THEMES
THEMATIC SECTIONS AT THE CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITH AT-RISK YOUTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
1. NEW FORMS OF SUBCULTURES AND YOUTH SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
The world of young people nowadays is divergent. Once compact subcultures, based on co-creation of common values, behavioral patterns, identification and social movements, have become communities based on a combination of common interests, different virtual spaces and different identification norms. This thematic section will focus on communities or subcultures self-formed by young people. We will explore different forms and ways of communities currently present in the world of young people. We will focus on different social media circles, the power of identification groups online, their functioning and impact on the life of an individual and generation. Despite modern life, young people still form different street cliques, groups connected to school and territorial areas as well as groups connected to the use of psychoactive substances which are changing, just as there are new psychoactive substances emerging on the market. It is also possible to detect subcultures that appear as new content and form of connection, which reach different circles such as LGBTQ+ community as well as different mental health groups and groups associated with various risky behaviors, such as self-harm. On the other hand, we do not exclude traditional forms of organized communities of young people based on common interests connected to art and sport, for example, scouts, sport clubs, dance schools, music schools, etc.
This thematic section will focus on the way our youth socialize today. What are the values of these young people and their groups today? Are these subcultures still connected to particular behavioral patterns and special meeting points? What is the effect of new external circumstances, like new forms of psychoactive substances, socializing via the internet and accessibility to the global network, to the changes of subcultures among young people?
As professionals, we are interested in where and how adults (professionals) can reach them? What are the advantages of these communities and what are the hidden traps? Are different communities still present in the time of individualism? What is it like to be growing up today?
We invite youth workers, who spend their time with young people, researchers from this field as well as young people to present their point of view.
2. THE PATH TO MENTAL HEALTH
This topic focuses on the current question of mental health of young people. Mental health problems have rapidly increased in the last couple of years. This is not only due to a more sensitive and differentiated diagnostic approach. An important cause can be identified in the consequences of the general social climate, dysfunctional family processes, the consequences of various types of unfavorable educational practices as well as the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis. Even general society is paying more and more attention to the mental health problems of young people with different forms and methods of treatment and support to mental health.
This section will address questions such as what is mental health and when are we (if ever) completely mentally healthy? Who determines the categories of mental health and acceptable behavior? How do the systems we live in affect our well-being? What approaches do professionals use to support young people in distress? What forms of mental health problems and disorders are most common among young people and why is this so? What are the forms and approaches that are recognized as the most effective in solving these problems?
We invite professionals from this field, both, from a research point of view as well as a practitioner’s point of view to prepare a paper contribution.
3. INNOVATIVE FORMS OF ART AND SPORTS IN THE FIELD OF WORKING WITH AT-RISK YOUTH
At this year’s international conference, we continue with presentations from the field of art and sports as important methodical approaches in education and work with youth at-risk. Formal and informal education is essential especially for young people, who are more vulnerable due to their characteristics and lifestyle, although it is often less accessible to them. In the thematic group, we want to present new or reformed approaches of working with at-risk youth and on the margins of society.
This thematic section will cover contributions related to art, culture and sports. Emphasis should be placed on forms and methods of work as well as different ways and aspects of teaching and working with at-risk youth. Contributions should describe innovative forms of teaching, demonstrate the use of teaching aids or adaptations in the implementation of lessons and individual teaching in the education system. This thematic section also includes informal forms of work in art and sports, presentations of educational projects, specialized programs and approaches of organizations to solving problems in educating at-risk youth.
