This course examines the characteristics and issues facing vulnerable children and youth, particularly those children called "at risk". This course seeks to emphasize strengths that might compensate for weaknesses, health instead of illness, normality instead of pathology, and hopefulness instead of professional cynicism. This population of youth is particularly threatening to untrained adults who are regularly lured in counter-aggressive or avoidant behavior. It is important that adults who work with these youth with unmet needs are able to provide corrective responses.
