ENHANCING PRIMARY SERVICES FOR YOUTH THROUGH AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF SOCIAL-SERVICES

This article considers ow the strengths of primary social services can be integrated more purposefully into a cohesive, community-based infr astructure of youth and family services. The term primary services ref ers to the wide range of programs and activities that are embedded wit hin the familiar social world of children and their families, and addr esses broad developmental outcomes rather than specialized problems. T he article first highlights five features of practice and participatio n that research indicates may distinguish primary social services as a sector and suggests some implications of those features for youth dev elopment. The features discussed include a youth development outlook, voluntariness, intentionality, flexibility, and connectedness. It then considers how the benefits of primary services could be amplified by integrating them into a comprehensive, community-based infrastructure of social services. A particular model of infrastructure is reviewed, which poses the primary service sector as both a key ingredient and a beneficiary of this approach to social service reform. The article con cludes by suggesting key outcomes for youth associated with infrastruc ture reform and highlights research issues involving primary services and infrastructure development.