While many youth are disconnected from adults, the people seem clueless as to what to do about this serious problem. The quality of connections is directly related to the quality of the total interpersonal environment. This article takes a systems perspective on the problem of connecting with youth, with particular emphasis on what communities, schools, and mentors can do to reclaim youth who grow up without family privilege. Amidst the public debate about causes of youth problems, rarely does the topic of discussion turn to systems theories. In fact, even among professionals, few know much about them. Yet the need for system-wide support is most apparent when dealing with children whose needs are not met growing up in high-risk families. In the end, young people thrive or fail in social systems. More accurately, the systems fail young people by not providing necessary developmental opportunities. When one system, such as a family, fails, it is important for a second system to provide the protective factors essential to healthy and safe development.