Is my child considered to be an "at-risk-youth"?  If so, where can I find help in Hawaii?

At what point do "risk factors", in combination, put children of Hawaii at an increased risk for harming themselves (at risk youth), and slowly become what we call "troubled teens". We do know that "known risk factors" do exist, and they tend to occur in clusters.  Meaning, we can predict the teens who are "at risk" to become troubled teenagers.  A troubled teenager is a boy or girl who is making personal choices that are detrimental to their present situation, and if these behaviors persist, they could damage their future.  For example, substance abuse and sexual promiscuity.  Another example is "school drop out".  When a child is abusing drugs, is sexually active with multiple partners, and has dropped out of school, there is a very high likelihood that this teen will end up dependent upon the government (welfare), jobless, homeless, or in jail.

Depression or other mood disorders are probably the most significant--and most common--risk factors that predict "troubled teen" behavior.  Teens dealing with depression are considered to be "at-risk-youth". Studies estimate some 20% of the U.S. adolescent population has some type of emotional problem, and depression affects as many as three-quarters of a million  troubled teens at any given time. But mood disorders in adolescents are easy to miss. When surveyed, 90% of parents believed they would recognize depression in their own children, but, according to SAMHSA, only 20% - 40% of depressed youth are ever diagnosed and treated. Substance abuse has been linked to increased suicide risk in teens.  We have help for your at risk youth.    We are here to serve you and your struggling teen. 

We offer hope and help for at-risk youth from Hawaii

Whether in school, at home or with peers, youth are bombarded by negative cultural influences, peer pressure and often challenging life circumstances that include poverty, homelessness, foster care, lack of parental involvement, domestic violence in the home, bullying and harassment at school or experience with juvenile detention. Some kids prove resilient; others do not (we vall them at-risk-youth). We do know that kids who are connected to caring adults, engaged in school and have productive roles at home, in organizations or the community at large have strengths or "assets" that help to insulate them from pressures and influences that prove destructive. In contrast, kids who find themselves hopeless, depressed and disconnected from others can turn to increasingly harmful and risky behavior.

Famous Quotes:  "The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware." Henry Miller  "Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier."  Albert Schweitzer "Not life, but good life, is to be chiefly valued."  Socrates "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."  Anonymous

Famous Quotes:  "A healthful hunger for a great idea is the beauty and blessedness of life."  Jean Ingelow  "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." Jean Ingelow  "I have found that if you love life, life will love you back." Arthur Rubinstein "Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."  George Bernard Shaw