Listen to them! The challenge of capturing the true voice of young people within early intervention and prevention models; a youth work perspective:
Recorded in October 2019

Contributors
Author: Maria Healya, Leonor Rodriguezb
Publisher: Children and Youth Services Review
Date: 2018
Geographic Coverage: International
Type of Resource: Report
Sector/setting: Government
Vulnerable groups: Children, Young People
Developed with children and young people? Not Specified
Type of participation: Unknown
Availability: Open Access
Keywords: Meitheal, Participation, Voice, Young People, Youth Work
Introduction
This paper aims to explore the challenges to youth work in capturing the voices of young people in a meaningful way within Meitheal and the Child and Family Support Networks model (Meitheal). This is a prevention and early intervention model for statutory and non-statutory agencies working with children, young people and families.
The study found that youth workers recognise advocacy and support of young people as a key role for their profession within models of prevention and early intervention. Barriers to adolescents’ active engagement in Meitheal were the formal structure and agenda, but also the need to achieve outcomes in exchange of professional validation. Youth workers are also concerned about the nature of young people’s participation as being fully participatory and voluntary in the process, whilst questioning if their voices are truly being included in a meaningful way.