This comprehensive book is a critical introduction to the theoretical and practical issues involved in working with children and families. It sheds light on different perspectives, forms of practice, and dimensions of policy, with a focus on the practical issues of concern to professionals working with children in a range of settings.

'The book is a useful student text that offers a wide range of well informed perspectives on the position of young people in society today. It has built on its successful first edition and should provide a useful springboard to further study'

"- Scolag Legal Journal

"'This resource will be very helpful to all those already working with children and young people and essential for those who are currently learning about how to work with children and young people'

Gill Frances, Director Children's Development National Children's Bureau

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"Are the recent policy initiatives aimed at improving life chances for young people working? Have they affected those most in need? How can young people be given more of a voice in policy making?

The new edition of this bestselling text offers a comprehensive introduction to the policy developments affecting young people in today's society, covering the areas of education and training, work, youth justice, residential care and child protection. It brings together a wide-ranging series of readings written by leading experts, to encourage those working with young people, or training to do so, to critically reflect on both the theoretical and practical dimensions of their work.

The themes and issues addressed in this book include: citizenship, participation and empowerment; social difference and social identity; images of youth; young people and the politics of service provision; and working with young people in different contexts.

This new edition has been revised in order to bring it up-to-date on contemporary policy, law and practice changes and developments. Written in a lively and engaging manner, this accessibletext will be invaluable reading for students taking courses in youth and social work, social policy, youth and criminal justice and the sociology of youth.

Youth in Society is a set book for the Open University courses K201, Working With Young People and K268, Social Work with Young People.

What issues, challenges and problems do young people face in 21st century society? How do they make sense of their lifeworlds? Are they proactive or reactive when it comes to dealing with the multiple pressures they face? This book brings together a variety of real life accounts, many of which were assembled from empirical research, that provide an important lens through which to view what it means to be a young person in todays world. One of the main purposes of the book is to challenge dominant and taken for granted assumptions about the young. You will find discussions of the ways in which young peoples lives are consistently problematised; how some are denied basic human rights; the way that education systems consistently fail them; and how for some the threat or experience of violence and aggression can come to dominate their lives. This book has been written from a global perspective it brings together contributors who share an academic interest and professional concern to improve outcomes for young people. Space is given to understanding the importance of developing a human rights framework that will foster young peoples potential. We foreground the importance of listening to young people because they have important things to say. The reader will be invited to reflect on: what can happen when young people become politically motivated; the challenges associated with super complexity, education and globalisation; the ways in which some young people are exposed to high levels of vulnerability and risk; and how information technology is utilised to secure peer and professional support. This book draws on a range of social science disciplines psychology, sociology, political science, education studies and social policy. It will be of interest to academics, students and those with the responsibility of developing and delivering services for young people. The contributors hope it will add knowledge, understanding and awareness of the issues, problems and challenges young people face in 21st century society.

This reader provides a critical and comprehensive account of the theoretical and practical issues raised in working with children and families. It draws on debates from a range of disciplines to shed light on different perspectives, forms of practice and dimensions of policy. Its strong applied focus allows it to address a rich variety of issues of concern to professionals working with children in a range of settings. The contributing authors consist of leading academics in the field as well as those with first-hand knowledge and experience; all write in a clear and engaging style.