A "Child in Trouble" is one who demonstrates any of the following:

• Failing in school
• Causes discipline problems at school
• Defiant to rules or authority
• Uses drugs or alcohol
• Violent or abusive
• Runs away
• Has been involved in shoplifting
• Suicidal
• Steals

• Cutting classes or drops out of school
• Can't keep a job
• Has been in trouble with the law
• Has sleazy friends
• Involved in gangs
• Lies constantly
• Engages in irresponsible sex
• Out of control
• Fits your definition of being in trouble

A "Child in Trouble" does NOT need:

• Car
• Phone in kid's room
• Unlimited phone use
• Freedom to "Hang Out"
• Unsupervised trips to the mall, bowling alley, movies, etc...
• Freedom to ride in a car without adult supervision
• Freedom to have friends in house without adult supervison
• Wimpy parents!

• Freedom to associate with friends for whom parents do not have names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Bank ATM card
• Credit Cards
• Private phone line
• TV in their room
• Unenforced curfew
• Freedom to be at a friend's house or party without adult supervision
• Freedom to leave home or go anywhere without permission

A "Child in Trouble" DOES need:

• Structure
• Consistence and follow-through
• Held accountable for activities and time spent
• Nosey parents who check up on the kid's whereabouts
• Good role models
• Parents who get to know the kid's friends and friend's parents
• Compassion
• Understanding
• Someone to lean on
• Help in developing a hobby or area of interest
• Encouragement

• Firm rules
• Involvement in family activities
• To know where parents stand and that they are united
• Homework supervision
• Parents who get involved with the school
• Other responsible adults who get involved in the kid's life
• Hugs and Love
• Parents who spend a lot of time with the child
• Support from others
• Help in making friends and help in developing appropriate relationships with friends

"Men can only be happy when they do not assume that the object of life is happiness."
         George Orwell