Youth and Youth-At-Risk Programs

Overview

There appears to be no general definition of "at-risk youth at risk," although there is a definition for "at-risk youth" in RCW 13.32A.030 as it relates specifically to juvenile courts and juvenile offenders. A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report on resources for serving at-risk youth uses the term "at-risk youth" to refer to young people for whom the probability of successfully transitioning to adulthood and achieving self-sufficiency is low.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Adolescent and School Health page lists adolescent health and risk behaviors. It notes that government agencies, community organizations, schools, and other community members must work together to have the most positive impact on adolescent health. Providing safe and nurturing environments help adolescents become healthy and productive members of society.

Youth.gov, a website established by the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, which is composed of federal agencies that support youth programs, notes on its Violence Prevention page that youth violence and crime affect a community's economic health. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to preventing youth violence. However, communities can help reduce youth violence by developing a city- or county-wide strategies that combines prevention, intervention, treatment, and re-entry strategies.

Examples of Local Youth Programs

Below are examples of various local government programs in Washington that focus on youth and at-risk youth.

• Bellevue Youth Link – This youth leadership and community service program is co-sponsored by the city and school district. Includes the Youth Council, Youth Link Board, and Youth Link’s action teams and special events, including a youth involvement conference and community leadership awards.
• Clark County Youth Program – Provides several programs and projects, including a youth commission, substance abuse prevention, and a peer-to-peer "teen talk" hotline to support youth.
• King County Youth Services – Page lists mental health and substance use services options for youth and caregivers.
• Mercer Island Healthy Youth Initiative (HYI) – Comprised of local experts, residents, and community and regional partners, HYI supports substance use prevention efforts, mental health promotion, family support services, and youth engagement.

Law and Justice Programs

Below are examples of jurisdictions that have established special services within their law enforcement systems to help deter youth criminal activity, engage youth with law enforcement, and reduce youth incarceration and recidivism rates.

Some jurisdictions have also established specialized youth courts. For more information, see the Washington State Association of Youth Courts website.

• Clallam County Juvenile Services – Offers services including court programs for at-risk youth, neglected or abused children, and alternatives to incarceration.
• Kennewick Police Department Youth Services – Uses school resource officers to provide educational instruction, serve as informal counselors for students, and assist with school safety.
• King County Juvenile Court Services – Partners with community organizations to provide education, community service, employment opportunities, and victim restitution for court-involved youth.
• Pierce County Youth Violence Prevention Program – Solicits proposals for youth violence prevention activities in unincorporated areas; funded by a criminal justice sales and use tax.
• Seattle Police Department Youth Explorers – Focuses on encouraging youth ages 14-21 to learn law enforcement and leadership skills.

Park and Recreation Programs

Several cities, counties, and park districts offer indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities to keep youth engaged and safe. A few examples are below.

• Bainbridge Island Metro Parks Teen Center – Provides recreation center amenities, teen activities, concerts, and youth service projects.
• Bellingham
  • Youth and Teen Programs – Includes creative, environmental, and personal growth programs, classes, and day trips.
  • Youth Sports and Fitness – Provides adaptive recreation, aquatics, track and field, sports camps opportunities for youth.
• Ellensburg Stan Bassett Youth Center – Offers a game room, lounge, and computer lab, all supervised by adult staff and volunteers.
• Metro Parks Tacoma Teen Programs – Provides after school clubs, dances, and events, as well as field trips on holidays and in-service days.
• Seattle Teen & Youth Development – Provides a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for teens, as well as job opportunities for teens in the parks and recreation department.

Youth Advisory Boards, Internships, and Employment

Many cities and counties in Washington have established youth advisory boards to provide input on youth issues, as well as to engage youth in local government. For examples, see our page on Youth Participation in Local Government.

Other local governments offer internships and training programs to help engage and recruit young people interested in working for public agencies. See our page Internships and Job Training Programs for more information.

Recommended Resources

• National League of Cities: Council on Youth, Education, and Families – Informs city leaders about various issues important to youth and families.
• TeamChild – Washington state-based nonprofit providing free civil legal advocacy and community education to assist youth who are involved in or at high risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System – Provides data on unintentional injuries and violence, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol and drug use, tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children & Families – Provides numerous national services and federal grant opportunities supporting children and youth.