ABSTRACT
Juan is a 16-year-old Latino whose parents migrated to the United States from Mexico before he was born. Recently, Juan has been struggling in school. His grades have been dropping over the past two years, his attendance has been poor, he often falls asleep or gets bored in class, and he fights frequently with other students. Juan does not have many friends, but he does get along with several of his teachers. Juan’s home life has also been in turmoil over the past several years. His father was laid off from his job at a manufacturing plant and has not been able to find a new job. His mother was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago. Because the family lost their health care and other benefits when Juan’s father lost his job, his mother has been unable to receive proper treatment. Since her diagnosis, Juan’s father has been drinking heavily, and when he is drunk, he gets violent with Juan.
