Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Posting three additional summaries
Before class on Thursday, please post three additional summaries of your scholarly sources for our current project. (I would encourage to write more than three, but you can just post three for class. As you continue to draft, though, I think you'll find that the process of summarizing each of your sources will help you as shift to synthesizing them for this current assignment.) Please follow the previous directions on what to include your summaries. You may find that you need to include just one summary per comment.
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FIRST SUMMARY:
ReplyDeletePowers-Costello, E. (2008). Exploring the Dynamics of Teacher Perceptions of Homeless Children and Families during the Early Years. Early Childhood Education Journal. 36 ( 3) 241-245. Doi: 10.1007/s10643-008-0249-0.
In this study, Powers-Costello (2008) analyzes the “responsibility” (Powers Costello 2, 2008) of teachers in the learning processes of homeless children. The article concentrates on the issue of justice throughout the various sections of arguments. Powers-Costello (2008) strongly analyzes the influence a teacher can have on a homeless child who possesses no hope for the future or is greatly behind in their education. Powers-Costello (2008) also draws upon the idea of a “social justice framework” to strengthen teachers’ interactions with children and families of the homeless population. The article mainly draws upon analysis of other author’s works about homelessness and education of children in order to draft new ideas. The main ideas, such as the empowerment of teachers, come from utilizing previous studies by other experts in the field. In one example, a child wished to show the teacher he could do a “really good job” (Powers-Costello, 2008) on his work because of her work on empowerment. This article then goes on to recognize the importance of new perspectives on homeless children and describes how other literature also supports this concept.
This article is helpful for my essay because it really focuses on education, which is one of my main aspects for exploration of affects of homelessness on children. Also, this source is significant because it is not a psychological study as are many of my other sources. I can draw more qualitative information from this particular article.
SECOND SUMMARY:
ReplyDeleteTimberlake, E.M. (1994). Homeless Children: Impact of School Attendance on Self-Esteem and Loneliness. Social Work in Education. 16 (1) 9-20.
Timberlake (1994) examines the effect of homelessness on self-esteem and loneliness on children in conjunction with education. A sample of 400 homeless children outside of shelters was examined for a period of four years. Then scales about self-esteem and loneliness were adapted to fit the study. “Statistically significant” differences between children in school versus those not often in school and their esteem levels appear in the study. The article outlines a study of “400 homeless six to eleven-year-olds and their mothers” (Timberlake 1, 1994). Timberlake (1994) begins by analyzing and reviewing the literature on the topic. This gives an introduction to the concept of the study. Then, the sample and method for examining the subjects is given. This demonstrates how social support comes into play for homeless children who do not “regularly attend school.” “The 400 children averaged 17.97 out of a possible 40 on the Self-esteem Scale” demonstrating a lack of self-confidence due to a lack of steady schooling and a constantly mobile environment.
This study is important for my essay because of its intermingling of qualitative and quantitative data. There is analysis as well as statistics about a particular sample of homeless children. It also addresses both of the issues I wish to examine: education and psychological harm. (Due to homelessness) The only limitation may be the year it was published because some information may be outdated.
Summary of the Spicer Article
ReplyDeleteAs the first of three articles in the this issue of The Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health revolving around the 2009 workshop "The Psychiatric Needs of the Transgender Homeless Population this piece discusses the healthcare needs of the transgender homeless population and specific ways of addressing them. The article begins by discussing homelessness in general and how the transgender community is affected by it. Spicer then moves forward by discussing the specific challenges that trans individuals face, whether it be discrimination at home, school, or work, and how this leads to face homeless. When homeless, these people are faced with ongoing stigma, discrimination, and trauma from other homeless people and those who are "supposed" to be helping them. This leads to significant emotional damage and depression. According to Spicer, depression and suicidal thoughts are already disproportionably high in the transgender community with a 28-35% attempted suicide rate. Combined with the struggles of homelessness, these mental issues could worsen and therefore must be addressed. In addition to mental and emotional needs, the author also details the physical issues facing the transgender homeless community. These range anywhere from drug abuse to post-operation concerns to hormone injection worries. It is stated in the article that there is not enough knowledge about the physical health needs of trans people to satisfy the homeless population. Thus, the author concludes by suggesting that those addressing the healthcare needs of transgender homeless people must be understanding, open, and willing to provide thoughtful care. He also suggests that more research be done on the specific issues that affect the transgender populace so that the community can be better served in the future.
The methodology involved in this study revolves around the employment of primary and secondary sources to draw specific information to inform the reader about a very specific issue. That is to say, there was no primary research done for this article. Be that as it may, this piece remains valuable as it provides a broad look at a major issue affecting the un-housed transgender population. I has the potential to increase expertise on this difficult subject.
No Door to Lock (this source is very short)
An article published by the American Medical Association, this study leans on the fact that homeless people experience high rates of sexual and physical assault, with women being the most targeted. The authors of this investigation interviewed 2577 respondents about their history of sexual and physical assault, housing history, sexual practices, substance use, health status, and criminal justice history. Although this study does not directly focus on transgender homeless people it is a vital source since it puts the statistics concerning transgender individuals in proportion with the rest of the homeless population. For example, this study found that 38.1% of transgender persons reported a history of sexual or physical assault in comparison to 32.3% of women and 27.1% of men. Specifically 11.9% of transgender persons, 1.4% of men, and 9.4% of women reported sexual assault and 33.3% of transgender persons, 26.6% of men, and 30.6% of women reported physical assault. By putting all of these numbers side by side, we see that trans people are undoubtedly victimised more than other members of the community.
Summary of Hunter Article
ReplyDeleteWhilst this article has a research based/ secondary-source methodological approach such as the Spicer article- which involves the consolidation of testimonies from court cases and research performed by others, it remains a valid addition to the literature concerning transgender homeless. Hunter begins his investigation by noting the overrepresentation of LGBT individuals in the homeless youth population. He mentions that these people often become targets for harassment and abuse in youth housing facilities. This is proven by an anecdote about 18 year old Kelly R., a transgender woman. At the age of sixteen, her parents kicked her out of her home because she is transgender; after this she found herself staying at an emergency housing facility in lower Manhattan. Here, she was forced to bathe with male occupants. Eventually she was attacked by some of these young men and was beaten so severely that her jaw was ripped away from her face. This event unfolded right under the nose of the shelter staff.
The article continues in a similar fashion, mentioning the specific issues that LGBT youths face when homeless. Hunter, like other authors, also makes a point to differentiate between gender identity and sexual orientation. However, in his conclusion the distinction matters not- what is good for one group tends to be good for the others. He suggests that the following must occur: maximum limits must be placed on the occupancy capacity at which homeless housing programmes may operate, all showering facilities must provide individual privacy, anti-LGBT discrimination in the provision of services MUST be forbidden, non-discrimination and sensitivity training should be required, and the creation of LGBT-specific homeless youth housing programmes should be investigated.
