About the Course:

This article presents the challenges facing 41 youths living in a distressed urban area,and their adaptations to those challenges. Scholarship in the areas of community building, youth civic engagement, and employment helped to develop the theoretical outline for this project. Through the use of focus groups, adolescents of color, ages 14-18, were asked a series of open-ended questions about what youths need in order to be economically and socially involved in their neighborhood. Responses indicate a need for practitioners to incorporate protective factors in the community environment, and nonkin adults in intervention plans and programs. In addition, the evolving innovative partnership between a newly formed community development corporation and the neighborhood youths that emerged from this process is discussed.

COURSE SYLLABUS
I. Literature Review A)Revitalizing Communuities B)Civic Engagement C)Youth Employment
II. Current Study
III. Research Design and Methodology
IV. Findings
V. Discussion A) Lessons for Adults B) Enhance SoC for Youths C) Support Economic Development D) Intervention Implications E) Conclusion

Publication Date:

2004/ Vol. 85, No. 3

Course Material Author

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other human services and behavioral health professionals who seek knowledge about urban youth. It is appropriate for participants with all levels of knowledge about the topic.

Course Objectives:

1. Identify practice implications that relate to youths’ perceived needs.

2. Describe what youths perceived they need in order to be economically and socially involved in the neighborhood.

3. Describe the findings in the areas of community building, youth civic engagement, and employment that provide a theoretical underpinning for the project.