Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 1) | Page 87

Social Work with Young People

lower priority.
Without being prescriptive, what then might be lessons that we can learn
about working with young people at risk of anti-social behaviour or behaviour
that will get them into trouble with the law? Here are perhaps some of the
lessons.
1. Help young people to want to succeed.
Success is an attitude of the mind and a longing of the heart. Young people
must want and learn how to succeed. The job of teachers, youth workers
and social workers is to help them develop a moral compass and experience
success, because nothing inspires success more than experiencing success.
2. Relationships are key.
For each young person, the early identification of at least one stable,
appropriate, and willing adult relationship is the foundation on which success
can be achieved. A case worker could find this difficult for some young
persons but we must try hard and look in the least expected places to secure
such a relationship.
3. Programs do not replace relationships or family.
In the absence of fam ily, we must create a family. Some of the young persons
who are in the juvenile justice system may require forms of support that could
play the role of “family” and provide “stable family connections”. Young
persons need to trust and respect an adult who is dependable, available and
consistent.
4. There is no one-size-fits-all program.
We need to be mindful that working with young people is similar to working
with families. Programs need to be adapted and no matter how evidencebased they may be, we need to consider relevance and cultural sensitivity.
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