Articles for the Topic "Children"

A Comparative Study of Homeless, Previously Homeless, and Never Homeless School-aged Children's Health

2007-08-06T01:07:45

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare the mental health, physical health, and health care practices of homeless, previously homeless, and never homeless poor school-aged children. The sample was comprised of 134 children who ranged in age from 8 to 12 years. The children participated in health assessments and completed two psychometric tests: the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). Their mothers completed the Child Behavior Problem Checklist (CBCL) and participated in an interview. The homeless (n = 67), previously homeless (n = 30), and never homeless children (n = 37) were similar in regard to their health assessment findings, reported health problems, health care practices, and CBCL scores. The proportions of homeless and previously homeless children with CDI scores in the clinical range were significantly greater than the never homeless poor children. The homeless children had significantly higher anxiety scores than the previously homeless and never homeless children. All three groups of children were at risk for physical and mental health problems; however, the findings suggest that school-aged children who experience homelessness may be at greater risk for depression and anxiety than never homeless poor children. (Authors)

America’s Youngest Homeless Citizens: State of the States

2009-03-19T09:45:06

A new report by the National Center on Family Homelessness finds that one in 50 American children experience homelessness. HRC’s Kristen Paquette shares highlights of the report and the Congressional Briefing that took place on March 10, 2009.

Back to School: McKinney-Vento Liaisons Help Children Who Are Homeless

2009-08-27T04:17:52

Children who are homeless face numerous challenges both outside and inside the classroom. Liaisons funded under the McKinney-Vento Act help children who are homeless access the services they need to succeed. As children across the nation prepare to go back to school, the HRC takes a closer look at two innovative McKinney-Vento liaison programs.

Becoming Their Baby’s Best Teacher: Therapeutic Interventions For Parents and Children

2009-11-23T01:18:34

What therapeutic interventions can help promote positive parent-child interactions? The PACT Therapeutic Nursery in Baltimore, Maryland has developed an attachment-based therapeutic child-care program for very young children and parents living in emergency shelters. Programs use a strengths-based approach to promote improved social, emotional, and cognitive development for children and parents who have suffered the trauma of homelessness.

Changing Minds, One Eighth Grader at a Time

2009-04-21T02:41:51

Sometimes the best teachers are our children – even in eighth grade. HRC’s Katie Volk talks with student Kati Farkas about a brief film she created about homelessness. She wanted to show her classmates how stereotypes can be hurtful, and what they can do to help.

Close to Home: Teaching Kids About Homelessness Through the Arts

2009-06-03T01:19:04

The Close to Home curriculum uses a multi-media approach to engage students and teachers. It includes essays written by people who have experienced homelessness, photographs, music, and classroom speakers. The program was recently piloted at Pierce Elementary School in Brookline, MA, winning rave reviews from six graders and their teachers.

Early Childhood Home Visiting Program

2010-09-21T09:13:47

This paper, issued by the Coordinating Center of the Strengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children Initiative, provides an overview of new funding available to support vulnerable young children and families. The Early Childhood Home Visiting Program will provide $1.5 billion over the next five years to support implementation of evidence based home visiting programs that improve the health and development of very young at-risk children and reduce child abuse and neglect. (Authors)

Educating Homeless Children

2009-03-06T04:58:37

After contextualizing the problem of providing education to children experiencing homelessness, Dr. Leah Davies discusses the roles that teachers and school boards can play in providing for these children. She illuminates the barriers that these children face, but also explains what teachers need to know to provide the best possible care to these children. (HRC)

Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program: Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

2007-07-06T08:17:49

The McKinney-Vento program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, State educational agencies (SEAs) must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth. Homeless children and youth should have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment. States and districts are required to review and undertake steps to revise laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth. (Authors)

Education of Homeless Children & Youth The Guide to Their Rights

2008-07-10T06:23:12

More than 1.35 million children and youth experience homelessness each year. These young people may be living on the streets, but they are most often in shelters or temporarily living with family or friends after losing housing or having financial problems. (NLCHP)

Facts on Trauma and Homeless Children

2007-03-27T10:46:38

This resource provides a important information about trauma and it's prevalence and impact on homeless children.

