Working With High Risk Youth: The Case of Curtis Jones
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.(Relational Child Care and Youth Care Practice)Working With High Risk Youth: The Case of Curtis Jonesengages 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, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Wenatchee Valley College)