Since it's founding in 1997, the CYC-Net discussion group has been asked thousands of questions. These questions often generate many replies from people in all spheres of the Child and Youth Care profession and contain personal experiences, viewpoints, as well as recommended resources.
Below are some of the threads of discussions on varying Child and Youth Care related topics.
Questions and Responses have been reproduced verbatim.
Listen to thisHello, my name is April Edgerton and I am currently going to Fleming
College and we are doing a group project and we have a couple questions:
Is it actually as hard as people say it is to be a Child and Youth
Worker who works out on the streets?
Thank you all!
April Edgerton
...
I worked with street kids in Edmonton for a few
years in the 80's. I think it may be tougher now than it was then but a
lot of the same challenges will still apply. It takes a long time to
build relationships with homeless youth due to their transient nature,
often traumatic backgrounds, and the difficulty they have trusting
anyone. If you're in for the haul though, it will provide you
with learning opportunities you will never encounter in
any other setting. It can be really hard but even at the toughest
moments just try to remember that no time spent caring about any kid is
ever wasted. Some of the street kids I worked with are now in their 40's
and still keep in touch with me.
Best wishes on your project.
Sincerely,
Penny Frazier
...
April
It will depend on what type of person you are. Kids on the streets
aren't there because they came from loving caring situations, nor are
they there because they feel they can trust adults to look out for their
well being.
If your self-worth isn't dependant on the clients
success then you should be fine. "Kids on the streets" need to
learn to trust (some never do)... That inherently is your job
(regardless of the actual job description you
receive) after that they make their choice to either buy into your
program services you're offering or they will go off elsewhere (which
can be difficult to now know what became to that child). It's a
long road to get the kids to buy in, with upsets almost everywhere and
anywhere, so be prepared.
Lisa
...
April,
Yes, If you don't like working with Youth in the streets!
Clayton Ellis
...
To work with street kids in Edmonton I suggest you
contact iHuman. Hands down – they the most passionate people working
with youth at risk in Edmonton. If you really want to walk the talk – see if you can walk with them.
Sincerely,
Penny Frazier
...
Hi April,
I am a 2nd year CYCC student and I am currently undertaking a practicum at a homeless youth shelter. At this shelter I work closely with street entrenched youth with varying backgrounds, disorders, needs and addictions.
I expected that frontline work with homeless
youth would be challenging but I never expected it to be as rewarding as
it has proven to be. As I am only a student with minimal experience
working with youth, I was extremely nervous and concerned about my
ability to form relationships with youth; especially those who are
street entrenched. A couple of months into my practicum, I can now say
that I have successfully formed effective and trusting relationships
with many of the youth I work with. Though I believe that much of
relationship building comes from being yourself, being present, being
open and being honest; there are a couple things that I consciously kept
in mind working alongside homeless youth.
I entered my practicum knowing that it would be a challenge and that
relationship building takes time. I needed to earn the trust of youth
and remember that they would respect me if I respected them. Much of
this stems from the “Ten Techniques of the Revival of Relationship
Technology”. Included in these techniques is the importance of the
conflict cycle and life span interview. Learning (through trial and
error) to look beyond a youth’s behaviour to their feelings in hopes of
ending a conflict has been very useful. In crisis there is a large
opportunity to learn more about the youth you are working with and to
build upon your relationship.
Also, reminding myself that many of these street entrenched youth come
from traumatic, abusive and hazardous environments allows me to
understand their behaviour better. If looking at the “40 Developmental
Assets” developed by the USA-based Search Institute, many street
entrenched youth are lacking in many if not all of these assets. The
external assets include support, empowerment, boundaries and
expectations and constructive use of time. The internal assets include
commitment to learning, positive values, social competence and positive
identity. Street youth have not had the proper opportunities to expand
on their external environment and internal self. It is sad, but here is
where you are needed. By teaching these youth to respect themselves and
others and pushing them to realize their full potential, you will be
showing them that someone cares about them and ultimately believes in
them.
Though you may be weary of working so closely with at-risk, vulnerable
and street entrenched youth, I urge you to challenge yourself and step
outside of your comfort zone. It is a very rewarding experience to know
that you are a positive support for a youth who has little or no
positive adult relationships in their life. To hear a youth say thank
you or to describe how happy they feel for the first time in their life
is a priceless feeling. I hope that you will take the chance, do the
hard work and reap the beautiful rewards!
Carolyn Butler
...
I am a second year student at Mount Royal University and have 3 years in
the field working with at risk youth. The dedication and commitment that
it takes to work with street youth, comes with many rewards.
Working with youth on the streets can be a challenging process simply
because stability is something that many of these youth are not used to.
In my experience many of them have had some
experiences with Child and Family Services and have a view of the system
that is negative and therefore those who work as Child and Youth Care
Counsellors have the challenge of changing that view from negative to
positive in the short time that we are working with them. Erik Erikson's
Ecological Systems Model is a great example of how and why these
children or youth struggle while on the streets and why in turn it is
such a struggle for some Child and Youth Care Counsellors to work with
them.
The youth's Microsystem and Mesosystem can consist of unreliable people
or an unpredictable and negative lifestyle; which can be why when we
reach out to them as counsellors, it takes a commitment on our part to
try and work through the walls they have built to protect themselves
from this inconsistency they are familiar with. In my experience
the loyalty these youth have to the street and the family that they have
created with other street youth is very powerful. Their Ecological Model
consists of other youth searching for love and acceptance on the street.
It is very important to actively listen and empathize with the youth in
order to build trust and show the youth they can have a healthy
relationship with an adult who cares and wishes to listen. From my
personal experiences, when a youth seems to be in the beginning stages
of building this relationship, they become vulnerable and their first
instinct is to leave and push this relationship away. It is this
commitment from the counsellor that shows the youth unconditional
positive regard; letting the youth know that no matter their behaviour,
care and empathy are always present in the relationship.
I have only begun my journey and although it has been a challenge, the
rewards are great and the learning experiences are even greater. I look
forward to many more years learning and challenging myself in this
field, including working with many street youth. I hope this helps
answer your question and gives you some insight into working with youth
who live on the street.
Brittney Elliott
