Articles for the Topic "Youth"

"Ask the Expert" Welcomes Curtis Porter

2011-03-02T01:54:45

We are pleased to welcome Curtis Porter, the Director of the Division of Youth Services in the Family and Youth Services Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in Washington, D.C. The Division promotes a positive youth development approach to providing program services. Division activities are planned and designed with an emphasis on meeting the developmental needs of young people and their families including runaway and homeless youth, children of incarcerated parents, and youth at risk of involvement with gangs, violence, and drugs. With a programmatic appropriation of more than $165 million, the Division currently provides funding to more than 500 State, local government, community, tribal, and faith-based organizations. Before joining ACF in 1995, Mr. Porter served as the Senior Assistant Director of Volunteer Emergency Families for Children, a statewide host home program for runaway and homeless youth headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Porter also served as a member of the Virginia Criminal Justice Services Board and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention State Advisory Group.

"Couch surfing" of Latino foster care alumni: Reliance on peers as social capital

2011-03-28T01:29:19

Youth exiting foster care often experience difficulties transitioning into adulthood. This paper focuses on Latino foster care youth in a major southwestern U.S. city and addresses the importance of peer networks as a crucial form of social capital as youth leave foster care. Case studies illustrate experiences of foster care alumni ranging in age from 18 to 26. Findings suggest that lack of housing forces youth into residential mobility or "couch surfing" and episodes of homelessness. Familial connections continue to be important to Latino youth. When Latino youth are unsuccessful in re-establishing family relationships, survival is dependent upon peer social capital as youth move between extended family and friends, eventually relying upon peers for support. Recommendations are included.

A pilot study comparing two developmental screening tools for use with homeless children

2011-04-25T05:10:04

Homelessness and poverty can present serious health issues for children, including those associated with developmental delays. Early identification and intervention may decrease risk associated with delayed development. Parent-completed measures have been used to help screen for children's development, but little is known about how they may enhance early detection with homeless children. The primary aims of this pilot study were to describe growth and developmental characteristics of homeless children and to compare a parent-completed measure with professionally-conducted developmental screening results. A prospective, comparative study was conducted with 20 homeless mothers and their 21 children. Health professionals used the Denver Developmental Screening Test II, identifying nine children with possible language delay. Mothers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaires and identified three areas of concern: fine motor (n = 9), communication/language (n = 4), and problem solving (n = 4). The percentage agreement between these two tools was strongest in gross motor (95%) and personal social development (95%) but weakest in language development (67%). While it is essential for all children, developmental screening is particularly crucial for homeless children because of increased risks related to poverty and homelessness. Nurses and nurse practitioners are in a unique position to assess applicability of such instruments and to provide critically needed interventions for these children.

A Program Description of Health Care Interventions for Homeless Teenagers

2009-01-23T12:48:06

This aim of this prospective review was to determine the effectiveness of a health intervention program for homeless and runaway youth. Diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for a variety of health issues such as drug use and sexually transmitted diseases were provided to all new admissions to a residential care facility.

A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America’s Cities: A 23-City Survey

2009-01-26T11:24:24

To assess the status of hunger and homelessness in America’s cities during 2007, the U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 23 major cities whose mayors are members of its Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. The survey sought information and estimates from each city on (1) the demand for emergency food assistance, emergency shelter, and transitional housing; (2) the capacity to meet that demand; (3) the causes of hunger and homelessness; (4) efforts underway in each city to combat these problems; (5) the economic or social conditions that exacerbate these problems; and (6) the outlook for 2008.

A Systematic Review of Cognition in Homeless Children and Adolescents

2009-01-26T10:11:52

This study sought to answer two major questions: • Do homeless children and adolescents exhibit cognitive impairments? • Are homeless children and adolescents more cognitively impaired than disadvantaged, domiciled children from comparable backgrounds?

Applying Rehabilitation Act Section 504 to the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

2009-01-26T10:33:16

This memo analyzes the use of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of handicap, for students with disabilities in homeless situations. It also discusses the overlaps between Section 504 and the McKinney-Vento Act.

