Evolution of a Mission-Driven Youth Development Agency: Making a Difference

This report describes the evolution of a mission-driven youth development agency, Good Shepherd Services of New York City. In the more than six decades that good Shepherd Services (GSS) has served New York's neediest children and youth, it has evolved from a small provider of residential care for adolescent girls to a large, comprehensive, multi-faceted youth development, education, and family services agency. Incorporated in 1947, GSS's work on behalf of New York's most vulnerable is underscored by its original mission and core values, which are driven by the belief that despite the challenges people face, if gevn the right set of supports and opportunities, they have the ability to change and grow over time. This unique strategy and commitment to building on people's strengths rather than focusing on their deficits has shaped GSS' growth and service model of strength-based youth development

The Chelsea Foyer at the Christopher at Five Years: Lessons in Developing Stable Housing and Self-Sufficiency For Homeless Youth and Youth Exiting Foster Care

The Chelsea Foyer at the Christopher is a transitional housing program for youth aging out of foster care and youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Launched in 2004 as partnership between Common Ground Community and Good Shepherd Services, the Chelsea Foyer at the Christopher has served 165 young people between the ages of 18-25, providing up to two years of transitional housing in conjunction with a rigorous, developmentally-appropriate program designed to prepare young people for self-sufficiency upon discharge.When the Chelsea Foyer at the Christopher was launched in 2004 the needs of this population were beginning to be recognized. Now, the 18-to-25-year range is increasingly understood as an important developmental stage in which young people who have experienced great challenges can be positioned for lifetime employment and self-sufficiency instead of reliance of public assistance and chronic risk of homelessness. Programs across the country are exploring new housing models and best practices to address the problem of youth homelessness. However, this national conversation requires Federal participation and a national policy on youth is needed to elevate public understanding of this issue and underscore the benefits and cost savings of addressing the needs of these young people so they can lead productive, independent lives.This report aims to provide perspectives to facilitate this conversation. A general overview of lessons learned is offered in the final section -- Section V. The history of the development of the Chelsea Foyer at the Christopher, financing of the building and lessons on use of space and partnership development can be found in Section I. The program and practice lessons on working with this population are described in Section II. Funding and costs for the program are outlined in Section III. A review of current data is presented in section IV

Bringing about fullness of life with care and compassion: Learnings from the social enterprise of the Good Shepherd Sisters

One of the principles of the Church’s social teachings is integral human development. In his encyclical, Populorum Progressio, Pope Paul VI stated that “authentic human development is the development of the whole human being and of all human beings.” The importance of individuals as human beings is also rooted in the conviction of St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, foundress of the Good Shepherd Sisters, who kept reminding her daughters that “a person is of more value than the whole world.” The Integral Human Development Approach guides the business model of the Mountain Maid Training Center (MMTC) in Baguio, which is a food processing and income- generating enterprise operated and maintained by the Religious of Good Shepherd (RGS) in the Philippines. The enterprise brings into reality RGS’ mission by providing work to the economically disadvantaged, supporting the college education and technical training of the youth, and sharing the Word of God in many communities. In addition, MMTC forms its stakeholders into wholesome and morally upright individuals. Aside from skills development and training, MMTC also gives emphasis on developing good habits of industry, honesty, responsibility, teamwork, and commitment to duty. The business model of the RGS can provide an alternative management framework for business students and teachers, and entrepreneurs

The design and relevance of a computerised therapy program for indigenous Māori adolescents.

Background: Depression is a major health issue among Māori indigenous adolescents, yet there has been little investigation into the relevance or effectiveness of psychological treatments for them. Further, consumer views are critical for engagement and adherence to therapy. However, there is little research regarding indigenous communities’ opinions about psychological interventions for depression. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct semistructured interviews with Māori (indigenous New Zealand) young people (taitamariki) and their families to find out their opinions of a prototype computerized cognitive behavioral therapy (cCBT) program called Smart, Positive, Active, Realistic, X-factor thoughts (SPARX), a free online computer game intended to help young persons with mild to moderate depression, feeling down, stress or anxiety. The program will teach them how to resolve their issues on their own using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy as psychotherapeutic approach. Methods: There were seven focus groups on the subject of the design and cultural relevance of SPARX that were held, with a total of 26 participants (19 taitamarki, 7 parents/caregivers, all Māori). There were five of the groups that were with whānau (family groups) (n=14), one group was with Māori teenage mothers (n=4), and one group was with taitamariki (n=8). The general inductive approach was used to analyze focus group data. Results: SPARX computerized therapy has good face validity and is seen as potentially effective and appealing for Māori people. Cultural relevance was viewed as being important for the engagement of Māori young people with SPARX. Whānau are important for young peoples’ well-being. Participants generated ideas for improving SPARX for Māori and for the inclusion of whānau in its delivery. Conclusions: SPARX computerized therapy had good face validity for indigenous young people and families. In general, Māori participants were positive about the SPARX prototype and considered it both appealing and applicable to them. The results of this study were used to refine SPARX prior to it being delivered to taitamariki and non-Māori young people

Edna McConnell Clark Foundation - 2006 Annual Report

Contains president's message, fund and program information, grants list, grantee information, financial statements, grant guidelines, and lists of board members and staff

An Investigation of Philadelphia's Youth Aid Panel: A Community-Based Diversion Program for First-Time Youthful Offenders

The formal justice system currently does not have the resources to effectively deal with nonviolent first-time offending youth, oftentimes leaving them with little punishment aside from a criminal record. This report offers a close examination of Philadelphia's Youth Aid Panels (YAP), which seeks to provide alternative sentencing for this high-risk population through the collaboration of volunteer community members, victims, parent(s)/guardian and a law enforcement official. YAP offers victims a better sense of restitution while also providing the youth with the real opportunity to reintegrate into society without a record. Our initial exploratory evaluation shows promising results, and we offer a several recommendations to strengthen YAP programs

“Youth is Drunke with Pleasure, and therefore Dead to all Goodnesse”: Regulating the Excess of the Erotic Early Modern Body

This article investigates the erotic and youthful body in John Fletcher’s play The Faithful Shepherdess, written for The Children of the Queen’s Revels c.1607. For many early modern scholastic, medical, and conduct manual writers, the life stage of Youth was a particularly dangerous moment in an individuals’ life, a time where the body was in a constant state of flux and ruled by unhealthy bodily excess. Fletcher’s play presents an assortment of characters who are all ruled by or obsessed with their own youthful passions. This article engages with Galenic humoral theory, an area that has been neglected in scholarship on Fletcher’s play, to provide a close analysis of Youth and erotic excess on the early modern stage

The English pastoral, its origin, and development

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Community Organizing in Three South Side Chicago Communities: Leadership, Activities, and Prospects

This study identifies barriers facing groups and leaders in communities on the South Side of Chicago that limit not only their capacity for organizing but also their ability to attract resources for their work. The findings also provide key data on current activities at the grassroots level, with particular attention to groups and leaders that have the potential to expand the scope of their efforts to larger, community-based initiatives