Early childhood intervention for at risk children vastly reduces criminal activity by juvenile delinquents and adulthood criminal activity
Emily is a Sicilian woman raised in Providence RI. Emily had her first consensual sexual experience at 14 years old. Emily’s first arrest was at age 13 and she was placed in a residential unit. She is now labeled as a juvenile delinquent from this point forward in her life. She was in and out of jail for many years after this episode. Emily is the youngest of eight siblings. Emily had her first child at age 15 with a man who was 27. Emily, also at the birth of her first child, experienced the loss of her father the very same day. Emily is a mother to a total of six children and has never had the opportunity to raise any of her children. Emily was married three different times to three different men. Emily dropped out of school in the eighth grade and was kept back due to poor academic performance as early as the second grade, at about nine years old.
This is where early intervention at the prevention stage in Emily’s life would have had an impact on how Emily’s life from the second grade on would have changed. According to (Dryfoos, 1990: 132-133; Schweinhart,
· All individuals involved in Emily’s surround care would meet weekly with the clinician. To develop on going strategies and up dates on progress with Emily and Emily’s parent’s.
· The parents would be offered to do this initially on a voluntary base. If the parent does not agree to seek help for their abusive behavior then the clinician would have it court ordered. Emily would be placed preferably with her cousins or in a specialized foster home until her parents rectify their issues that are inflicted on Emily.