Purpose

YouthBuild programs are uniquely designed to address the status of unemployed and uneducated young men and women who are disconnected from work and education. This study, on YouthBuild Las Vegas (YBLV), aims to fill the call for more research on transformative service research, specifically related to education, poverty and well-being. The program educates “opportunity youth” in construction skills while also encouraging progression toward a GED/HiSet or high school diploma. Service providers can better understand how to increase and support reconnection and well-being, especially among low-income individuals in communities with great needs for support services.

Design/methodology/approach

This yearlong qualitative research study intended to better understand transformative service within the context of former high school dropouts previously without a path to a productive future. YBLV was an ideal single-site case study because it was bound by space, people, organization and time. The study followed one YBLV class from admission through graduation; the qualitative work with the organization started prior to the students’ enrollment and continued after the students graduated. Primary data collections were interviews and observations. Additional data collection occurred in the forms of written documents, as well as photos and videos.

Findings

YBLV succeeded because of service providers’ attention to the funds of knowledge of the student population and adapting the format and structure of programs to adult learners, developing mentors for consumers and acknowledging the context and layers of knowledge that consumers brought to the program. The students were able to experience reconnection and increased well-being because of the service providers’ impact throughout the program.

Research limitations/implications

Transformative service research (TSR) research has focused on areas as diverse as health care and homelessness, whereas the lens of funds of knowledge has primarily been applied within educational settings. It would be worthwhile to apply funds of knowledge framework beyond education yet still within the TSR agenda. There are also opportunities to apply the theory to other vulnerable populations. Broadening the scope of reconnection and well-being TSR research far beyond YouthBuild may identify additional or other synergies between these areas.

Practical implications

The growing body of research on TSR suggested a gap in understanding how service providers can support consumers in poverty and a need for greater well-being. This study on YouthBuild highlighted the phenomenon among low-income, undereducated, urban young adults and while the goal of qualitative research is not to be generalizable, specific examples such as adapting programs and structures to low-income consumers, developing mentors to model wanted behavior and goal-setting and acknowledging the funds of knowledge that consumers bring to situations, can be generic ingredients for future transformative service projects.

Social implications

Research has demonstrated that public investment in programs that assist youth toward a positive trajectory and greater well-being is much more beneficial than disciplinary measures such as increased spending on policing and prisons. Employment and educational training programs have led to measurable success and when disconnected youth have greater vocational training and high school completion, they and the broader economy experience improved outcomes. Therefore, from a policy perspective, YouthBuild and programs like it emphasize growth, development and well-being for undereducated and low-income individuals.

Originality/value

The funds of knowledge theoretical framework are new to the Journal of Services Marketing (JSM). That framework coupled with the population of former high school dropouts in a second-chance school and a focus on service providers and well-being within a poverty context, all contribute to the paper’s originality. Reconnection is also a relatively new concept for readers of JSM. These three areas: funds of knowledge, reconnection and TSR are the backbone of this research.

中文翻译：

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建造家园和希望：YouthBuild Las Vegas 的变革性服务

目的

YouthBuild 计划旨在解决与工作和教育脱节的失业和未受过教育的青年男女的状况。这项关于 YouthBuild Las Vegas (YBLV) 的研究旨在满足对变革性服务研究进行更多研究的呼声，特别是与教育、贫困和福祉相关的研究。该计划在建筑技能方面教育“机会青年”，同时也鼓励升读 GED/HiSet 或高中文凭。服务提供者可以更好地了解如何增加和支持重新联系和福祉，特别是在对支持服务有很大需求的社区中的低收入人群中。

设计/方法/方法

这项为期一年的定性研究旨在更好地了解在以前没有通往富有成效的未来之路的前高中辍学背景下的变革性服务。YBLV 是理想的单站点案例研究，因为它受空间、人员、组织和时间的约束。该研究从入学到毕业都遵循了一个 YBLV 课程；与该组织的定性工作在学生入学之前开始，并在学生毕业后继续进行。主要数据收集是访谈和观察。额外的数据收集以书面文件、照片和视频的形式进行。

发现

YBLV 的成功是因为服务提供商关注学生群体的知识资金，并根据成人学习者调整课程的形式和结构，为消费者开发导师，并承认消费者为课程带来的知识背景和层次。由于服务提供商在整个计划中的影响，学生们能够重新建立联系并增加幸福感。

研究限制/影响

变革性服务研究 (TSR) 研究侧重于医疗保健和无家可归等多个领域，而知识基金的视角主要应用于教育环境。将知识框架资金应用于教育之外但仍在 TSR 议程内是值得的。也有机会将该理论应用于其他弱势群体。将重新联系和福祉 TSR 研究的范围扩大到远远超出 YouthBuild 的范围可能会确定这些领域之间的额外或其他协同作用。

实际影响

越来越多的关于 TSR 的研究表明，在理解服务提供者如何支持贫困消费者和提高幸福感的需求方面存在差距。这项关于 YouthBuild 的研究强调了低收入、受教育程度低的城市年轻人中的现象，虽然定性研究的目标不是可概括的，但具体的例子例如使计划和结构适应低收入消费者、培养导师来模拟想要的行为目标设定和承认消费者带来的知识资金，可以成为未来变革性服务项目的通用要素。

社会影响

研究表明，对帮助青年走向积极轨道和提高福祉的计划进行公共投资比增加警务和监狱支出等纪律措施更有益。就业和教育培训计划取得了显着的成功，当与外界脱节的青年接受了更多的职业培训和高中毕业时，他们和更广泛的经济体验会改善结果。因此，从政策的角度来看，YouthBuild 及其类似项目强调未受教育和低收入个人的成长、发展和福祉。

原创性/价值

知识理论框架的资金是服务营销杂志( JSM ) 的新内容。该框架加上第二次机会学校的前高中辍学人数以及对贫困背景下的服务提供者和福祉的关注，都有助于该论文的原创性。重新连接对于JSM 的读者来说也是一个相对较新的概念。这三个领域：知识基金、重新连接和 TSR 是这项研究的支柱。