Who are “at-risk youth” and what does this mean?

At-risk youth are preteens or teenagers who have a higher probability of experiencing negative outcomes in various aspects of their lives. These youth are less likely to smoothly, successfully transition into adulthood.

Risk factors include but are not limited to; abuse or neglect by a caretaker, poverty, substance use and/or mental health issues in the home, parental incarceration, a lack of access to education, sexual abuse, and exposure to violence. It is important to understand that risk factors do not always lead to negative behaviors, but that the presence of risk factors can increase the likelihood of negative outcomes.

While there is no explicit way to discern that a youth is at risk , several characteristics may help to identify a need for youth intervention.

Some characteristics of at-risk youth may include:

• Behavioral changes
• Neglect in self-care and personal hygiene
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• A loss of interest in hobbies, sports, or other extracurricular activities
• Poor academic performance or truancy
• Self-harm
• Thoughts of suicide
• Substance use

How can our agency help?

At-risk youth benefit from supportive, motivational intervention. Experienced program staff at Maui Youth & Family Services are dedicated to providing youth with the resources, guidance, and help needed to prevent negative outcomes in the future.

Maui Youth & Family Services work with youth and their families to develop personalized plans, focused on positive change to help the whole family thrive.

Contact MBHR to learn more about our services and how we can help you or a loved one on the journey to recovery.

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24/7 Help: 1-800-753-6879
MBHR: 808-579-8414