As a source, this piece will aid in providing an even more narrow context in which to investigate transgender homelessness. It will also work conversely- educating on the wider LGBT homeless community which could aid in distinguishing issues that solely affect transgender homeless individuals.
Boa, Whitbeck, and Hoyt
ReplyDeleteIn the case study titled Abuse, Support, and Depression among Homeless and Runaway Adolescents, 602 runaway adolescents were interviewed about their experience with abuse and their reliance on peer support groups. The study overall concluded that the link between an abusive home life and depression was undeniable. Under the circumstances of homelessness, these depression symptoms among teens intensified. Teens who had taken to shelters or the streets due to an abusive household ultimately suffered from severe depression, and often turned to peer groups for a supporting cushion. These peer groups had varying effects however. Many times the troubled runaway found support among gangs who participated in acts of delinquency rather than groups whom offered stress relief and positive outlets. The study also determined that runaways who had at least some family ties, even if they were not immediate family members, the teen usually had lessened symptoms of depression. These results were ultimately unanimous among teens that faced abuse. Gender, race, and other circumstances did not impact the behavior patterns however the results did rely on the amount of adult supervision the teen received. The more time spent away from such supervision, the more likely the teen became to involve his or herself with deviant behavior due to a reliance on supportive peer groups. These sorts of peer groups worked to worsen the depression rather than supportive relationships which often aided the struggling teen.
MacKay article
ReplyDeleteThis article focuses on the issues of educating runaways and homeless youth. It begins by offering the typical causes of runaways’ choice to leave home: family abuse or family conflicts. They are then presented with one of three situations depending on the extremity of the conflict: 1) He or she stays with a family member or friend until an acceptable solution is found, usually this only lasts two to 3 days; 2) He or she goes to a shelter where the family eventually meets and finds a solution, often this is stage two after their welcome with family or friends has expired; 3) Teens find themselves in abandoned buildings or on the streets. All three possibilities pose problems to the youth’s education. In most cases change of location inhibits his or her ability to continue being education at their former school. Due to lack of transportation or residency and guardian requirements students battle with the odds to continue in their schools of origin, which is often the best option for them. Teens coming from broken homes or dealing with abuse may also have outside mental instability which brings its own issues when teachers are unaffiliated with dealing with such problems leading to disciplinary actions for the student rather than finding the correct form of help. Youth who are forced to take to the streets face other problems because they are forced to take up alternative lifestyles, which often include “survival sex” to provide for themselves. These teens are trying to survive and therefore put their education low on their priority list. The article then lists multiple Federal laws which work to enforce connections between public school systems and homeless or runaway shelters. These laws also aid in providing alternatives to public schools, such as tutoring programs at shelters which better cater to the needs of the runaways who may suffer from other mental problems. Schools themselves have also expanded to aid in this, providing special education classes or promoting parental involvement. Ultimately the article demonstrated the extensive amount of negative setbacks runaways face and that the government, as well as many shelters, hopes to make education a priority rather than add lack of education to the list of obstacles.
Transitional Living Program Case Study (Giffords, Alonso, Bell)
ReplyDeleteLike the other articles, this case study begins by offering the reasons for teen homelessness or why teens run away from home. The researchers offer three related causes “family problems, economic problems, and residential instability.” They also conclude that many teens also leave due to physical and sexual abuse. As teens transition into adulthood problems arise such as issues with living independently, unhealthy relationships, their own substance abuse issues, and other mental health issues like anger management. To help the transition, independent living services were developed. These programs provide counseling as well as classes which prepare youth for independence. The most predominant of these programs are Walkabout Programs. Aimed at the age group of 16-21, these programs help to teach living and working skills that prepare teens to become independent and successful. Teens are usually referred to the programs due to demonstrating their ability and need to succeed. Programs also focus on developing youth psychologically so as to promote healthy future relationships and strong self-esteem. The challenge that these programs face however is obtaining resources. In recent years funding has been cut, even though clients are showing great growth and the programs are overall successful in all aspects of their goals. Teens who go through the program more often than not take advantage of their opportunity to successfully transition into adulthood, regardless of previous turmoil they faced before entering the program.
THIRD SUMMARY:
ReplyDeleteCumella, S. (1998). The mental health of children in homeless families and their contact with health, education and social services. Health and Social Care in the Community. 6 (5) 331-342.
Cumella (1998) and his colleagues examine the “ prevalence of psychiatric disorders among parents and children in homeless families” (Cumella 1, 1998) in this study. It describes the results of a study of 113 homeless families in Birmingham. It finds that based on the study, homeless children and families are more likely to suffer from psychiatric disorders. Also, children are very likely to fall into a pattern of abuse based on their often abuse-filled lives. Cumella (1998) raises the point of stability and how this affects the probability of homeless children ending up with mental disorders later in their lives. The study consisted of a sample of homeless families that were interviewed about their circumstances leading to homelessness and how isolated they had become since falling into homelessness. Also, each parent filled out a General Health Questionnaire. The study very simply introduces the idea and then succinctly describes the study itself, the methods, and the results. “49%” of the parents surveyed had had scores on the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) on or above the ‘clinical threshold’, indicating a level of depression or distress” (Cumella 1998). The children of these parents later showed evidence of possibly developing mental disorders of their own.
This article is helpful for me because it is another psychological study and it goes into great detail about the mental health of children in homeless situations. It also examines more of the parental side of the story, which many of the other articles do not. Once again, it could be outdated.
Smith, M. Y., Rapkin, B. D., Winkel, G., Springer, C., Chhabra, R., & Feldman, I. S. (2000). Housing status and health care service utilization among low-income persons with HIV/AIDS. JGIM: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 15(10), 731. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
ReplyDeleteThis article addresses the health care utilization of homeless, doubled-up, and stably housed individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with the added factor that all respondents were also Medicaid recipients in New York City. Thus, this article differs from many other similar articles (and can consequently be used in comparison to these similar yet different studies) in that it investigates whether housing status alone contributes to health status among people living with HIV/AIDS, or lack of health coverage—which is often the case for unstably housed people—is the dominant factor in previous research on the subject. The researchers interviewed a sample of 1445 sero-positive, Medicaid recipients in New York City, dividing them into subgroups of homeless, doubled-up, and stably housed. The shortcoming of this, and many similar studies, is the disproportionately low number of homeless people in the study compared with doubled-up and stably housed people. Also, the study found its respondents through health provider networks, which suggests their respondents were those who were most likely to seek health care services to begin with and are not necessarily representative of the broader population. Researchers found that a higher percentage of the stably housed were seeing a doctor regularly for HIV monitoring and treatment as compared to either doubled-up or homeless. Also, a higher percentage of stably housed and doubled-up participants had been seeing the same doctor(s) for their outpatient care than homeless participants. Oddly, though, homeless participants reported making more outpatient visits over three months than their counterparts, which the researchers suggested could be a result of greater visibility to service providers because they circulate in the shelter system. This source is significant to my literature review because it corroborates findings that, overall, HIV-infected individuals in unstable housing are more likely to receive inferior quality of care than their stably housed counterparts, but adds the new dimension that this holds true even when individuals have equal access to health care coverage. As a consequence of poorer quality health care, these people may be more likely to experience adverse clinical outcomes.
