Homeless Youth

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Homeless Youth

• Impact On Development

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Video

• YouTube - Homeless Youth

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Definitions and Causes

• Definition - Individuals under age 18 who lack
  parental, foster, or institutional care
• Causes 3 inter-related categories family
  problems, economic problems, and residential
  instability
• Most common specified reasons for leaving the
  home are physical and sexual abuse, strained
  relationships, addiction of a family member, and
  parental neglect

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Life Course Perspective

• Developmental process is one of interrelated,
  self-perpetuating chains of events
• Interactional continuity
• Runaways set the stage for cumulative negative
  developmental consequences
• Separation from family
• Loss of social support
• Deviant behaviors and victimization

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Adolescent Development

• Homelessness impacts an adolescents ability to
  acquire skills needed as they develop
• Support and foundation consists of family,
  school, peer groups, neighborhood, workplace, and
  leisure activities
• Developmental results for homeless adolescents

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Consequences

• Challenges on the streets versus staying in
  shelters
• Difficulties getting basic needs met
• Homeless youth are at greater risk for both
  medical and mental health related issues

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Program and Policy Issues

• What should we address first?
• Housing, education, employment, and health care
• Child welfare system

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Case Example Urban Peak

• Scenario
• In 2003, Urban Peak helped more than 400 young
  people transition off the streets
• Cost is approximately 1/10th that of
  incarceration or residential treatment
• Collaborations between nonprofit, private, and
  public sectors make it possible to develop more
  innovative approaches to housing homeless youth