Child and Youth Care Archive

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“In the development of any area of human endeavor, the early history reflects the perspectives of the pioneers and is in turn reflected in various ways as the field continues to emerge. In addition, some of the crucial wisdom and idealism that marked the beginning may become diluted or even be lost as the field comes up against competing interests and perspectives and as it becomes institutionalized. For these reasons and others, it seems important that we not lose sight of our history and maintain the ability to ‘consult' the pioneers and their work. Hence the development of an archive of such materials seems to be a worthwhile thing to do.”

Baker, J. & Gange, J. (2001). Toward a taxonomy for the Child and Youth Care field. CYC-Online, 35. 

Child and Youth Care is a unique field of practice - a different kind of profession that seeks to minimize professional distance between the adult, child, and family. It is connected to, yet distinct from the fields of psychology, social work, and education. 

Child and Youth Care is the work of those engaged directly in the lives of young people and families within the space and time of their daily lives. Child and Youth Care practitioners work across a variety of practice settings (e.g., residential, community, education, on the street) and across a variety of roles (e.g., direct practice, educator, trainer, supervisor, researcher).

This page reflects a growing collection of items from around the world that are important to the field. It's a home to archival items from a range of influencers in the field and aims to remind us of the importance of our history and inspire us with hope for the future. 

Mark Krueger

c. 1945 - October 4, 2014

Mark Krueger’s career spanned over four decades and benefited children and youth as well as the Child and Youth Care workers around the world who were empowered by his teaching, leadership, and writings. His work began as a Child and Youth Care worker and supervisor at the Lutheran Children’s Friend Society and later at the Lakeside Children’s Center, both in Milwaukee. Mark founded the Youth Work Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1979 and was the founding editor of the Journal of Child and Youth Care Work in 1984, a publication designed to give the field a distinct voice by encouraging direct line workers to contribute along with scholars. A legacy of Mark’s career is his focus on the interactive, dynamic, and relational aspects which make Child and Youth Care a crucial and unique field.

Thoughts from Mark Krueger

• “The primary motive for being a caregiver has to be something in your center or gut or heart or all of these is telling you what you want to do. Without this feeling, there is not much that can be learned that will be helpful.” (Krueger, M. (2000). Central themes in child and youth care. CYC-Online, 12.)

• “Child and Youth Care…like other sophisticated disciplines, requires constant review and upgrading of individual skills. One simply can’t get by on experience or outdated methods of treatment.” (Krueger, M. (2010). Organizational tenets and actions. CYC-Online, 141.)

• “Child and Youth Care is about caring and acting – about being there, thinking on your feet, interacting, and growing with children. It is rich, intense, difficult work that requires passion and commitment. When it goes well, troubled children can make tremendous strides. When it goes poorly, their obstacles may seem almost impossible to overcome.” (Krueger, M. (2000). Central themes in child and youth care. CYC-Online, 12.)

Collection highlights from Mark Krueger

• Collection of volumes of the Journal of Child and Youth Care Work
• Collection of writings including Buckets: Sketches from a Youth Worker’s Logbook and Interactive Youth Work Practice
• Meritorious service award from University of Wisconsin
• Framed cover of the first issue of the Journal of Child and Youth Care Work signed by Norman Powell
• Photo of Mark Krueger with Norman Powell at the Inaugural Trieschman Conference in 1987
• Original manuscript and paperback book of Floating, one of his fictional writing exploring the dynamics of human development
• Phi Delta Theta 1964 class photo from the University of Wisconsin
• Photo of Mark Kruger with colleague Andrew Schneider-Munoz receiving a box of Legos at the 1990s International Child and Youth Care Conference in Milwaukee
• Basketball and photo of Mark in a pick-up basketball game as he was known to enjoy often

Leon Fulcher (Wairoa, New Zealand)

Thom Garfat (Quebec, Canada)

William Greenaway (Florida, USA)

Angela Keller-Simpson (Milwaukee, USA)

John Korsmo (Washington, USA)

Jody Rhodes (Wisconsin, USA)

Sister Madeleine Rybicki (Ohio, USA)

Andrew Schneider-Munoz (California, USA)

Martin Stabrey (Cape Town, South Africa)