Marshall, B. L. (2008). The contextual determinants of sexually transmissible infections among street-involved youth in North America. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10(8), 787-799. doi:10.1080/13691050802295719
ReplyDeleteSummary: The Marshall article is a literature review. The essay reviews current research concerning the sexual behavior of street-involved young people. Marshall critically examines the construction of and engagement in these sexual behaviors as they pertain to the sexual transmission of HIV and STIs at a population level, and elaborates on the shortcomings of sexual health interventions that focus solely on individual behavioral characteristics and qualities. Marshall’s main claim is that “the risk of HIV or STI acquisition is dependent upon a complex interplay of pathogen characteristics, host factors, partner factors, sexual behaviours and the social, structural and environmental context in which these activities take place” (Marshall, 2008, p. 790), not just individually isolated factors. One example of how he uses the literature to support this claim is when he asserts that “conceptual models and corresponding interventions that focus exclusively on individual-level behaviours, characteristics and qualities do not result in sustained behaviour change or improved population health outcomes (Shoveller et al. 2006). One likely explanation for the limited success of these interventions is that they do not address the macro-level factors and other underlying determinants that indirectly impact the transmission dynamics of HIV and STIs” (Marshall, 2008, p. 790-791). Marshall bases his argument that the production of HIV risk and transmission is predominantly social, structural and environmental in a comparison of scholarly research and literature. This source is significant in my research because it takes the stance that social structural factors must be acknowledged and integrated into frameworks and actual interventions that attempt to reduce the burden of HIV and STIs among homeless youth in the future. The essay also serves as an example of a well-executed literature review for my own writing purposes.
Kidder, D. P., Wolitski, R. J., Campsmith, M. L., & Nakamura, G. V. (2007). Health status, health care use, medication use, and medication adherence among homeless and housed people living with HIV/AIDS. American Journal of Public Health, 97(12), 2238-2245. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
ReplyDeleteKidder Article: The results of this research project showed that homeless respondents were more likely than those in stable housing situations to report a wide range of negative health outcomes. These results were acquired in a survey of 7925 HIV-positive individuals of both homeless and stable housing status at 19 sites across the United States. The survey of each individual involved an interview in which respondents were asked about demographic information, their housing status, their HIV-medication history and current practices, their adherence to doctors medication prescriptions, and their use of the emergency room or hospitalizations in the past year. They were also asked about alcohol and drug use in the past year, but these factors were addressed minimally in the results. The findings indicated a number of conclusions: 1) there is clear need to improve access to antiretroviral medication among homeless people living with HIV/AIDS; 2) homeless people living with HIV/AIDS do not receive the quality of care this is optimal for managing HIV; 3) “housing status was a significant predictor of health status, health care and emergency department use, use of HIV medications, and HIV medication adherence” (Kidder, 2007, p.2244) both before and after controlling for demographic, drug use, and alcohol use variables. This source is significant and useful in its main quantitative finding that stable housing may improve the health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Though this finding is generally intuitive at this point in academia, this article nonetheless provides quantitative results supporting this assertion.
Kushel, M., Vittinghoff, E., & Haas, J. (2001). Factors associated with the health care utilization of homeless persons. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(2), 200-206.
ReplyDeleteThis study, conducted by the American Medical Association, examines whether health care options are utilized by the homeless and what factors either enable or prohibit its utilization. 2974 homeless people were interviewed for the research. These participants were recruited from across the country in both urban and rural places. The study went to soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and free clinics in search of a true representation of the homeless population; however, people who do not use such services were not represented.
The interviewers asked participants if in the past twelve months they had visited at least one of the following: ambulatory care (outpatient department, public/private physicians, homeless clinic, etc.), emergency departments, or inpatient medical/surgical hospital services. In all three departments women had higher percentages than men of utilizing services with 76.5% having visited one of the following in the past twelve months compared to only 56.4% of men. A primary problem for almost one-third of the sample was not only receiving the care, but that they were unable to take a prescribed medicine generally due to a lack of insurance and thus no method of paying for it.
As seen in other studies, “health care often competes with more immediate needs, such as obtaining adequate food and shelter.” Of the sample population, only 55.6% reported having insurance. Of the veterans in the population only 40% were insured, although 90% of them qualified to be insured by the veteran association. The study concludes with two general statements: the eligibility for health insurance must be expanded, and (as shown in the case of the veterans) the system for identifying and enrolling those who qualify for insurance must be improved.
Martins, D.C. (2008). Experiences of homeless people in the health care delivery system: A descriptive phenomenological study. Public Health Nursing, 25(5), 420-430.
ReplyDeleteWhere most studies compute numbers for the utilization or access of health care options for those who are homeless, this study interviews individuals about their experiences accessing and receiving health care. This information was gathered at a single inner city clinic so while it likely does not represent entire homeless population, it gives some insight to the barriers they may encounter in seeking health care. This study makes note of a common factor that is independent of sample size or location: “health is a very important problem, surpassed in importance only by a lack of shelter and the need for food.”
The nature of the interviews for this study was directed at the perception of the homeless on the health care they had received in the past year. One overall theme that was consistently brought up was that living without essential resources compromises general health. Their current living conditions often offered poor dietary habits and irregular or poor sleeping patterns which in compromised immune systems. Another theme was that if a person was uninsured they typically put off receiving care until an emergency occurred which forced them to seek medical attention. The most common theme participants described about the health care system was that they encountered general barriers in receiving care. These included things like “being labeled and stigmatized”, “social triaging”, “being treated with disrespect”, and “feeling invisible to the health care providers.”
As a result of the difficulties in accessing health care, many people who are homeless have turned to “underground resourcefulness.” One of these techniques is to volunteer for studies in order to receive some kind of care. Another option is to share prescribed medications to reduce cost or take partial doses with the intention of making the medication last longer.
