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Key ingredients of effective interventions
7. Supporting "at risk" youth
The three programs aim to address issues of disengagement, low self-esteem and self-harm among at-risk youth, particularly in rural and regional areas.
The common ingredients include the involvement of various sectors of the community (local schools, police, local council, sports clubs, welfare agencies), either for the purpose of referral or as a source of support for the particular program, as well as the use of volunteers to serve as mentors.
All programs use well-regarded community members as mentors (including peer mentors) and incorporate mentor training before the start of a program or during the program (learning by doing for future peer mentors).
Another important component was rewarding the young people: a dinner celebration, vacations, a sports awards night, and a team camp at the end of the program.
Source: Promising Practice Profiles: Final report (PDF 2.2 MB) (Soriano, Clark & Wise. 2008). p37
List of key ingredients:
- Parenting and family support
- Parenting support for young parents
- Early learning and care
- Supporting "first-time" mothers
- School readiness
- Supporting children with additional needs
- Supporting "at risk" youth
- Capacity-building for service providers and enhancement of service provision
- Community "hubs"
- Social inclusion initiatives