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

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