YOST4322: Work with Youth: Families

Young people develop in moments and interactions (Krueger, 1998). Many of their moments occur within families, and families come in a wide variety of forms. The American Academy of Family Physicians locates family as, “a group of individuals with a continuing legal, genetic, and/or emotional relationship. Society relies on the family group to provide for the economic and protective needs of individuals, especially children and the elderly (1984, 2003). The stories, behaviors, dynamics, attitudes, and habits of families shape the identity and experience of young people. To understand and respect young people, and to participate in the creation of environments for healthy youth development, youth workers must learn how to understand and respect the role their families play in their everyday lives. This course introduces students to the social construct of “family” as it intersects with traditional notions of adolescent development, their own experience, public policy, and youth work practice. Care is taken to honor the rich diversity of family structures found in the United States today, and to notice the impact cultural identity, economic status, education, ethnicity, gender, geography, and other important factors have on the nature of families and the experience of young people inside them. Prior completion of YOST 1001 or 2101 is highly recommended.

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