The Aquarius Project is modeled after the Streetworker
Program
Purpose
To focus on the kinds of organizational support needed to sustain
a streetwork component.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
· Describe key variables in hiring, supervising, and training
streetworkers.
· Analyze elements of their work with high-risk youth in view
of their own organization.
Hiring Streetworkers
· What personal characteristics should the streetworker have?
· What kinds of formal training or academic credentials are needed?
· What specific skills must an applicant possess?
· How can you assess these skills?
Supervising Streetworkers
· How can you best assess the work of the streetworker?
· What kinds of support will the streetworker need from the supervisor?
· What considerations will be give to the hours/days streetworkers
work if they are different from others in the organization?
· What communication issues need to be considered since the streetworker
will be mostly out of the office?
· How will you deal with the potential of burnout in the streetworkers?
Training Streetworkers
· What type of skills training will streetworkers need?
· What are some different approaches to providing training to
streetworkers?
· Will streetworkers have a role in training others in the organization?
What will their role be?
Summary
· Streetwork can be used in primary prevention and early intervention
programs with high-risk youth and is consistent with the principles
of effective programs for this population and within the tenets of the
Community Partnership programs.
· "Selling" streetwork functions in existing organizations
calls for sensitivity to current structures and organizational norms.
· Special considerations are needed when hiring, training, and
supervising streetworkers, including getting out of the office.
Streetwork Within My Organization
1. How would streetwork change the prevention "style" in the
program?
2. Are there particular groups of staff or kinds of staff who would
be resistant to the idea of using streetworkers? Why?
3. Are there staff who would be particularly welcoming? Why?
4. How could the streetwork function be sabotaged?
5. What kinds of organizational policy or structural changes would be
needed, if any?
6. What will be needed to coordinate the efforts of various agencies
in the partnership?
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