Cigarette, marijuana, and alcohol use and prior drug treatment among newly homeless young adults in New York City: Relationship to a history of foster care

2011-03-02T04:01:15

This study examined whether the risk for substance use among newly homeless young adults was associated with a history of foster care, controlling for demographics and other risk factors. Multiple logistic regression analyses, adjusted for controls, among consecutive admissions of 424 newly homeless young adults (18-21 years), determined the association between foster care and substance use. A history of foster care was reported by 35% of the sample. The most frequently used substances were alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes. After adjusting for demographics, childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, prior arrest, unemployment, lack of high school diploma, and family drug use, homeless young adults with histories of foster care were: three times as likely to smoke cigarettes (AOR=3.09); more than three times as likely to use marijuana (AOR=3.30); and almost nine times as likely to have been in drug treatment (AOR=8.81) than those without such histories. Young adults who exit foster care should be screened for substance use, particularly cigarettes and marijuana. Risk reduction interventions should be targeted and tailored to their substance prevention needs.

Correlates of street-survival behaviors in homeless young adults in four U.S. cities

2011-08-23T01:14:22

This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of behaviors used by homeless young people to survive on the streets. Survival behaviors include prostitution, selling blood or plasma, dealing drugs, stealing, and panhandling. One hundred ninety-six homeless young adults from 4 metropolitan areas-Los Angeles, CA (n=50); Austin, TX (n=50); Denver, CO (n=50); and St. Louis, MO (n=46)-participated in individual, semistructured, face-to-face interviews. Researchers predicted that youth transience would be related to high rates of survival behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test a model predicting relationships between survival behaviors and transience, employment, substance use, and social support. Young adults who were transient, unemployed, drug-addicted, and reliant on peers for help were more likely to use these survival behaviors. In addition, among the transient subsample, being White, more reliant on peers for help, more transient, and having been victimized were associated with high use of these survival behaviors. Identification of the environmental and demographic factors associated with survival behaviors suggests that there may be value in combining harm-reduction strategies with efforts to reduce the transience of homeless young adults. © 2011 American Orthopsychiatric Association.

Correlates of street-survival behaviors in homeless young adults in four U.S. cities

2011-08-23T01:20:22

This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of behaviors used by homeless young people to survive on the streets. Survival behaviors include prostitution, selling blood or plasma, dealing drugs, stealing, and panhandling. One hundred ninety-six homeless young adults from 4 metropolitan areas-Los Angeles, CA (n = 50); Austin, TX (n = 50); Denver, CO (n = 50); and St. Louis, MO (n = 46)-participated in individual, semistructured, face-to-face interviews. Researchers predicted that youth transience would be related to high rates of survival behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test a model predicting relationships between survival behaviors and transience, employment, substance use, and social support. Young adults who were transient, unemployed, drug-addicted, and reliant on peers for help were more likely to use these survival behaviors. In addition, among the transient subsample, being White, more reliant on peers for help, more transient, and having been victimized were associated with high use of these survival behaviors. Identification of the environmental and demographic factors associated with survival behaviors suggests that there may be value in combining harm-reduction strategies with efforts to reduce the transience of homeless young adults. © 2011 American Orthopsychiatric Association.

Correlates of substance use severity among homeless youth

2010-12-20T02:13:09

This cross-sectional study among homeless youth identified a number of factors that were correlated with drug-use severity. In order to examine a commonly used measure of substance-use severity, the study used the TCU Drug Screen II, in a convenience sample of 156 homeless youth, ages 15-25 from a drop-in site in Santa Monica, CA. The study found that higher drug-use severity scores were independently related to low levels of perceived health and maladaptive coping strategies. The findings from this study support previous results showing that substance use behavior among youth are related to psychosocial variables.

Discrimination and exiting homelessness among homeless adolescents

2009-01-26T11:09:11

The discrimination experiences of homeless adolescents are examined in this article. The discrimination being reviewed was related to being gay, lesbian, or bisexual and exiting homelessness.

