Caring on the Streets

Caring on the Streets: A Study of Detached Youthworkers offers an in-depth look at the challenging, often perilous work of detached youthworkers—professionals who engage with at-risk adolescents in their own environments rather than in formal office settings. Rooted in the principles defined by the Boston Special Youth Project in 1956, the book examines how these workers build trust, foster positive relationships, and guide young people toward socially constructive choices. Through firsthand accounts, interviews, and case studies, Jacquelyn Kay Thompson illuminates the methods, philosophy, and real-world application of detached youthwork in the United States.

Key Features:

• Chronicles the history and evolution of detached youthwork.
• Explores the methodology and philosophy guiding youthworkers in the field.
• Includes interviews with seventeen detached youthworkers sharing firsthand experiences.
• Highlights model programs and best practices in working with at-risk youth.
• Provides guidance on becoming a detached youthworker and conducting field research.
• Offers practical insights into assisting runaways, gang members, drug users, and other vulnerable adolescents.
• Includes reference notes, five appendices, and a thoughtfully-indexed structure for easy use.