Factors influencing the implementation of a positive youth development program

This chapter examines how social workers collaborated with school teachers in implementing a school-based positive youth development program in Hong Kong. Individual and focus group interviews were conducted with social workers working with school teachers in implementing the Project P.A.T.H.S. in a school context. Through the interviews, strategies for establishing inter-disciplinary collaboration and factors that hindered or facilitated program implementation were identified. This case study highlighted factors that facilitated the collaboration between social workers and school teachers, including a) sufficient training for instructors, b) sharing of the practice wisdom and teaching experiences, c) building up mutual support among different parties, d) use of proactive communication, and e) demonstration of self-disclosure.