Finding Their Way Home: Utilizing Spiritual Practices to Bolster Resiliency in Youth at Risk

Authors

  • Nancy Rothenberg Williams
  • Elizabeth W. Lindsey

Abstract

Spiritual practices, distinct from religious practices or affiliation, are increasingly being incorporated into programs serving at-risk adolescents. There is also an increasing focus within the field of social work to understand the role that spirituality plays in helping cope with adversity. This article reviews how results from an earlier study on the impact of spirituality on runaway and/or homeless youth may inform practice with this group and other at-risk adolescents. We discuss three major themes related to spirituality that emerged in our earlier work: 1) Having a Personal Relationship with God or a Higher Power; 2) Finding Meaning and Purpose in Life and 3) Embracing Personally Meaningful Spiritual Practices. Implications for social work practice and research are addressed.

Downloads

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 1 (2010): Special Issue on Spirituality and Positive Youth Development

Section

Articles

License

Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by Currents. The journal editor(s) may grant permission for the reproduction of any manuscript accepted for publication in whole or in part. Any author(s) that has contributed to a manuscript published in Currents may request permission from the editor(s) of the journal for reproduction in whole or in part of any manuscript for which they are identified as a contributing author. This request must be made through the lead author (or the corresponding author if different than the lead). For the purposes of this notice reproduction refers to publication of a manuscript subsequent to publication in Currents.