YOUTH AT RISK: ISSUES FOR EDUCATORS

Although many programs and agencies exist to serve the needs of at-risk children, their fragmented organization results in a failure to meet all students ' needs. Ways for agencies working together to provide integrative services to at-risk youth are presented in this paper. First, emerging principles for interagency collaboration are summarized. The four steps in developing an improvement plan are described next--mapping the territory; surveying the field; developing a plan; and getting stalted. Four pitfalls to avoid are also identified: (1) all talk, no action; (2) creating a superagency or person; (3) the lack of linkage between information, knowledge, and action; and (4) an excess of jargon. A conclusion is that an urgent need exists for agency/school collaboratj.on to develop a coordinated, efficient, and child-centered system that focuses on early intervention and prevention. (9 references) (LMI) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * kN) r.