An Integrated Model for Working with At-Risk Youth—An Emphasis on Girls from Ethiopia

Abstract

Immigration is a complicated and lengthy transition, and the integration process in the destination country encompasses changes at the individual, community, and societal levels. Immigration signifies a shift in geographic location and an intercultural transition that comprises significant transformations and upheavals in diverse life areas. A combination of the immigration and adolescence crises forms the basis for mental stress and relegation to the fringes of society. Namely, the fusion between physical, social, and cultural changes surrounding the migration process and the distinct signs of puberty make immigrant adolescents a viable population at risk. The number of at-risk youth of Ethiopian origin is substantial concerning the percentage of the Ethiopian community in Israel. Immigration and the challenges of integration affect their assimilation into society and force them to deal with various difficulties in addition to the changes of puberty. The study emphasizes that, unlike otherpopulations, boys and particularly girls of Ethiopian descent lack diverse integration models. Hence, they tend to feel alienation, deprivation, detachment, discrimination, and racism. Therefore, the paper’s purpose is to outline possible ways of dealing with the feeling of alienation and lack of trust in the system. The distress of girls of Ethiopian descent created panic and led to the establishment of a defined intervention plan. The study describes the program’s goals and its various aspects. It focuses on the intervention model, its characteristics, the intervention process, and its implementation. Moreover, it provides tools to effectively deal with the problems of integration and the difficulties of adolescence.