America's Disconnected Youth: Toward a Preventive Strategy by Douglas J. Besharov (Editor), Child Welfare League of America, American Enterprise Institute for

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Synopsis

Adolescence is a time of both great opportunity and risk, as young people experience physical change, intellectual growth, self-discovery, and growing independence. Unfortunately, some young people have difficulty making the transition from adolescence to productive adulthood. America's Disconnected Youth: Toward a Preventive Strategy identifies these young people as "disconnected" and examines mentoring and school-to-work programs as important strategies for assisting youth. The chapters include in-depth descriptions of the factors that have contributed to the alienation of these young people from fulfilling adult lives.

VOYA

At a time when millions of viewers watch the television show Boston Public, which portrays school hallways and classrooms full of disgruntled students, this collection of research findings attempts to explain why some youth become uninterested in many of the services that are offered to help them improve their lives, especially education. Disconnected youth comprise those who have spent a part of their lives as unproductive members of society for many reasons. They have become parents, are using drugs, are incarcerated, have dropped out of school, or are still attending school but not completing any work. Many disconnected youth become unproductive adults. Researchers, professors, and doctoral students document the results of their studies concerning disconnected youth who are typically in the age range of sixteen through twenty-three. Many researchers focus on very specific populations. Patricia Stern tracks teen sexuality among inner-city white youth in urban Philadelphia, author William Julius Wilson concentrates upon inner-city black men in Chicago, and author Paul T. Hill describes thirteen focus high schools on the East Coast. The researchers offer advice on how schools, youth development programs, places of worship, and parents can decrease the chances of young people becoming disconnected from society. "Improving Links Between High Schools and Careers" by Robert I. Lerman is especially useful because the author details how to match what schools teach with what youth really need. This well-written collection of research findings is scholarly, timely, and especially useful for those serving older teens in an educational setting. Librarians and educators throughout the country canlearn from these studies and need to read this book. Charts. Biblio. Source Notes. 1999, Child Welfare League of America, 313p, pb. Ages Adult. Reviewer: Sheila Anderson SOURCE: VOYA, April 2001 (Vol. 24, No.1)