The Language of Investment: Saying Goodbye to ‘At Risk’ Populations

Are they involved with drugs? involved in crime? have the potential for violence? Are they engaged in destructive relationships? experiencing social isolation? clinical depression? Are they failing to complete high school? experiencing lack of success in the workplace or employment? Are they poor at communicating with peers? communicating with authority? Do they have sexual health issues? a destructive family environment? low income? learning disabilities? lack of access to resources? Are they abused? suicidal?

Looking at the realities and complexities of life and each individual who walks this earth, the at-risk label is exposed for what it is, language that muddies the waters rather than clears them and reduces the effectiveness of those who have the heart to reach out. And to be frank, it’s insulting. Not one person would like to be called “at risk” to their face, let alone find out that somebody is referring to them like that behind their back. How then can we change our language so that it affirms participants rather than degrading them in the eyes of the public, the facilitators, and themselves?

The programs themselves may not require any revision, but subtle changes in the language used while running them could have incredible impact on their effectiveness. Rather than referring to populations by using the adjective “at risk”, the term can be replaced with “those who are struggling”. Again, not to be politically correct, but because of the implications. There is not one person on the face of this planet who does not struggle at many points during their life and with various issues. The language indicates that the person is working through a phase, rather than reflecting something inherent about them as a person. It also begs the question, “struggling with what?” There is encouragement to seek further information about the participant rather than simply accept a pat answer.

And what about the noun “at risk”, referring to the programs in place for those who have been identified as struggling? “Investment” is a beautifully rich word that offers a great deal of potential in constructively addressing this industry. To invest in a person suggests pouring into them expecting a positive return. Depending on how it is used it can convey the message that there is already potential present, strengths to build on, and so this person is being invested in to encourage further growth. It also conveys an equal playing field because those who facilitate the programs have become the people they are today as a result of having once been invested in themselves. We all need it, to be believed in, to have somebody identify our strengths and point them out to us when we can’t see them on our own. In a sense they now have the privilege to “pay it forward” and invest in others as they have been invested in themselves. Hopefully they still have people in their lives who continue to do so to this day. Investment programs and investment language offer a great deal of hope and bring individuals and their strengths to light rather than relegating them to an unidentified mass of poor, high, pierced, faceless drop-outs of life.

As the language of investment is put into practice, watch the impact on the staff and participants. The more it is used, the more terms will develop that reflect the value of the participants and what they andtheir facilitators are capable of together. And who wouldn’t benefit from that?