Education For Homeless Children And Youth Program, Title VII-B of The Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as Amended by the No Child Left Behind Act Of 2001

2009-01-23T12:25:35

The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. This revised, nonregulatory guidance for the McKinney-Vento program, which replaces the 2003 guidance, answers additional questions that address the following issues: • Whether children awaiting foster care placement are eligible for McKinney-Vento services • Whether children displaced from their homes by a natural disaster are eligible for McKinney-Vento services • Whether local educational agencies must provide transportation services to homeless children attending preschool

Emerging adulthood and leaving foster care: Settings associated with mental health

2011-05-16T02:20:00

The present study examined the role of contextual support on mental health during the transition to adulthood within a vulnerable group, adolescents leaving foster care because of their age. Participants were 265 19- to 23-year-olds who retrospectively reported on 3 main contexts of emerging adulthood: housing security, educational achievement, and employment attainment in the first 2 years after leaving foster care. Mental health measured self-reported emotional distress, substance abuse, and deviancy at the time of interview. Growth Mixture Modeling empirically identified 3 latent trajectory classes. Stable-Engaged (41%) experienced secure housing and increasing connections to education and employment over time. Stable-Disengaged (30%) maintained housing but reported decreasing rates of education and small increases in employment. Instable-Disengaged (29%) experienced chronic housing instability, declined connection to education, and failed to attain employment. Stable-Engaged and Stable-Disengaged classes reported better mental health compared to the Instable-Disengaged class, indicating the importance of housing in transitioning to adulthood.

Fact Sheet: Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System (RHYMIS)

2009-01-26T10:57:34

FYSB’s RHYMIS is an automated information tool designed to capture data on the runaway and homeless youth being served by FYSB’s Basic Center Program and Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth. RHYMIS also captures information on the contacts made by the Street Outreach Program grantees and the brief service contacts made with youth or families calling the FYSB programs.

Factors associated with substance use among homeless young adults

2011-01-18T04:34:53

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with substance use among homeless young adults. Multinomial logistic regression analyses examined the influence of social networks and economic factors among a group of homeless young adults with differing levels of alcohol and drug use. In addition, for those with an alcohol use disorder, the role of future time expectancies was examined. A sample (n = 185) of homeless young adults aged 18 to 23 were recruited from a community drop-in center and interviewed utilizing self-report instruments. Findings suggest that social networks, economic factors, and future expectancies are significant predictors of the level of substance use among homeless young adults. Being able to identify those areas that place homeless young adults at risk for substance abuse and dependence has implications for effective intervention.

Food Insecurity Among Homeless and Runaway Adolescents

2009-01-26T10:08:40

This study investigated the prevalence of food insecurity among homeless and runaway adolescents. Also considered were factors related to food insecurity among this population. Also published in final edited form in Public Health Nutrition (2006)

Helping friends and the homeless milieu: Social capital and the utility of street peers

2011-06-28T12:34:34

In this article, the author draws upon ethnographic data from a group of homeless and housed youth and young adults who congregated in one city square in the northeastern United States. The author applies social capital theories to understand the positive and negative aspects of street life for each group involved. In this setting, participants found commonalities and befriended one another. By maintaining and nurturing these ties, each group expanded their access to both practical and symbolic resources and provided one another with affective supports, which alleviated feelings of alienation and isolation. Participants benefited in multiple ways by participating, but also placed themselves in potentially harmful and problematic situations as a result. The author explores the utility as well as consequences of extended social ties made through these subgroup affiliations to understand the nuances of social capital and the role of diversified peer groups within homeless street settings.

Homeless Young Adults Ages 18–24 Examining Service Delivery Adaptations

2009-01-26T12:01:21

Preventing or arresting homelessness for young adults through early and comprehensive health and social service interventions is the subject of this report. The report is organized around health care, housing education and employment, and social support. Strategies for overcoming obstacles are included.

Homelessness and Health Care Access After Emancipation, Results From the Midwest Evaluation of Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth

2009-01-23T12:35:39

The association between housing status and health care access for young adults formerly in the child welfare system is examined in this article.

Horizons for Homeless Children

2009-01-26T11:30:04

The mission of Horizons for Homeless Children (HHC) is to improve the lives of homeless children and their families. HHC provides homeless children in Massachusetts with the nurturing, stimulation and opportunities for early education and play that all children need to learn and grow in healthy ways. To improve the lives of the children served over the long-term, HHC connects their parents with the tools they need to achieve social and economic self-sufficiency. HHC provides leadership in advocating for homeless children and their families through leveraging and sharing their expertise with others and advocating with policy makers and the public.