Baggett, T.P., O’Connell, J.J., Singer, D.E., & Rigotti, N.A. (2010). The unmet health care needs of homeless adults: A national study. American Journal of Public Health, 100(7), 1326-1333.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the unmet health care needs of the country as a whole. While many studies examined the barriers in the health care system in an individual city, there was little information regarding the entire population of those who are considered homeless. Participants were recruited from centers for Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) from across the country. Those who do not utilize this service were not represented in the results. Nine hundred sixty-six participants of at least 18 years of age were surveyed.
The survey asked each person about their access to five types of health services. These services were medical or surgical care, prescription medications, mental health care or counseling, eyeglasses, and dental care. Seventy-three percent (n= 705) reported that in the past year they had at least one medical of these medical needs that was unmet. Forty-nine percent of the sample reported that they had two or more of these medical needs that were unmet in the past year. A unique factor this study looks at is the access homeless people have to specific types of health issues. Two-thirds of the sample reported that they had no kind of dental care provider and had not received any dental care in the past year. Forty percent of the sample had seeing difficulties that qualified as “functional vision impairments.”
Several factors were found to be significant in whether or not a person sought medical care. Common factors among those who were unable to receive care in the past year included people who had “out-of-home” placement as a minor, food insufficiency, victimization that had occurred in the past 12 months, or a lack of health insurance. The study states that “employer-based health insurance remains the primary mode of coverage in the United-States.” A surprising factor for those who didn’t receive care was for homeless people who held some type of job. In fact, those who were employed were less likely to be insured. For many low paying positions health benefits are not included, however being employed also disqualifies people for many types of public insurance.
A large portion of the group sampled was considered to have “out-of-home placement as a minor” which meant that before they were 18 years of age they had been in a foster home, group home, or other type of institutional placement. They had the highest rate of being uninsured. With regard to these statistics the study concludes that youth welfare systems should provide a “life skill preparation” which would educate people about health care options.
Summary 1
ReplyDeleteRonald Paul Hill’s Distributive Justice and Catholic Faith-In-Action: Lessons from Consumer Ethnographics described what love is and how it can be demonstrated through religion. The compassion, or caring and concern, people have in them for those around them can be considered a consequence from one of God’s commandments: “to love thy neighbor.” Hill interprets this to mean everyone from the literal neighbor to someone across the world, and the ultimate requirement to give to anyone in need. Religiosity is even positively correlated to altruism (Chau et al 1990), showing those who worship also enjoy helping others.
Hill’s goal for the articles was to show the reasons of Catholics to want to live by their faith and attend to those in distress while also demonstrating that their recipients may feel increased tension because of the material provisions’ dependency on unwanted on unfamiliar belief systems. The study was carried out in Sisters of Mercy Shelter for Homeless Women and Their Children, a shelter the church supports, that is run day-to-day by sisters (all from impoverished nations, mostly non-English speaking nations) and volunteers from other churches and universities in affluent areas. The researcher acted as a volunteer to observe the other regularly scheduled volunteers and sisters. Three findings were made about the women habiting the shelter. First, women valued materialistic items less than they did sacred items such as memories, relationships, and religious beliefs, mostly because physical ownership of these is unconnected. Second, the women grew to have a childlike dependence on the shelter and were unknowing of the next steps to take in their lives. Third, the women used positive future home life scenarios as a mechanism for coping.
Once basic life needs were met in this shelter, focus was put on religious beliefs, including daily prayer, attendance at Mass, and seeking a new way of life through Jesus Christ. Women appreciated the goods provided, but did not like the rigid, religious based structure forced onto them for reception of the services. Though the goal was to improve the quality of life for women, often they still left with limited adequate housing options for the future.
This is helpful because it shows more of the gratefulness of the people utilizing these services, but also their dislike for the forceful nature of the religious practices put upon them.
Summary 2
ReplyDeleteSager’s study, Faith Based Social Services: Saving the Body or the Soul, addressed the goals of recipients of religiously based social services, the goals of the religious organizations, and how integration of faith impact the client reception of the service. Faith based organizations’ goals fall into two categories: accommodative, meeting the clients’ immediate needs of food and shelter, and restorative, attempting to solve physiological, psychological, or spiritual problems. Clients are found most often wanting former, their basic subsistence needs.
The study was completed through observations at six church-based soup kitchens used by the homeless in a suburban area. Niche sampling was used to conduct 30 in-depth interviews from 26 men and 4 women using the services. The churches sampled were two liberal Catholic, and four nondenominational Christian congregations. Four were part of a network of providers. In many instances, clients reported not coming to the church because they wanted the religious aspect of the service, but because they were often the only establishment serving food that evening.
Respondents discussed four major aspects of the services provided by the congregations: food quantity and quality, service and treatment, convenience and constraint, and religious content. Clients favored those places where the food was fresh, nutritious, and flavorful, and those that allowed for more helpings. Clients also appreciated being treated well by feeling welcomed and respected. Dislikes included rules on how much food was allowed to be taken and availability and convenience of the service. For those who mentioned religiosity as an aspect of the service, the majority considered it a least-favorite facet. The forceful admission of the religion was viewed negatively, even disrupting clients’ enjoyment of the meal.
The study showed the respondents’ ranking of food quality was significantly, positively correlated with their overall ranking of the soup kitchen. The friendliness of workers was also important to those interviewed. However, religious content was not correlated with the overall ranking of the soup kitchen; food quality and helpful service were more important features. There was a notable positive correlation between food quality and religious content provided. Though this does represent an indirect relationship between services and religion, more research would need to be done to understand the connection. Mostly, analysis from clients revealed religious groups created situation in which their own religious values were being devalued.
This research again shows the appreciation of clients for well provided services, but dislike for services to be contingent upon religious aspects.
Summary 3
ReplyDeleteRenewal of the Spirit: Exploring the Religious and Spiritual Coping Strategies of the Homeless by Kimberly Kennard-Lyke enumerates the ways in which a connection to God or a Higher Power is helpful for combating the destructive nature of homelessness on an individual. The study was completed at Kingsbridge Women’s shelter in New York. Semi-structured interviews were completed with 26 clients and 5 staff members. The results are as followed.
Homelessness caused some women to feel detached from social and political institutions, and was described as meaningless, lonely, and extremely upsetting. For other women, it forced them to gain clarity and focus their energies in a positive manner. The ailments that come with homelessness: sleep deprivation, loneliness, anger, and shame, allowed women to get in touch with their spirituality. 92% of the women interviewed said their belief and faith in a Higher Power gave them strength to endure living in a shelter. They said their religious values helped to give their life meaning. Devotion rituals and spiritual coping customs were found to alleviate some of the stress women found consuming their situations.
