The Soul, Rhythms and Blues of Responsive Child and Youth Care at Home or Away from Home

Abstract

The knowledge base that underpins child and youth care work is re-examined through the device of musical metaphor, introducing six voices that impact on responsive practices with children, young people, and their families. The Soul of child and youth care is located in guarantees of physical safety and security and attending to bodily comforts, routines, and preferences. Rhythms of proactive caring build through the

Characteristics of a Relational Child and Youth Care Approach Revisited

“…Even when elements of context are the same, however, how these are experienced may differ substantially, especially when elements such as racism, exclusion or marginalization are considered. Other elements of context (e.g., cultural traditions, trauma histories, personal experiences of being cared for, previous relationships with adults, developmental stage, specific capabilities) vary with the individual interactions between CYC practitioner and the other person (Fulcher, 2006a). The interaction, for example, between a university student and a CYC instructor is contextualized by the meaning of education to both participants, the power in the relationship between the two as well as the power dynamics perpetuated by the institution as a symbol of dominant classes, racial, gender and other hegemonies.…”

“…Rituals of Encounter require that Child and Youth Care practitioners give conscious reflection to the ways in which they engage with another. This involves giving respectful attention to important protocols associated with engaging with someone from cultural traditions that are different from one's own (Fulcher, 2003). It also means paying attention to one's own positionality, particularly when practitioner and young person represent different races, faith groups, gender identities, etc.…”