Intentional Child and Youth Care Life-Space Practice: A Qualitative Course-Based Inquiry

ABSTRACT: This course-based research study explored how child and youth care students both understandand engage in life-space practice. Data collection strategies included a conversational, open-ended interview andan arts-based activity. The open-ended interviews were conducted via Zoom and Google Meet.The thematicanalysis resulted in the identification of four themes. The first three themes: a) it is meeting youth where theyare at, b) it is relational, and c) it is intentional practice aredirectly related to the central research question, andthe final theme: d) bureaucratic structures, policies, and procedures was extracted from a sub-question that askedabout what ―gets in the way of‖ effective life-space practice.

KEYWORDS:child and youth care, course-based research, life-space practice, qualitative