Religious and spiritual supports were discussed to being very important to staying alive. These supports came from their “personal relationship with God” and had given clients more joy. Though two women felt it was awkward to practice their personal religious customs with spiritually oriented support systems. Overall though, the want for religion and spirituality to be integrated into clinical practice was mixed. Slightly more than half believed their spirituality was an individual journey, not involving professionals.
Kennard-Lyke explains that these coping mechanisms commonly relieve the ongoing tension of homelessness and enable a person to successfully respond to stressful life events. Therefore, social workers should recognize the holistic approach when providing services to homeless adults. Most notably understanding that the spiritual and religious aspect of the client implies the person also possesses important internal strengths. Social workers must then be aware of their clients’ spiritual needs and the best way to support them to use those values to their greatest benefits. The findings show the tremendous importance that religious and spiritual coping methods play in the lives of women in assisting them to survive homelessness.
This study will help me because it shows that religion is used as a coping method and is very important, private and essential to those referring to their religious practices in their time of need.
Shakarishvili S., Dubovskaya L., Zohrabyan L., St Lawrence J., Aral S., Dugasheva L., Okan S., Lewis J., Parker K., Ryan C. (2005) Sex work, drug use, HIV infection, and spread of sexually transmitted infections in Moscow, Russian Federation. Lancet Vol. 366, p57-60.
ReplyDeleteDuring their studies of the problem of STDs and their relation to drug use in the homeless population Shakarishvili and his colleges discovered some rather disturbing facts. At least one bacterial STD was present in 75% of the homeless women they polled and many of them admitted to being sex workers. This is an extremely alarming fact because there has been a huge increase in the amount of STDs in Russia, especially HIV. This study points to a rather chilling fact that most of these homeless women are already infected and many are selling sex to get by. This could be a very large reason for why the spread of HIV and other STDs is such an epidemic in Russia.
Osinskii, I, Khabaeva I, Baldaeva, I. (2004) The homeless. Sociological Research Vol. 43 Issue 3, p54-66.
ReplyDeleteOsinskii, Khavaeva and Baldaeva go into the social class of being homeless in Russia. Both how they are considered by society as a whole and how they view themselves. Their observations brought them to the conclusion that there are basically three classes of homeless people in the area they surveyed. First, the "elite" homeless person, many of whom had permanent dwellings near a garbage dump. They got most of their food and clothing from the dump as well as scrap which they sold for income to buy alcohol and to pay to have fresh water brought to them as well has to have a small amount of electricity. The second class was the average vagrant. They often worked on their own and picked through dumpsters for scraps of food and bottles to sell. This group made up the largest part of the homeless population. The final group was those who begged for a living. This group was often look down on, even by the other groups of homeless. Their study goes on to note that over time with the privatization that went on in Russia that conditions for all classes of the homeless as well as the average citizens in Russia deteriorated greatly. The "elites" were living in worse conditions all around and drinking noticeable more, the vagrant population had doubled and the amount of beggars had increased substantially as well. Another interesting point that came up during their research was that the homeless were becoming accustomed to their social roles. Many showed no interest in finding work because they were able to sustain themselves well enough in without jobs.
Summary 3
ReplyDelete“Scaling Mount Rushmore: Cartography of a Manic Episode” (2006) by Brian Daniel Harvey reveals the thoughts of a bipolar homeless man searching for a “civil state.” The author reveals that he graduated Berkeley with a degree in Soviet studies and Slavic languages and was a former postgraduate research student at Oxford. Harvey illustrates his manic states and conspiracies he admits to fabricating such as being related to Prince William. Harvey attributes his manic traveling to his bipolar disease as he touches on his horrific episodes in Moscow. Once, he arrived in South Dakota with the help of a courteous truck driver. His bipolar disorder assisted him in becoming homeless for the first time by escaping from a 72-hour observational psychiatric ward at Stanford Medical Center to travel to Palo Alto, and then the Lincoln Memorial in the frigid dead of night and ended up in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C. when he was fired from his job as a publications production coordinator. Then, in his severe bipolar symptom of mania, he jumped on a bus to Athens, Georgia. He explains that after being kicked out of his apartment in Manhattan and not taking his medicine he relays that he “found [himself] in the East Village, a particular quarter of which in my Technicolor hypervisual mind had been transformed into Monaco” (Harvey, 2006, p177). Ultimately, he was placed in a psychiatric ward for four months where the controlled environment and medication stabilized him. He divulges his happiness as to no longer being shoved out of hospitals into a potentially homeless state. His commitment to maintaining his mental health was reinforced and he now feels stable for the first time in 15 years. Harvey maintains a relationship with his therapist and psychopharmacologist and receives Social Security Disability.
Zlotnick, C. (2009). What research tells us about the intersecting streams of homeless and foster care. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 79(3), 319-325. doi: 10.1037/a0017218
ReplyDeleteThis article explores the underlying connections between foster care and homelessness and considers the different forms of intervention. The author uses a synthesis of other literature to find quantitative information. Though many argue that children are separated from their families because of substance abuse or mental illness, Zlotnick suggests that the cause is often homelessness. She also refers to the many issues that foster care presents, including lack of foster family homes that are willing to take in teens, and the high chance that young adult with a history of foster care will experience mental illnesses, substance abuse, and homelessness. Zlotnick discusses the cycle that is put into play when one is placed into foster care during his or her youth. Young women who face sexual and physical abuse during their years in foster care often find it much harder to mother their own children. One reason for this is that adverse childhood experiences are likely to lead to mental illnesses and riskier behavior such as substance abuse during their adult lives. Also, children who are not raised by their own parents or compassionate foster parents find themselves unfamiliar with the practices of parenting when they have their own children.
To show the different statistics that portray how many homeless adults ever experienced foster care as children, Zlotnick developed a graph that compares seven different studies. These results show that between 10.2 and 38.6% of homeless adults have been in foster care.
One of the issues with intervention processes discussed is how children qualify for different sets of services. When they are homeless but living with their biological parents, they may fall under one service, but once they are considered “foster children” they are passed on to another agency, and consistency of funding and personal help are lost in the process. Zlotnick explains, “With multiple providers…service dissemination becomes confusing, duplicative, disjointed, fragmented, or forgotten.” These programs are reliant on streams of conditional funding and federal eligibility regulations and transitional youth are often disregarded in the process.
Zlotnick emphasizes the importance of assigning an individual case manager to each family that comes to a shelter. The manager would follow the family members until the children have successfully transitioned out of foster care when they are legal adults. In this way, they can develop a relationship with the people they work with and better recognize when a child needs to enter the foster care system and when they are ready to return to their families or become independent.
This article offers valuable syntheses of information that I can use in my literature review. It also offers reasons why the statistics appear the way they do, and suggests solutions that can improve the lives of homeless children who enter the foster care system.
