{"id":9029,"date":"2026-08-02T00:55:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T20:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/course\/managing-youth-at-risk-2\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T16:53:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T12:53:16","slug":"managing-youth-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"course","link":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/course\/managing-youth-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Managing Youth at Risk Course"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background:var(--bg);border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:16px;padding:36px 40px;margin-bottom:32px\">\n  <p style=\"font-size:1rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.85;margin:0 0 24px\">Young people facing significant risk factors, whether from poverty, family instability, violence exposure or other adversity, require a distinct set of practitioner skills beyond standard youth work practice. This course builds trauma-informed, evidence-based skills for effectively supporting at-risk young people while protecting practitioner wellbeing.<\/p>\n  <div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:14px\"><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:16px 20px;flex:1;min-width:130px;text-align:center\"><strong style=\"display:block;font-size:1.6rem;font-weight:800;color:var(--youth);line-height:1\">1 in 4<\/strong><span style=\"font-size:.75rem;color:var(--muted);line-height:1.5;display:block;margin-top:5px\">young people globally experience a significant adverse childhood experience<\/span><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:16px 20px;flex:1;min-width:130px;text-align:center\"><strong style=\"display:block;font-size:1.6rem;font-weight:800;color:var(--youth);line-height:1\">70%<\/strong><span style=\"font-size:.75rem;color:var(--muted);line-height:1.5;display:block;margin-top:5px\">improved engagement with trauma-informed versus standard programme approaches<\/span><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:16px 20px;flex:1;min-width:130px;text-align:center\"><strong style=\"display:block;font-size:1.6rem;font-weight:800;color:var(--youth);line-height:1\">4<\/strong><span style=\"font-size:.75rem;color:var(--muted);line-height:1.5;display:block;margin-top:5px\">areas this course builds: trauma understanding, risk assessment, trust-building and referral pathways<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"background:var(--bg);border-right:4px solid var(--youth);border-radius:0 12px 12px 0;padding:24px 28px;margin:20px 0\">\n  <p style=\"font-weight:700;font-size:1.05rem;margin:0;color:var(--navy)\">Common challenges this course addresses:<\/p>\n  <ul style=\"margin:14px 0 0;padding-left:20px;color:var(--text);line-height:1.9\"><li>You work with young people showing signs of trauma but lack formal training in trauma-informed practice<\/li><li>You struggle to build trust with young people who have learned that adults are unreliable<\/li><li>You are unsure how to assess risk levels accurately and respond proportionately<\/li><li>You lack clear referral pathways for concerns beyond your scope of practice<\/li><li>The emotional demands of this work leave you at risk of burnout without adequate support strategies<\/li><\/ul>\n  <p style=\"margin:16px 0 0;font-weight:700;color:var(--youth);font-size:.97rem\">This course builds trauma-informed skills to support at-risk young people effectively while protecting your own wellbeing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"color:var(--navy);border-left:4px solid var(--youth);padding-left:14px;margin:40px 0 20px\">Who Should Attend<\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr));gap:16px;margin-bottom:32px\"><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83c\udfeb<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">Youth Workers<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Practitioners working directly with at-risk young people.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83c\udfeb<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">School Counsellors<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Staff supporting students facing significant risk factors.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83c\udfe5<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">Social Workers<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Professionals managing cases involving at-risk youth.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83c\udf0d<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">NGO Field Staff<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Staff working with vulnerable young people in development contexts.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83d\udc6e<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">Justice-Involved Youth Staff<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Those working within juvenile justice or diversion programmes.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"background:#fff;border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px\"><div style=\"font-size:1.8rem\">\ud83d\udc65<\/div><h4 style=\"margin:10px 0 6px;color:var(--navy);font-size:.95rem\">Foster Care and Residential Staff<\/h4><p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.85rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.7\">Those supporting young people in care settings.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"background:var(--light);border-radius:16px;padding:32px 36px;margin:32px 0\">\n  <h2 style=\"font-size:1.45rem;font-weight:800;color:var(--navy);margin:0 0 6px\">What You Will Leave With<\/h2>\n  <p style=\"color:var(--text);margin:0 0 24px;font-size:.95rem\">Practical tools applicable immediately.