Youth violence is not a unique phenomenon, and, in fact, youth have been plagued with challenges throughout the centuries that have placed them at risk of violent tendencies. These challenges include poverty, inadequate healthcare, limited educational opportunities, exploitation, gender inequality, substance abuse, mental health concerns, homelessness, gang involvement, and family dysfunction. Further, these challenges are not unique to youth within the United States; however, these experiences may differ in terms of chronicity, intensity, and impact. In all youth, these challenges create stress and trauma that compromise well-being. This book explores the challenges that youth experience, and provides context to better understand the factors related, and contributing, to those issues. The chapters describing realistic and practical violence prevention and remediation programs, which are both innovative and effective, are particularly unique.
Additionally, there are a number of chapters that discuss the latest technological advances in helping young people, as well as evidence-based assessments and evaluations to help those who work with young people understand the needs of at-risk youth.