Cowal, K., Shinn, M.J., Weitzman, B.C., Stojanovic, D., & Labay, L. (2002). Mother-child separations among homeless and housed families receiving public assistance in new york city. American Journal of Community Psycology, 30(5), 711-730.
ReplyDeleteThis article explores the potential factors that put children at risk for poor parenting. The study focuses on mothers’ conditions and circumstances that may have led to separation. It also suggests that homeless children may be disproportionately removed from their families because they are under higher scrutiny of social services compared to families at home. Issues such as depression and substance abuse can impede a mother’s ability to take care of her children, and most rehabilitating facilities that are offered to these women will not house their children, and they are separated as a consequence.
There were 543 female participants in this study, all living in New York City. 70% of these women were interviewed again 4.85 years after their initial questioning. Factors that were taken into account included housing history, depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, domestic violence, where separated children were placed, who decided on the separation, when the separation occurred, and why (if the case) mothers decided that separation was best. The study found that mothers with drug dependence, a history of institutional placement, and of domestic violence were more likely to be separated from one or more of their children. They also found that separation was more likely to cause depression and alcohol abuse in mothers.
This article gives perspective about how separation can affect parents as much as it does children. In my literature review, it will provide information about why children are separated from their mothers and who initially makes that decision. This article explains that depending on the time of the state of homelessness and the age of the children, the decision makers can range from mothers, father, relatives, and the court system.
Barrow, S.M., & Lawinksi, T. (2009). Contexts of mother-child separations in homeless families. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 9(1), 157-176. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-2415.2009.01171.x
ReplyDeleteThis article explores specific contexts in which children are separated from their mothers. This article offers a more qualitative account of correlation between homelessness and foster care. It is emphasized that homelessness has twice the effect of any other factor (abuse, substance abuse, institutionalization) in separating a child from their parents. One explanation for this is that many shelters do not take in men and older boys as safety precautions. This study used open-ended questions to learn of the mothers’ histories of residencies since first pregnancy and circumstances entailing separation from their children. There was also quantitative research involved to measure the number of children each mother had, and how many separation episodes had occurred. Precursors of separation among these families included homelessness, abuse, institutional experiences, and health and emotional needs of children. Within each of these explanations, the study offers contexts that explain how each of these can affect families.
This article emphasizes the importance of state policies and services and the dire need for these to change. For example, one of the most basic needs of these families is affordable housing. Many mothers chose to give their children over to foster care because the homeless shelters are not safe places for children to be living. Affordable housing would provide a stable place for a family to stay while issues such as unemployment and substance abuse can be worked out.
This article will add some situational context to my essay. It offers three personal stories from different families that explain why mothers were separated from their children. This will provide insight to the statistics that I collect from other studies and articles.
Summary of Yousey, Education in a Homeless Shelter to Improve the Nutrition of Young Children
ReplyDeleteThis study was done in an attempt to improve the nutrition of young children in a homeless shelter. Information sessions were held both for mothers of young children, and for cafeteria staff, to educate them on proper nutrition for children. After the sessions, it was shown that the mothers had improved knowledge on nutrition; however the food served by the cafeteria did not change to reflect what they had learned. Therefore even though the mothers had a better idea of what to feed their children, they were impeded by the limited choices they were given at meals. The authors suggest further education for both parents and staff on nutrition, and investigating the reasons why homeless shelters do not provide healthy food.
To conduct this study, four consecutive sessions were held for 56 mothers with children ages 18 months to six years. The sessions covered various aspects of nutrition, recommended by the shelter clinic’s nurses’ suggestions. The women were tested both before and after these sessions, and their knowledge improved significantly after the four sessions. Three sessions were held for the staff, conducted by a registered dietician. The sessions aimed to focus on healthy meals that could be prepared within the shelter’s budget.
Many meals at the shelter were documented for various nutrition contents such as calories, proteins, fat, iron, etc. Although the staff were encouraged to provide foods low in fat and calories, and high in fibers, this was not accomplished in the meals after the information sessions. They continued to serve foods that were high in calories and carbohydrates. These foods are often the cheapest and the staff was apparently not provided enough money to make the recommended changes.
Summary of Richards and Smith, The Impact of Homeless Shelters on Food Access and Choice Among Homeless Families in Minnesota
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of this study was to determine factors that influence food choice and access among homeless families. The two main findings were 1) the impact of homeless shelters on food choice, such as storage and cooking facilities, and types of meals provided by the shelter, and 2) ways that homeless families obtain food, including food stamps, pawning items for food money, taking extra food from the shelter, and scavenging for food. The study concluded that the food stamp system should be reevaluated, for it does no cover families’ monthly needs, and that better nutrition should be taught and implemented in homeless shelters’ dining facilities.
For this study the authors conducted seven focus groups and two large homeless shelters in Minneapolis. The participants were all parents or guardians of children age 3-12. The focus groups were 90 minute-sessions that were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for common themes.
One example of a common theme was dissatisfaction with the shelters’ meals. Participants complained of stale food, limited options, and inconvenient meal times. One women said “Why does the food have to be old? I mean once again just ‘cause we in a shelter, treat us like ya’ll just found us on the street.” Many participants said that dinner was too early, leaving kids hungry at night. The limited choices for eating at the shelter often resulted in children eating junk food (chips, candy, soda) in between meals. Even though parents were unhappy with this food choice for their children, they would give their children anything rather than have them be hungry.
One of the most significant points of this study is how homeless shelters affect food choice, by what sorts of foods they allow in the rooms or what can be stored/prepared in the rooms, and what kinds of food they serve. I thought it was interesting that residents were mostly unhappy with the meals provided by the shelters. It was also interesting to note that parents would do anything to feed their children, such as going hungry themselves, or getting food through other methods.
Summary of Richards and Smith, “Environmental, parental, and personal influences on food choice, access, and overweight status among homeless children”
ReplyDeleteThis study was quite similar to the one on the impact of homeless shelters on food choice, also done by the same authors in the same area. However this study was significant because it interviewed children on their own views of food choices, health and weight. The study found that there are three main factors that influence homeless children’s food choices: 1) environmental, including food provided by the shelters and schools, and rules and storage space for food in the shelters, 2) parental factors, including what food parents bought, what they allowed their children to eat, and what eating habits they encouraged (such as overeating at meal times to stay full longer) and 3) personal factors, such as personal preferences for foods. Children often reported filling up on junk food because they did not like the shelter food, or because it was more readily available.
The method used for this study was that of conducting 56 personal interviews with children ages 6-13, at two different homeless shelters. The interview questions were influenced by the Social Cognitive Theory. The interviews were recorded and analyzed. The children were also all measured for height and weight. In analyzing the responses, children were divided into overweight and regular to try to identify certain trends. The study also made a conceptual model of results to show how different factors that affect food choice are linked.