Immunization Policies for Homeless Children

2009-01-26T10:36:09

The McKinney-Vento Act requires that schools enroll homeless children and youth immediately. Therefore, these individuals should not be subject to conflicting State immunization requirements. However, in practice, conflicting State requirements can result in enrollment delays for homeless students. This chart describes the policies from 30 States regarding immunization requirements for school enrollment. It includes any specific exceptions for students experiencing homelessness.

Mental health challenges and strengths of street-involved youth: The need for a multi-determined approach

2010-12-20T02:10:39

The social environments and activities of homeless youth frequently leads to drug abuse and survival sex as well as self-harm behaviours. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to assess the mental health challenges and strengths of street-involved youth. A convenience sample of 70 homeless young people completed a series of standardized questionnaires evaluating mental health symptoms as well as resilience and self-esteem. Two focus groups were also held to capture the perceived mental health needs of street-involved youth. These young people (aged 16-24) were found to have high levels of mental health symptoms compared to other groups of young adults. However, they also exhibited moderately high levels of resilience and self-esteem. Therefore, multi-component mental health programs and interventions that address both strengths and challenges may well help street-involved youth to work towards social re-integration and, ultimately, improved quality of life.

Predictors of Homelessness Among Street- Living Youth

2009-01-26T11:44:52

This study attempts to identify predictors of change in homelessness among homeless youth between the ages of 14 and 22.

Problem Behaviors of Homeless Youth: A Social Capital Perspective

2009-04-16T03:32:28

The goal of this was study was to examine how social capital, or those aspects of a social structure including the network of relationships among and between individuals, predicts problem behaviors among homeless youth. Also published in final edited form in Journal of Human Ecology (2008)

Risk factors for running away among a general population sample of males and females

2011-06-28T12:35:13

The present study examines risk factors for running away and homelessness among a sample of more than 7,000 currently housed youth using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Structural equation modeling results revealed that those with greater levels of family instability and those who ran away at Wave 2 were significantly more likely to run away and/or become homeless 5 years later at Wave 3. Family instability also had a significant indirect effect on running away and/or being homeless at Wave 3 through greater levels of problem behaviors and running away at Wave 2. Running away at Wave 1 was indirectly associated with running away and/or becoming homeless at Wave 3 through family instability, problem behavior, and Wave 2 running.

Runaway/ Thrownaway Children: National Estimates and Characteristics

2009-01-26T11:00:14

This bulletin provides information on the number and characteristics of children who are gone from their homes either because they have run away or because they have been thrown out by their caretakers. The estimates are derived from three components of the Second National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children; the National Household Survey of Adult Caretakers, the National Household Survey of Youth, and the Juvenile Facilities Study.

Spotlight: Bringing Outside Youth In

2011-02-09T11:13:26

Outside In of Portland, Oregon, was awarded a SAMHSA treatment for the homeless grant on September 30, 2008. The StreetRISE Program of Outside In provides treatment in permanent supportive housing for homeless transition age youth. StreetRISE uses Assertive Community Treatment to provide outreach, substance use and mental health treatment, case management, education and employment supports, life skills training, integrated primary medical care, and access to permanent supportive housing. StreetRISE also screens all youth for co-occurring disorders, providing integrated mental health and medications management services. All youth involved in housing and treatment have a primary care provider at Outside In and receive primary medical care, integrated with mental health and substance use treatment, through Outside In’s Clinic, a Federally Qualified Health Center. Treatment groups and activities are offered by the StreetRISE team seven days a week and are structured to allow for youth in any stage of change to engage in a meaningful way. The StreetRISE team provides flexibility in offering supportive services in the community or wherever the youth feels most comfortable.

Spotlight: The Children Are Our Future, and U-Turn Shows Them the Way

2011-03-02T01:40:51

Operation PAR, of Pinellas Park, Florida, was awarded a SAMHSA General Treatment for Homeless grant on September 30, 2008. The grant project, U-Turn-New Directions Toward Recovery and Independent Living (U-Turn), provides outpatient substance abuse treatment to foster care youth at risk of homelessness. These youth, ages 14-18, are residing at transitional living programs operated by project partner Family Resources, Inc. and Brookwood of Florida.

StandUp For Kids

2009-01-26T11:38:29

The mission of STANDUP FOR KIDS is to help homeless and street kids. The organization carries out its mission through its volunteers who go to the streets to find, stabilize, and otherwise help homeless and street kids improve their lives. Its focus goes beyond street outreach and extends to deterrence and resource programs that it provides in schools and via the Internet. All facets of its mission are guided by the mandate that its volunteers shall tell kids they care about them and then, at every point, prove it.

