Rethink Resources

I’ve added even more resources for youth workers in the Current Resources page.

Want to learn how to be the best street outreach worker ever? Take a look at this must-read book by Trudee Able-Peterson and Richard Hooks Wayman from the Streetworks Collaborative in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Trudee is amazing and has been working with youth in the sex trade for over 30 years.

Streetworks: Best Practices and Standards in Outreach Methodology to Homeless Youth (2006) Contact StreetWorks@FreeportWest.org or call 612-252-2735 on how to order your copy

Years ago I visited a program that will remain nameless (and it’s closed now anyway) but I found a small group of little kids on their own waiting in the front room for their moms to come out from a support group. I was dismayed to find them watching a horror movie with that killer doll Chucky. I quickly turned off the movie and suggested we draw with some crayons I had on me.

Well if you’re working with very young children as a conscious part of your program or wanting meaningful, fun activities with all kids, ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) International has a great resource of low budget fun games and activities for kids of all ages.

Ideas Bank of Creative Activities for Children at Drop-in or Residential Centres (Low Budget Activities for Non-literate Children) (2001) Download the report here

The resources and information available on InterNetwork for Youth www.in4y.com from Jerry (JT) Fest will help everyone feel excited about our work with youth and what we can accomplish together. It’s about really valuing and listening to street dependent youth. We’re talking real, practical ideas that any youth worker will be able to relate to.

Jerry (JT) Fest authored the manual Street Culture: An Epistemology of Street-dependent Youth which seriously was first passed around from youth worker to youth worker and city to city out of excitement for the ideas and understanding he offers about youth on the streets. A friend shared her copy with me and urged me to read it - it’s that good! You can’t really say that about too many youth worker manuals.

Read, learn and enjoy!