Description
This book assembles in one source the essential elements to create to create powerful organizations and environments for reaching what Nicholas Hobbs called “troubled and troubling” children and youth. The authors draw on the wisdom of youth work pioneers and the classic European educateur tradition as well as relationship-based concepts from Positive Peer Culture and the Life Space Interview. This is a comprehensive model for work with young people who are searching for security, identity, and purpose in their lives. Part I outlines three foundations for reclaiming environments in chapters on the interpersonal relationship, the group culture, and the organizational ethos. Part II includes five chapters with formats for teaching and treatment: psychoeducational management, the life space interview, peer group treatment, re-education through recreation, and the creative arts. While many approaches use certain of these elements, this comprehensive psychoeducational model integrates these in a powerful reclaiming environment.
Routledge (1983). 300 pages.
Reviews
“The authors describe the many applications of Murphy’s Law (whatever can go wrong will) that one typically finds in organizations that are not accomplishing their goals. They then specify strategies necessary to create environments to effectively teach and counsel these difficult youths. The use of this model is likely to bring attendant ‘natural highs’ to the students and staff involved.”
—John Mesinger, Behavioral Disorders
“I remember my excitement on first reading the practical description of relationship building and nurturing in Brendtro and Ness’s Re-educating Troubled Youth. While staunch supporters of the youth work approach held to the importance of relationship, those in government who held the purse strings became more and more demanding of an explanation of exactly what this mysterious function was! Thanks to Larry Brendtro and Arlin Ness who legitimized the concept, and in doing so, provided flesh to what I do believe is the pivotal leg of child and youth care.”
—Penny Perry, CYC-Online