An example of how the study divided children’s responses by weight status is seen in the question of parental attitudes about eating. Many normal weight children reported that their parents encouraged eating fruits and vegetables and put limits on junk food. Overweight children sometimes reported that their parents encouraged overeating at mealtimes when food was available, and let them have as many plates as they wanted. However some overweight children said their parents discouraged them from eating fatty foods, and told them they should lose weight. Many overweight children seemed self-conscious of their weight or concerned about health issues.
This study is significant because it documents homeless children’s own perceptions about their food choice, habits, access, and weight. It seemed that junk food played an important part in all these children’s diets, and it is not surprising that many would be overweight. Overweight children still experienced hunger and going to bed hungry. It seems that this hunger and food uncertainty and instability may lead to overeating and eating junk food, trends that cause children to be overweight and may lead to serious health problems as they grow up. Obesity is a growing problem among children, and it is clear that homeless children are not excluded from that just because they may have access to less food.
Summary 1:
ReplyDeleteBenda, B.B. (2005). A study of substance abuse, traumata, and social support systems among homeless veterans. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 12 (1), 59-82, doi: 10.1300/J137v12n01•04
This article, published in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, aims to identify whether or not social support systems affect readmission to substance abuse treatment centers for both male and female veterans. It also aims to discover if abuse, combat exposure, and traumatic events have an effect on relapse in substance abuse. As in the Gamache (2003) article, Benda (2005) states again that there has been scant research done regarding female veterans, particularly ones who are homeless. The study also states that the Veterans’ Affairs (VA) complex does not have any substance abuse programs specifically tailored to the needs of women, particularly women with children.
This study used a rather complex methodology to substantiate its claims. They used housing and employment to determine whether or not a veteran was considered homeless. They used a number of different scales to determine how much veterans were affected by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other traumatic events in veterans’ lives. Veterans’ progress was tracked for two years, with 315 men and 310 women being studied.
The study found that women were more likely to be affected by abuse, both sexual and physical, and my depression and mental health problems. It also found that women gained more from social supports such as family, friends, and church support. Men were found to be more affected by combat exposure, aggression, memory loss, and physical health problems, and gained more from job satisfaction as a social support system.
This article is significant to the issue of female homeless veterans because it shows that female homeless veterans do in fact exist, and that they are in need of more gender-specific programs regarding substance abuse. This article also importantly addresses the issue of homeless female veterans with children, and how they do not feel comfortable turning to the VA for support.
Summary 2:
ReplyDeleteRoll, C.N., Toro, P.A., & Ortolo, G.L. (1999). Characteristics and experiences of homeless adults: A comparison of single men, single women, and women with children. Journal of Community Psychology, 27 (2), 189-198.
This article, published in the Journal of Community Psychology, aims to find the similarities and differences between homeless single men, women, and women with children. It was found that women with children had the highest rate of experiencing a physical assault, while men had the lowest. Women with children received more public assistance than both single men and single women. However, single men earned more during their lifetimes than did either single homeless women or women with children. Homeless women with children were found to have experienced fewer stressful life events than single men or women. Finally, single men were found to be significantly less likely to be distressed, as opposed to both groups of women.
The methodology used in this study was the qualitative personal interview. 228 homeless adults were interviewed in the Buffalo, New York metropolitan area. The participants were measured on several factors – Housing, Income, and Services Timeline (HIST); criminal history and background characteristics; social network interaction; amount of stressful life events; amount of social support; and a symptom checklist for mental illnesses. Personal interviews were conducted by an evaluation team, each of which took 3-4 hours to complete.
This source is significant because it illustrates the differences between different groups of homeless people. Women, particularly women with children, have a totally different set of problems than do men. While veterans were not specifically mentioned in the study, it still sheds important light on the myriad of different problems facing different particular groups of homeless men, women, and children.
Summary 3:
ReplyDeleteBenda, B.B., & House, H.A. (2003). Does PTSD differ according to gender among military veterans? Journal of Family Social Work, 7 (1), 15-34.
This article, published in the Journal of Family Social Work, aims to discover whether or not women veterans are more or less likely to be diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and whether or not there are gender differences in the ecological factors that determine PTSD. It was found that while 19.8 percent of women were diagnosed with PTSD, while 40.1 percent had a score on the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale in the PTSD range. Men, however, had 59.1 percent diagnosed, and 62.7 percent scoring in the PTSD range. Strong predictors of PTSD were found to be physical abuse, problems in friendships, depression, fearfulness, and problems in family relations. Attachment to female caregivers reduces the odds of PTSD only among women, and months in combat are related to PTSD only among men, with the odds of PTSD related to combat stress being greater among women than men.
The methodology used in this study was a random sampling taken of veterans who went to a Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in the mid-western United States. 225 male and 232 female veterans were sampled. The men were sampled over a 6-month period, while the women were sampled over a 2-year period.
This source is significant to the topic of female homeless veterans because it shows that female veterans are at just as high a risk for developing PTSD as male veterans. A disorder such as PTSD can be a reason for a veteran’s homelessness. This source also shows that women veterans do, in fact, exist, and face many of the same problems that men do. However, women also have their own specific set of issues, which VAMCs nationwide should work to address.
#1)
ReplyDeleteThe chapter titled "Adolescent Prostitution: Runaways, Homelessness and Living in Local Authority Care" in the book "Prostitution and Feminism" speaks directly about the interrelations of homeless youth and the decision to sell their bodies. This chapter highlighted the fact that most adolescents who prostitute have a history of both sexual and physical abuse. The chapter also talked about how few resources there are for the underage homeless people living on the streets so prostitution as a means of survival becomes almost a necessity. Throughout it also spoke about how many of these young prostitutes are "runaways" or "throwaways" who do not have a stable home to return to even if they wanted to.
This source is especially significant as it is the only one that directly addresses the homelessness in relation to prostitution directly. I found it very useful for someone to distinctively be talking about my topic although many of the other pieces I read do talk about homelessness/prostitution indirectly.
"Prevalence and Predictors of Sexual Risks Among Homeless Youth" was an article giving the details of a study conducted to see what sexual risk factors the young and homeless consistently faced. The study sample included 203 homeless youth from the ages of 15-22 who were found at community centers. The study asked participants to verbally answer a questionnaire that assessed their risk factors. Over one fifth of those interviewed reported a history of "survival sex." Other notable findings include that homeless youth are more likely to have multiple sex partners,use drugs or alcohol, to report a history of sexual abuse, and to exchange sex for goods(or participate in survival sex). Additionally, over half of the young women in the sample had been pregnant at some point. This survey admitted that it could have overlooked certain members of the young homeless population as those who participated did so on a volunteer basis.
