NCJ Number
136882
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Top End Youth Action Group and their Youth Action Center, developed on a local authority housing estate on the outskirts of Paisley, West Scotland, provide an example of a social action approach to work with young people in trouble.
Abstract
This project, which views young people as problem-solvers, illustrates four key stages of social action work: discuss problems with young people, enable young people to identify problems, help young people to find solutions, and assist young people to bring about change. Police welcome the work of the group and remain strong advocates of the project. They recognize a significant decline in complaints as a result of the activities of the youth workers. Overall, reported crimes and offenses in the Ferguslie Park area dropped by 5 percent in 1988 as compared to 1985. This approach is appropriate for other settings and can be effective in obtaining long-term community support. 1 figure and 2 tables