Theory of Strain

The strain theory explains delinquency as being caused by the strain or frustration of not having an equal opportunity or means to achieve commonly shared goals such as economic or social success. Persons with little formal education and few economic resources are denied the ability to acquire the goals of American society, thus producing a sense of alienation, hopelessness and frustration. Because opportunities for success are more open for the middle – and upper classes, strain is experienced most by those in the lower socioeconomic class, where quality education and employment opportunities are more limited. Strain is more common among lower-class persons, who live in inner-city urban areas that are characterized more by social problems and crime. As a way to enhance educational and employment opportunities and reduce delinquency, the government funded policies such as “Head Start” and job programs for the lower-class youths.
The Head Start program is a federal program for preschool children three to five years of age in low-income families. This program promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. They engage parents in their children’s learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in this program. (Administration for Children & Families) By focusing on children and families during the children’s preschool, kindergarten and first grade years, yes, Head Start has positive impacts on the children during their time in the program. No one can say that a structured program like Head Start in ineffective. Any type of help that can be given to these young children could help them throughout the rest of their school years and life in general. The problem with this program, that I see, is that no one tracks these children from the time they finish the program through high school and beyond. I believe that this program does prepare children for school and has a positive impact on their social development but what happens to them when they get into the world outside of the program. There are so many other influences that could override anything good that they may have learned by participating in Head Start. To get a good sense of how much of a positive impact this program has on the children and their families, I believe there should be a controlled study that follows a group of children to monitor their progress. Yes a study of this type does take time and money but if we can show that the program really works and does change the outcome of some children of poverty then we can silence the critics that are debating whether Head Start is truly effective.
The Workforce Investment Act’s Youth Program is a federal grant-funded program that provides educational opportunities, apprenticeships and job skills training to disadvantaged youth. One of the goals of the program is to lower juvenile detention rates by giving jobs to youth who have been involved in courts or are otherwise at risk. One needs to remember that job training programs for youth need to be somewhat different than those for adults. Beyond simply imparting skills, youth job training must help students learn leadership, responsibility, and self-confidence. Today, young people with limited education have relatively fewer employment opportunities. The stakes for young people in obtaining and keeping secure employment, particularly those with limited education, are high. For those without high school degrees or the equivalent, work experience is extremely important in building a base for future advancement in the work force. Basically these young people have come to a fork in the road. If they go left, they could continue with the criminal behavior and get into worse trouble. But if they make a right turn, they could get a better education and turn their life around. Just because someone has a past doesn’t mean they don’t have a future. This program shows young people that most everyone has a past and that there is a future. With dedication and hard work they can achieve their goals for a better life and be proud of what they have accomplished. (CLASP)
References
Administration for Children & Families. (n.d.). Head start. Retrieved from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/about
CLASP. (n.d.). Federal policy - Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Retrieved from http://www.clasp.org/federal_policy/pages?id=0009