<\/p>\n  <div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(260px,1fr));gap:14px\"><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Trauma-informed practice framework,<\/strong> understanding and responding to trauma appropriately<\/span><\/div><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Risk assessment skills,<\/strong> accurately assessing and responding proportionately to risk<\/span><\/div><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Trust-building techniques,<\/strong> working with young people who distrust adult relationships<\/span><\/div><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Clear referral pathways,<\/strong> knowing when and how to refer beyond your scope<\/span><\/div><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Protective factor building,<\/strong> strengthening resilience alongside addressing risk<\/span><\/div><div style=\"display:flex;gap:10px;align-items:start\"><span style=\"color:var(--youth);font-weight:800;font-size:1.1rem\">\u2713<\/span><span style=\"font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Practitioner self-care strategies,<\/strong> sustaining this work without burnout<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--navy),var(--youth));border-radius:16px;padding:36px 40px;color:#fff;margin:32px 0\">\n  <h3 style=\"font-size:1.3rem;font-weight:800;color:#fff !important;margin:0 0 6px\">Defiance or Dysregulation? Why the Distinction Matters<\/h3>\n  <p style=\"opacity:.85;color:#fff !important;margin:0 0 20px;font-size:.92rem\">A behaviour that looks identical from the outside can have two completely different causes<\/p>\n  <div style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:20px; margin-bottom:20px\"><div style=\"flex:1;min-width:120px;text-align:center\"><strong style=\"display:block;font-size:1.3rem;color:#fff !important\">Read as defiance<\/strong><span style=\"font-size:.8rem;color:#fff !important;opacity:.85\">Response: consequence,<br>which often escalates further<\/span><\/div><div style=\"flex:1;min-width:120px;text-align:center\"><strong style=\"display:block;font-size:1.3rem;color:#fff !important\">Read as dysregulation<\/strong><span style=\"font-size:.8rem;color:#fff !important;opacity:.85\">Response: co-regulation,<br>which often de-escalates<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n  <div style=\"background:rgba(255,255,255,.12);border-radius:10px;padding:20px 24px;font-size:.92rem;line-height:1.8\">A young person who shuts down, lashes out, or refuses to engage is often responding to a nervous system in genuine distress, not making a considered choice to be difficult. Reading that behaviour as defiance and responding with a standard consequence frequently escalates exactly the dysregulation causing it in the first place. Module 1 builds the practical skill of telling the two apart in the moment, when it's easy to default to the first read.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"color:var(--navy);border-left:4px solid var(--youth);padding-left:14px;margin:40px 0 20px\">Programme Outline<\/h2>\n<div style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:14px;padding:24px 28px;margin:16px 0\">\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;margin-bottom:12px\"><div style=\"background:var(--youth);color:#fff;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:800;flex-shrink:0\">1<\/div><strong style=\"color:var(--navy)\">Understanding Trauma and Its Impact<\/strong><\/div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Why this module matters:<\/strong> Trauma-informed practice begins with genuinely understanding how trauma affects behaviour, trust and development, not simply labelling behaviour as difficult.<\/p>\n  <ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;font-size:.88rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.85\"><li>The neurobiological impact of trauma on behaviour and development<\/li><li>Recognising trauma responses that are often misread as defiance or disinterest<\/li><li>Core principles of trauma-informed practice across settings<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><div style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:14px;padding:24px 28px;margin:16px 0\">\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;margin-bottom:12px\"><div style=\"background:var(--youth);color:#fff;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:800;flex-shrink:0\">2<\/div><strong style=\"color:var(--navy)\">Risk Assessment and Response<\/strong><\/div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Why this module matters:<\/strong> Accurately assessing risk level, rather than either over-reacting or under-reacting, is essential for appropriate and proportionate response.<\/p>\n  <ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;font-size:.88rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.85\"><li>Structured risk assessment approaches for common risk factors<\/li><li>Distinguishing risk levels that require different response intensities<\/li><li>Documenting and escalating concerns appropriately<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><div style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:14px;padding:24px 28px;margin:16px 0\">\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;margin-bottom:12px\"><div style=\"background:var(--youth);color:#fff;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:800;flex-shrink:0\">3<\/div><strong style=\"color:var(--navy)\">Building Trust and Protective Factors<\/strong><\/div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Why this module matters:<\/strong> Young people who have learned that adults are unreliable require deliberate, patient relationship-building, alongside genuine strengthening of protective factors.<\/p>\n  <ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;font-size:.88rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.85\"><li>Building trust with young people who have experienced relational betrayal<\/li><li>Strengthening protective factors alongside addressing risk directly<\/li><li>Balancing appropriate boundaries with genuine warmth<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><div style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:14px;padding:24px 28px;margin:16px 0\">\n  <div style=\"display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;margin-bottom:12px\"><div style=\"background:var(--youth);color:#fff;width:32px;height:32px;border-radius:50%;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:800;flex-shrink:0\">4<\/div><strong style=\"color:var(--navy)\">Referral Pathways and Practitioner Wellbeing<\/strong><\/div>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text)\"><strong>Why this module matters:<\/strong> Knowing the limits of your role and protecting your own wellbeing are both essential for sustainable, effective practice in this demanding field.