Working with High-Risk Youth

Peter Smyth, M.S.W., R.S.W., has been a social worker for over 27 years and is currently with Alberta Human Services, Edmonton Region Child and Youth Services Division, overseeing the High Risk Youth Initiative. From 2005 to 2012, he was the supervisor of the High Risk Youth Initiative. He developed a practice framework and philosophy incorporating non-traditional intervention methods to better meet the needs of this challenging population. Prior to this, he supervised the Inner City Connections partnership between government and inner city agencies. He is a co-founder of the Old Strathcona Youth Society in Edmonton, Alberta, which has served homeless and disadvantaged youth since 1998. He has written about issues confronting youth and provides consultation, training, and workshops on engaging and working with youth and understanding youth through an attachment, trauma, and brain development lens. He is also a part of the committee organizing the Allies for Youth Connections Conference (formerly the High Risk Youth Conference) which takes place every two years in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Peter is a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, Central and Northern Alberta Region. Peter is married and has four children.

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction: A Relationship-based Practice Framework

Chapter 2: Where Do High Risk Youth Come From? Part A: The Attachment Perspective

Chapter 3: Where Do High Risk Youth Come From? Part B: The Neuroscience Perspective

Chapter 4: Why A Harm Reduction Philosophy is Essential for Working with High Risk Youth

Chapter 5: Building From Strengths and Promoting Resiliency

Chapter 6: Engaging Community, Engaging Youth

Chapter 7: Getting Connected: The Profound Importance of Relationship

Chapter 8: Broken Spirits: Addictions with High Risk Youth

Chapter 9: Strategies for Engaging and Working With High Risk Youth

Chapter 10: No Room For Error: Boundaries and Ethics and High Risk Youth

Chapter 11: Conclusion: A Reason For Optimism

References

Index