Working With High Risk Youth: The Case of Curtis Jones

by Alex A.G. Taub

Overview

Working with High Risk Youth: The Case of Curtis Jones is a work that allows high risk youths to tell their own stories from their point of view. These vignettes are discussed to give students insights into their future work environments and the mental tools they will need to adapt their personalities to their future work realities. Readers are encouraged to imagine themselves in these situations and ask how they would deal with the various characters. This work was reviewed by numerous youths and professionals within their fields to allow for their perspectives to be expressed. By using this approach, past clients have a voice in how future professionals will approach them as people.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761855354
Publisher:	Hamilton Books
Publication date:	06/21/2011
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Alex A. G. Taub, M.A. teaches anthropology at Wenatchee Valley College in the heart of Washington State. He has worked with high-risk youths for over twenty years in the fields of education, social work, the courts and diversion. His teaching focuses on how to make difficult topics interesting for students.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments v

Preface vi

Student Introduction xiii

Open Letter to the Instructor xvi

Chapter 1 Face to Face 1

Chapter 2 The Home Front 19

Chapter 3 An Education in Educating High-Risk Youth 33

Chapter 4 Morality Centered Questions 42

Chapter 5 Welcome to the Hell Complaint Line - Please Take a Number … and Wait 53

Chapter 6 Home Court Advantage 64

Chapter 7 A Walk in the Park 74

Chapter 8 Why Riot? 83

Chapter 9 An Incomplete Sentence 96

Chapter 10 Gunning for Trouble 105

Chapter 11 Trial By Fire 116

Closing Comments 128

The Flow of Money and Authority 129

Glossary 131

Bibliography 133

Editorial Reviews

Working With High Risk Youth: The Case of Curtis Jones engages the student as it encourages thought and provides a starting place for discussion of important issues. Professor Taub uses insights gained from his varied experiences within the juvenile justice and child protection systems to promote student exploration of the roles of youth workers. Understanding of these roles allows students to explore careers they may eventually pursue and prepares them to interact more effectively with those in other roles. He discusses self-presentation and self-monitoring as they pertain to both the youth and those working with them in a manner that promotes awareness of how impression management can affect physical and psychological safety. Examples show how youth posturing and status seeking behavior can be helpful or dangerous depending on the situation. Power, control, and authority issues come to life for the reader as they are shown the reality of two unarmed employees seeking to gain compliance from twelve teenage boys in an "unfair" situation created by a supervisor. Reflection on which types of programs, roles within the system, and management styles will be compatible with students' values and discussion of how reality can be in conflict with requirements provides an empowering yet realistic view of work in the field.

J'Lene George

I enjoyed this book because it accurately describes the worker during his first six months of experience with aggressive youth. ... The suggested discussion topics are helpful, and there is nothing too outlandish in the descriptions of the work. I believe that students preparing to enter the residential field placements can get a great deal of value from this book, since it does not sugar coat any of the difficulties that the new workers face. I also liked the descriptions of the few more experienced and well-trained staff encountered by our narrator. ... The book will validate the experience of new staff or students who often feel unsafe or overwhelmed, while it allows for some reflection and group discussion to hopefully point to some solutions.

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