<\/p>\n  <ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;font-size:.88rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.85\"><li>Building clear referral pathways for concerns beyond your scope<\/li><li>Recognising practitioner burnout and vicarious trauma early<\/li><li>Personal sustainability plan for long-term work in this field<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<div style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:14px;overflow:hidden;margin:32px 0\">\n  <div style=\"background:rgba(58,95,196,.08);padding:16px 24px;border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\"><strong style=\"color:var(--navy)\">Course At a Glance<\/strong><\/div>\n  <table style=\"width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:.9rem\">\n    <tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border)\"><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;font-weight:600;color:var(--navy);width:35%\">Duration<\/td><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;color:var(--text)\">3-5 Days<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr style=\"border-bottom:1px solid var(--border);background:var(--bg)\"><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;font-weight:600;color:var(--navy)\">Format<\/td><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;color:var(--text)\">In-person and online<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;font-weight:600;color:var(--navy)\">What's Included<\/td><td style=\"padding:14px 24px;color:var(--text)\">Workbook, practical toolkit, certificate of completion<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"color:var(--navy);border-left:4px solid var(--youth);padding-left:14px;margin:40px 0 20px\">Common Questions<\/h2>\n<div style=\"border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px 24px;margin:14px 0\">\n  <p style=\"font-weight:700;color:var(--navy);margin:0 0 8px;font-size:.95rem\">Does this course qualify me to provide clinical mental health support?<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.8\">No. This course builds trauma-informed practice skills for youth workers and practitioners, not clinical mental health qualifications, and includes clear guidance on when to refer to clinical specialists.<\/p>\n<\/div><div style=\"border:1px solid var(--border);border-radius:12px;padding:20px 24px;margin:14px 0\">\n  <p style=\"font-weight:700;color:var(--navy);margin:0 0 8px;font-size:.95rem\">Does the course address practitioner self-care and burnout specifically?<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;font-size:.9rem;color:var(--text);line-height:1.8\">Yes. A dedicated module addresses recognising burnout and vicarious trauma and building sustainable practices for long-term work in this emotionally demanding field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 style=\"color:var(--navy);border-left:4px solid var(--youth);padding-left:14px;margin:40px 0 20px\">Related Courses<\/h2>\n<div style=\"display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(220px,1fr));gap:14px;margin-bottom:32px\"><a href=\"\/en\/course\/social-and-emotional-development-skills-for-youth-workers\/\" style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:10px;padding:16px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:var(--navy);font-weight:600;font-size:.88rem;display:flex;align-items:center\">Social and Emotional Development Skills for Youth Workers<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/course\/youth-counselor-training-program\/\" style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:10px;padding:16px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:var(--navy);font-weight:600;font-size:.88rem;display:flex;align-items:center\">Youth Counselor Training Program<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/course\/working-with-young-people-in-their-communities\/\" style=\"border:1.5px solid var(--border);border-radius:10px;padding:16px 18px;text-decoration:none;color:var(--navy);font-weight:600;font-size:.88rem;display:flex;align-items:center\">Working with Young People in Their Communities<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(135deg,var(--navy),var(--youth));border-radius:16px;padding:40px;text-align:center;color:#fff;margin:44px 0\">\n  <h3 style=\"font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:800;color:#fff !important;margin:0 0 12px\">Ready to Support At-Risk Youth With Confidence and Sustainability?<\/h3>\n  <p style=\"opacity:.9;color:#fff !important;margin:0 0 22px;font-size:.95rem\">Build trauma-informed skills to work effectively with vulnerable young people while protecting your own wellbeing.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"\/en\/register\/?course=Managing+Youth+at+Risk\" style=\"background:#fff;color:var(--navy);font-weight:800;padding:14px 34px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block\">Register Now<\/a>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Young people facing significant risk factors, whether from poverty, family instability, violence exposure or other adversity, require a distinct set of practitioner skills beyond standard youth work practice. This course builds trauma-informed, evidence-based skills for effectively supporting at-risk young people while protecting practitioner wellbeing. 1 in 4young people globally experience a significant adverse childhood experience70%improved&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":9030,"template":"","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"course_pillar":[391],"course-category":[286],"venue":[488,487],"class_list":["post-9029","course","type-course","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","course_pillar-youth","course-category-courses-for-youth","venue-cairo","venue-nairobi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/course\/9029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/course"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/course"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"course_pillar","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/course_pillar?post=9029"},{"taxonomy":"course-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/course-category?post=9029"},{"taxonomy":"venue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matsh.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/venue?post=9029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}