Not all children are provided with the right home and school environment when they’re growing up and even with support such as Caterina’s Club it’s impossible to reach every at-risk child. Every child deserves an equal opportunity in adulthood, but sometimes that’s not always the case. Many children aren’t given the proper resources for a successful transition, this could include academic trouble, job trouble, or deficit in youth development. Everyone is different and every situation is unique, however, Social Solutions published an article in 2018 about at-risk youth statistics that stemmed from a lack of youth development.
12% of high school dropouts are unemployed
Education is so important, especially for children. A child’s brain is like a sponge, ready to soak up all the knowledge they hear. But, more and more, it’s easy for kids to drop out of high school and wave farewell to their education. We hear all the time about infamous businessmen or women, famous actors, or start-up companies getting rich with a past as a high school drop out and we latch onto that hope. The hope that someday that could be us too. But, with 12% of high school dropouts unemployed we need to stress the importance of both education and the workforce. With neither, youth are more likely to get involved in something that could lead to trouble or lead them down a negative path.
Only 1 in 10 youth from low-income families go on to graduate from a four-year college
Going to college can be difficult for anyone, but this statistic is particularly compared to 28% of youth from middle-income families and 50% of youth from high-income families go on to graduate from a four-year college. Although there are resources such as grants, financial aid, and scholarships, many students aren’t even aware of these resources. It’s too often that youth from low-income families are kept in the dark about their ability to attend a community college and then go on to a four-year college. Youth in low-income families do not have the resources themselves to afford college, but schools do and can help them achieve their goals through education. It’s important we build an awareness for children about college and the resources that can get them there regardless of their financial situation at home.
7% of young women from low-income families have a child by age 18, compared to only 1% from high-income families
Women continue to be pushed aside and with the feminist movement on the rise we can only hope for equality one day. However, sexual violence and assault should not be tolerated. This statistic is troubling. For 7% of young women to have a child by age 18, the age of consent is 16. It is crucial to protect women from sexual predators or men looking to take advantage of them before or at the age of 18. Young women need protection and most aren’t ready for a child, we need to help install boundaries for these women so they are protected from sexual violence.
For more statistics to be aware of for at-risk youth visit socialsolutions.com. The first step is educating ourselves about the trends for at-risk youth, then we can help them and provide action. Let’s put an end to these statistics before it’s too late. Visit our website for more ways to get involved and help at-risk youth now.