What is youth ministry actually for? And does it have a future? Andrew Root, a leading scholar in youth ministry and practical theology, went on a one-year journey to answer these questions. In this book, Root weaves together an innovative first-person fictional narrative to diagnose the challenges facing the church today and to offer a new vision for youth ministry in the 21st century. Informed by interviews that Root conducted with parents, this book explores how parents' perspectives of what constitutes a good life are affecting youth ministry. In today's culture, youth ministry can't compete with sports, test prep, and the myriad other activities in which young people participate. Through a unique parable-style story, Root offers a new way to think about the purpose of youth ministry: not happiness, but joy. Joy is a sense of experiencing the good. For youth ministry to be about joy, it must move beyond the youth group model and rework the assumptions of how identity and happiness are imagined by parents in American society.

The contention that young people commit offences due to inadequate parenting and parental difficulties has been an abiding feature of the debates on juvenile offending. Previously this evidence has been used to design prevention programmes for young offenders who have been processed by the criminal justice system, but this book examines how this evidence can be used to prevent offending in the first place. Examining the relationship between the causes of youth offending and the legal duty of the state to address those causes, this book provides evidence to show that improving the family environment could be the most effective and enduring strategy for combating juvenile delinquency and associated behavioural, social and emotional problems. It examines how current child welfare legislation, in particular the Children Act 1989, could be employed to prevent children who are at risk of engaging in antisocial and delinquent behaviour from offending. It abandons the traditional ‘welfare vs. justice’ dichotomy and instead outlines a new approach which focuses on the rights and needs of young people in troubled circumstances and their families.

This book explores the conceptualisation and measurement of youth quality of life in sub-Saharan Africa. Further, it addresses methodological questions relevant to the development of measures and gaining an understanding of youth quality of life in this region. Drawing on the data collected, it subsequently explores students’ primary goals and their satisfaction with the extent of having achieved those goals. Accordingly, the book fills an important gap in the available literature on youth quality of life, and advances the role of qualitative methods in developing youth quality of life measures in sub-Saharan Africa.

Empower your pre-teens and teenagers aged 8-17 with the essential life skills they need to thrive in both their personal and professional journeys. In "Essential Life Skills for Youth," Rafiq Khan MD PhD provides expert guidance and practical advice to equip young minds with the tools to become well-rounded, confident, and successful individuals. 🚀 What Makes This Book Special: 🌟 Comprehensive Skill Set: Dive into a rich tapestry of life skills crucial for molding confident and accomplished young adults. 🔑 Expert Advice: Benefit from seasoned guidance and practical tips that make skill development accessible to pre-teens and teenagers aged 8-17. 🤩 Engaging Activities: Immerse your youth in enjoyable exercises that foster skill mastery and instill the confidence to apply them in real-life scenarios. 🌐 Real-Life Inspiration: Inspire your child through real-world examples that ignite the passion to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for achievement. 📚 What You'll Find Inside: 🌟 A hands-on guide to essential life skills, tailored for pre-teens and teenagers aged 8-17. 📋 An extensive exploration of vital topics. 🔗 Expert guidance and practical insights for nurturing key life skills. 🎯 Engaging activities and relatable real-world scenarios. Don't miss the opportunity to empower your youth with the skills they need to thrive. Whether your pre-teen or teenager is just starting their journey or striving to reach new heights, "Essential Life Skills for Youth" is your go-to resource to unlock their full potential. Invest in their future success today!

This book is concerned with the contexts, nature and quality of the participation of young people in European democratic life. The authors understand democracy broadly as both institutional politics and civic cultures, and a wide range of methods are used to analyse and assess youth participation and attitudes.