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

At what point do "risk factors", in combination, put children of Maryland 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 Maryland

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.

Movie Quotes:  "I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours." – The Notebook

Movie Quotes:  "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  Ferris Bueller's Day Off  "But love don't make things nice. It ruins everything. It breaks your heart. It makes things a mess. We aren't here to make things perfect. The snowflake is perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us. We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die."  Moonstruck