Street youths' fear of violent crime

2011-07-21T12:54:47

Utilizing a sample of 300 street youths the article examines the roles, perceptions of control, depression, prior victimization, criminal behavior, peer crime and victimization, homelessness, and violent subcultural values play in the perception of violent victimization risk and the fear of violent crime. Results suggest that previous victimization and peers' victimization along with depression and an external locus of control increases perceptions of victimization risk for violent crime. Younger street youths also perceived greater victimization risk. Further, females and minority respondents have higher levels of fear of violent victimization. Levels of fear of violent crime are also predicted by previous violent victimization, depression, and an external locus of control. In contrast, social support and violent subcultural values were associated with lower levels of fear. Findings are discussed in terms of extending theory to help understand perceptions of victimization risk and fear of crime.

Substance use and mental health problems as predictors of HIV sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in foster care

2011-05-16T02:12:05

This study examined the relationship between substance use, mental health problems, and HIV sexual risk behaviors among a sample of foster care adolescents. Data were collected through structured baseline interviews with 320 adolescents (ages 15 to 18 years) who resided in foster care placements and participated in a larger evaluation study of an HIV prevention program. Final logistic regression models indicated that delinquent behavior and marijuana use were the most significant predictors of engaging in any one HIV risk behavior. Adolescents who reported delinquent behaviors, alcohol use, and marijuana use and who were female were more likely than their counterparts to engage in vaginal sex without using a condom. Future research is needed to further identify risk and protective factors for substance use, mental health problems, and HIV sexual risk behaviors among adolescents in foster care. HIV prevention efforts for these vulnerable adolescents should target those with substance use and delinquent behaviors.

The effect of drug and sexual risk behaviours with social network and non-network members on homeless youths' sexually transmissible infections and HIV testing

2011-03-28T01:27:52

The study examined whether engaging in drug and sexual risk behaviours with social network and non-network members (strangers) differentially affected the decision to test for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and HIV. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 249 homeless youths aged 14-21 years. Multivariate analyses revealed that females were over three times more likely than males to test for STIs (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.34; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.54-7.25). For every one unit increase in age, there was a 37% increase in the likelihood of having tested for STIs (AOR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.12-1.68). Youths who had sex after using alcohol and drugs with strangers were approximately 3.5 times more likely to have tested for STIs (AOR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.38-8.61). For every one unit increase in age, there was a 26% increase in the likelihood of having tested for HIV (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.05-1.51). Youths who had sex with a stranger after using alcohol or drugs were over three times more likely to test for HIV (AOR = 3.22; 95% CI = 1.42-7.31). No social network variables reached significance for STI or HIV testing. Being older and engaging in drug and sexual risk behaviours with strangers are important correlates of STI and HIV testing. Females are more likely than males to be tested for STIs. Engaging in risky behaviours with social network members was not a key factor in deciding whether to be tested.

The National Center on Family Homelessness

2009-01-26T11:34:34

The National Center on Family Homelessness is determined to end family homelessness. Although sheltering a family provides safe haven, this is only temporary. By addressing the issues that lead to homelessness, families can change their lives forever. Through research, the center learns what families need to rebound from the economic, social, medical, and mental health problems that put them on the streets. Through program evaluation, it identifies strategies that work. It uses this knowledge to design innovative practices, bring training and technical assistance to community-based shelters and service providers, and improve policy across the Nation.

U.S Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children & Families (Youth Development Division), Family and Youth Services Bureau

2009-01-26T11:41:04

This site provide information under the following categories: • Programs • Resources • Special Initiatives • Funding Opportunities

Who Knows the Streets as Well as the Homeless? Promoting Personal and Community Action through Photovoice

2009-01-23T12:50:36

Men and women living at a Michigan shelter photographed their everyday life as a means to document their challenges, promote dialog through group discussion about their photographs, and reach policymakers and the public about issues of concern to homeless people. This approach used photovoice, a participatory action research method based on health promotion principles and numerous theoretical constraints. The authors offer recommendations to health promotion practitioners implementing photovoice projects with various types of populations.