Abstract

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH STREET YOUTH

Dr. Jeff Karabanow

This paper explores the innovative programming of Dans La Rue, an alternative street youth service in downtown Montreal, Canada. Through a case study analysis, several local street youth projects are highlighted, with special attention paid to the overarching social and community development emphasis. Merging both a concern for material development and social/community enhancement, these projects underscore the significant tenets of social development. Characteristics of such programs involve locality development, active participation, skills and knowledge training, consciousness raising, linkages with community and business partners, and social action. Key “lessons from the field” are discussed concerning implementation, development and sustainability of such programs, as well as the harmonization of economic and social activities/processes.

Bio

Dr. Jeff Karabanow is assistant professor at the Maritime School of Social Work and Cross-Appointed with International Development Studies at Dalhousie University. He completed his undergraduate and Master's degrees at McGill University in Sociology, then worked as Clinical Supervisor in a Montreal street kid shelter, produced a film documentary of street youth life in Guatemala City, and later returned to complete his Ph.D. in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. His teaching interests involve social policy, research methodology, organizational theory and international social work. Jeff has written about street youth culture in Canada and Guatemala; street youth resilience; street youth communities; organizational culture at street youth agencies; youth shelter life and organizational behaviour. His most recent work chronicles the stages of street engagement and disengagement for homeless and runaway youth.

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