• Substandard schooling
• Deteriorating or substandard housing
• Parental neglect
• Parental harshness
• Low birth weight, poor nutrition
• Inferior medical care

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What put Children at Additional At Risk Cont.

• Physically or emotionally unavailable parents
• Marital distress (parents), divorce
• Single parenthood
• Lack of social support
• Lack of role models
• Parental substance abuse, incarceration

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What Protects At Risk

• Predictable and attached relationships with one
  or more caring adults.
• Skills and activities that build competence and
  confidence.
• Belief in God and an affiliation with a community
  of faith.

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Programs

• Angel Tree Program
• Expresses tangible love and compassion for
  children of prisoners during the holiday season.
• Sends children to summer camp

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Programs

• Reading Recovery Programs
• Focus on each students strength not their
  deficits.
• Children learn strategies on how to become
  independent readers.,
• Children learn to read by composing and writing
  their own messages.
• Read for understanding

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Programs

• Programs for Physical Activity
• Out door activities, athletics, adventure,
• camping, field trips.
• In door activities, sports, swimming, track,
• table tennis, racquet ball, etc.
• Health and nutrition

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Programs

• Self-improvement Programs
• Cultural events
• Educational
• Self-esteem
• Dignity
• Career building
• Belief in self

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Breaking The Chains

• Helping At Risk Children Break The Chains
• They dont need pity they need compassion.
• They dont need us to be their best friend they
  need us to be adults to give them loving
  discipline and direction.
• Give them choices and teach them how to problem
  solve

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Breaking The Chains

• Avoid internal and external labeling because of
  how they look and environmental factors.
• Love cast out fear. Be reliable, consistent and
  trustworthy because all of these factors are
  absent in their lives.
• They need role models, mentors and life coaches
  to help them cross over the Red Seas in their
  lives.