High-risk youth are rarely able to succeed in school, on the job, in their family relationships, or in society at large. They often express hopelessness, frustration, anger. Even after they have acquired skills and have begun to work, they tend to lose jobs, fail again in schools, and become involved in crimes. There is a noted connection between youth who come from dysfunctional families and have low academic skills, nonexistent career goals, poor work history, drug and/or alcohol abuse, and involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Ivan C. Frank explains the need for longer term alternative educational programs in highly supportive environments for high-risk youth. He describes the features and coverage of programs in Israel and in some American cities that have rehabilitated high-risk youth.