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Community-Based Youth Services in International Perspective

NCJ Number
148482
Author(s)
M Sherraden
Date Published
1992
Length
56 pages
Annotation
This essay examines youth policies and programs of the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Norway, so as to provide examples that may help youth policy development in the United States.
Abstract
The author first examines the nature and characteristics of youth services in the five countries, followed by a comparison of the approaches used. The dimensions of youth services compared are purposes and goals, policies and programs, structure and finance, personnel and training, and information and research. The essay's final section considers lessons for the United States. Youth policies and programs in the five countries tend to be developmental, broadly based, inclusive, and participative. In contrast, U.S. youth policy is more oriented toward remediation of individual problems rather than broad development and socialization. Countries of Western Europe promote positive youth development by providing a strong foundation of local organizations, arts centers, sports teams, ecology clubs, and other interest- based groups. The organized activities are designed to guide youth in performing challenging tasks and developing relationships with peers, older youth, and adults. The government in each of the five countries has identified youth issues as a broad public responsibility, established a legal and organizational structure within which to implement that responsibility, and appropriated funds at a level and consistency necessary to carry out youth policies and programs. In the United States, a national movement toward a comprehensive youth policy should build on the widespread concern for education and development of human capital. The concept of informal or experiential education, which is so prominent in European youth services, would be a worthwhile organizing theme for the United States. 116 references