ReplyDeleteThis source was useful to me as it showed some of the sexual behaviors of homeless adolescents. Although the article did not speak explicitly about prostitution, it did mention survival sex which is a very similar "profession." Also, in my research paper I would like to discuss in more detail the idea of survival sex as it relates to my topic.
In the article "Prostitution and Trafficking in Nine Countries: An Update on Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder" an in-depth interview project was conducted globally to see how prostituted individuals experienced violence and if they had PTSD. The article explains that globally 75% of those interviewed had been homeless at some point in their lives. Additionally alarming was the fact that about 68% of those surveyed appeared to have PTSD. The article talks explicitly about how prostitution dehumanizes and exploits people who often do not necessarily chose prostitution but do it out of necessity. Another theme mentioned was that there is often a power balance in prostitution. This was evidenced in that either the people purchasing the prostitute's body dominated them, often with violence, or the "pimp" or person in charge of the prostitute does. This article furthermore showed the extensive amount of violence that occurs to prostitutes including rape. There was also a direct link to child abuse, especially sexual abuse, as a common thread most prostitutes share throughout the world. Another statistic I found alarming is that the average global age women enter into prostitution is 19, however in the USA that age is closer to 13 or 14.
ReplyDeleteThis article was very important to my research as it stretches across countries and cultures so that I learned about prostitution/homelessness globally. The study also had a profound number of useful statistics for my paper. Overall, I think this may be my primary source to reference when writing my paper.
Here's Maddie's comment:
ReplyDeleteIn "The Changing Charater of homelessness in the United States" Leland J. Axelson and Paula W. Dail note that the percentage of homeless women with children is increasing. They estimate that as many as three fourths of the homeless population are women and children in metropolitan areas. Women experience more violence and abuse than men do, in particular, because they are taken advantage of sexually because of their need for food and money. When describing a mother of a homeless family, the women recalls less than two other people they can confide in (most likely their children being the ones they wish to confide in) as well as an inability to trust others and make friends because they have experienced little "family, social or emotional" support. Most homeless women report that a relationship with a violently abusive male is what triggered them to leave their homes with their children and seek a shelter. Since most of these women are already straddling the poverty line and have little support as noted above, they have no where else to seek refuge besides the shelters. Another majority of the women report to have experienced domestic abuse when they were children (most likely this becomes a cycle as they later have relations with abusive men). "Because of their mother's circumstances, which severely impair her ability to parent, homeless children are subject to both physical and emotional abuse and lack opportunities to develop the needed interpersonal and social skills which can insure their overall social and emotional development and survival." The article calls for shelters that accomodate to women and children (the article was written in the eighties and quite possibly shelters like the Gathering Place had not formed or popularized), and also "housing and vocational rehabliltation should be undertaken and supported" by the community.
"Women Battering: A major cause of homelessness" by Joan Zorza actually references Rachel and her Children accrediting it to rising attention to the state of homelessness but says the abuse given to women was rarely noted besides a feference to a "family breakdown." In a shelter in Massachusetts called the Wellspring House, domestic abuse victims are the most common women that come in. One half of adults with children have been involved in domestic violence. 7700 women and children went to shelters in 1987 because of domestic abuse and forty two percent sought the shelters in Philadelphia because of the abuse they experienced at home. Fifty nine percent of women and children seeking shelter in New York are turned away because of lack of space, forcing these already impoverished women to return to their abuser. Given enough time, these women will stop seeking refuge is never helped. Thirty one percent of those who do recieve shelter for the night still have to go back home becuase they cannot find long term housing. The justice system sadly does not help, saying that they cannot take away the abuser's due process rights by forcing them to leave their property.
The book "Violence and Victims" describes the abuse faced as a child sexually, physically, or mentally that later results in mental illness. The mental illness then causes these (formerly) abused women to become homeless becuase of the inadequate help they need to be stable in any environment. They usually are in poverty and cannot seek professional help from psychiatrists and cannot evolve to become mentally able in an environment that calls for financial and mental stability. It is also notable that many of these children run away from their abusive families and thus become homeless. "The prevalence of childhood abuse in this sample of women was substantially higher than among homeless women in general." Child Abuse also led to increased suicides.
In the article, “McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Subtitle B-Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program: Turning Good Law into Effective Education, Wong (2008) studied the MVHAA’s implementation in six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont) to determine how the act can be more effectual to serve the needs of a largely invisible community. What he noticed was despite the successes of the MVHAA, it posed major setbacks. First, it had limited resources allocated to the EHCY program. Second, most state coordination and liaison positions are rule on a part – time basis. Without expanded resources, school districts are unable to fully staff these positions. Wong (2008) continues to affirm that there is continuing difficulty identifying homeless children. Also, the transportation costs are high, especially in rural areas which lack public transportation or busing. Due to this lack of program evaluation, Wong (2008) contends that with increased funding a broader understanding of the issues can be made with the MVHAA.
ReplyDeleteThe MVHAA works to counter these numbers in their progression. The U.S. department of Education distributes McKinney- Vento grants to states according to comparative poverty statistics. Wong (2008). The Act states, “It is the policy of Congress that Homeless children and youth should have access to the education and other services they need to ensure that they have an opportunity to meet the same challenging state student academic achievement standards to which all students are held.” Wong (2008). MVHAA is the first federal law or policy to address the unique needs of homeless children in public schools. Its primary goal was to eliminate the legal and practical barriers that denied homeless children access to an education. O’Leary (2001). Since this Act has been enacted, additional revisions, requirements, and initiatives have been applied. For example, the act first addressed children and youth, however, soon after references to pre-school age children. Pre-school children are another ground of homeless students that are often more difficult to identify and pull into the mainstream educational programs, were addressed. Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni (2006).
ReplyDeletein the article, “Educating Homeless Children”, O’Leary (2001) declares that despite significance of the McKinney Act, inadequate funding and state’s non-compliance with this legislation have prevented the statute from generating homeless children educational access, stability, and success. In many cases, the issue of underfunding is worsened by states non-compliance with the legislation. For example, in 1995 the District of Colombia refused to comply with a court order requiring it to provide free and adequate transportation for homeless children who traveled 18 miles to school. In response, the District withdrew from the program completely contending the compliance would be too costly for the city. Court later said it would not force District officials to participate in the program reasoning the court can only apply and interpret existing law and that, given the Districts withdrawal from the program, there was no law to apply. O’Leary (2001) elucidates that the issue of how to ensure that homeless children receive a proper education has become a source of national debate amongst politicians, educators, and advocates for the homeless. Although, Congress has enacted education laws, states differ in demographics and school governance and the ability to raise funding for their school varies.
ReplyDelete