Homeless Children: America’s New Outcasts 2010

2007-10-11T11:54:22

This groundbreaking study by the National Center on Family Homelessness reveals the harsh lives of more than one million children who are homeless each night in the United States. The report vividly portrays the daily struggles faced by homeless children, starkly contrasting their lives with those of typical American children. Homeless Children: America's New Outcasts documents the profound impact of homelessness on children's health, development, school performance, mental health and well being. (NCFH)

Homeless Children: Needs and Services

2007-07-25T02:54:58

This study explored needs of homeless children and shelter services available to them. The first phase of this mixed-method study consisted of open-ended interviews of key personnel in six diverse homeless shelters in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. This qualitative data gave direction to the creation of a questionnaire used in a larger follow-up survey of shelters in the state of Georgia. Roughly two-thirds of the 102 reporting shelters that served children provided food, clothing, and school supplies with 40% offering some form of transportation. More than 75% of the shelters were full and did not have space currently available for children, with an additional 10% having only one or two available beds. Most of the shelters lacked important services in the areas of medical and developmental assessments, access to education, childcare, and parent training. Forty-seven percent lacked onsite worker training in the characteristics and needs of homeless children. In addition, while the McKinney Act legally mandates ways to serve homeless children, findings indicate that over half of key informants in homeless shelters were unfamiliar with the law. (Authors)

Physical and Emotional Awareness for Children Who Are Homeless (PEACH) – Helping Children Cope With the Stress of Homelessness

2007-08-14T10:50:56

This resource provides an introduction to PEACH (Physical and Emotional Awareness for Children who are Homeless) program, run by the National Center on Family Homelessness.

Protecting the Mental Health of Homeless Children and Youth

2007-11-11T03:23:50

Residential instability and the conditions that precipitate it clearly have negative effects on the emotional well being of children and youth, who comprise over one-fourth of the homeless population in the United States. (Healing Hands)

Referral Guide for Homeless Children, Youth, and Families

2007-08-13T12:38:36

The purpose of this guide is to provide a starting point for identifying sources of help for homeless children, youth and families, and for strengthening collaboration among service providers. Feedback from users that clarifies or corrects information in this guide will be appreciated. Email addresses for providing this feedback are listed following the title page. (Author)

Report To the President and Congress On the Implementation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Under the Mckinney-vento Homeless Assistance Act

2007-08-13T12:48:44

This report, submitted pursuant to section 724(i) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended (McKinney-Vento), provides information on programs supported under McKinney-Vento and describes activities that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has undertaken to address the educational needs of homeless children and youth. Data provided in this report are based on actual counts and records of homeless students enrolled in school. (U.S. Dept of Education)

Serving Young Children With Disabilities Who Are Homeless: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and McKinney-Vento Hand in Hand

2009-01-26T12:52:13

This presentation includes: • Challenges for young homeless children, young homeless children with special needs, and educators and service providers • How does IDEA serve young children who are homeless? • Definition of homeless children under McKinney-Vento • IDEA—an McKinney-Vento collaboration

Strengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children - Evaluation Report: Year One (2007-2008)

2009-09-15T09:49:47

This report describes the first year of implementation of the Strengthening At-Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children Initiative (“the Initiative”). Funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and under the guidance of a Coordinating Center consisting of the National Center on Family Homelessness and the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the Initiative seeks to improve the housing, health, and development of homeless and at-risk young mothers and children. To best meet the complex needs of these families, the Initiative supports locally-based partnerships that include housing/homelessness and child development agencies, as well as those that address family preservation, domestic violence, mental health, substance use, and other support services for the target population. (Authors)

Telling a New Story: Helping Children to Heal from Homelessness

2009-09-11T04:12:44

Children who are homeless tell stories of living with uncertainty, chaos, and unpredictability. Play therapy is a therapeutic model that helps children cope with the trauma of being homeless. At Cuidando Los Niños in Albuquerque, New Mexico, play therapists work with children to “re-story” their young lives through play. By reframing their experiences, children can begin to heal and tell new stories.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions on the Education Rights of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations

2009-07-02T10:37:36

This document, created collaboratively by the NAEHCY and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP), provides answers to 100 frequently asked questions on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the education rights of children and youth in homeless situations. (Authors)

What About America's Homeless Children?

2007-07-11T10:31:42

This publication provides insight into the causes and issues of child homelessness, insight into legislation and policy, and provides recommendations for the future to end child homelessness.

What About the Needs of Children Who are Homeless?

2008-05-27T01:48:32

This fact sheet discusses the statistics related to children within the homeless population. It also outlines the harmful effects of homelessness on children, which include emotional and behavioral problems, learning difficulties, and health issues.