In the United States, parents are the central source of emotional, financial, and social support for their children. Many youth are also fortunate to be part of larger networks including grandparents, other relatives, neighbors, and community and religious organizations. However, family, community, and civic life in this country are changing.
Fewer people know their neighbors.
More households are headed by a single parent. And the time pressures facing working families can limit their community involvement. This means that these networks of non-parental resources may now be harder for children and parents to access. In addition, many youth live in families that are under tremendous pressure because of poverty, divorce, teen pregnancy, drug abuse, violence, or stress. These troubled families are often isolated from the larger community and, as a result, the youth in the greatest need of help from outside the family may be the least likely to get it.