The Homeless Essays (645 words) - Human Development, Childhood

The Homeless Mary Tidwell Herding University The following resources released in 2006 were compiled from a variety of sources related to issues affecting homeless children, youth, and families. These include scholarly books and periodicals, governmental publications, and national organizations. Although this is not an exhaustive list, the intention was to include information that would inform, educate, and empower those who serve homeless children, youth, and families. Chester Hartman, Director of Research at the Poverty Race Research Action Council in Washington, DC, focuses on the serious and negative consequences associated with students changing schools during the academic year. Although poor and minority students (including homeless, immigrant, and foster children) are particularly prone to higher mobility rates, there are also detrimental outcomes for stable students, as well as teachers, school administrators, and the entire educational system. (Chapter 63(5), p. 20-24. ) Hartman notes several best practices, including federal and local programs, and makes recommendations for state and local governments and school districts. In addition to reducing mobility, creating smoother transitions, and improving data collection, he concludes with suggestions that school districts collaborate with child welfare and housing personnel to serve highly mobile students. Dr. Necati Engec, Assistant Professor, Educational Leadership, at South Carolina State University, investigated the relationship between student mobility and student performance and behavior using criterion-referenced test (CRT) and norm-referenced test (NRT) data indexes from the 1998-1999 school year. Results showed that as the mobility of students increased within the school year, their test performance on the CRT and the NRT decreased. Also, suspension rates were high for students who had changed schools within a school year. Engec concludes that students who experience single or multiple transfers within a school year should receive particular attention because they are likely to have discipline and performance problems. (Chapter 99(3), p. 168-178.) Although various risk factors have been linked to runaway behavior, no systematic investigation of the impact of size of community on runaway behavior had been done. So, these authors from sociology departments of three U.S. universities designed this study to compare runaways from smaller cities and rural areas to their urban counterparts. Their findings indicate that adolescents exposed to neglect and sexual abuse ran away earlier and were more likely to be victimized on the street. Rural adolescents who experienced higher levels of physical abuse relied more heavily on deviant subsistence strategies and remained in abusive homes longer than their urban counterparts. The study concluded that rural youth subjected to elevated levels of familial abuse are at greater risk of deviant subsistence strategies, which increase the likelihood of street victimization. (Chapter 30(10), p. 1117-1128. ) The findings reveal that the average number of placements children experience could be reduced by placing them with relatives, giving them initial stability without the need for a subsequent change in placement. The authors use findings concerning workers' assessments of the causes of placement moves, recommendations for services needed to stabilize placements, and positive results of treatment foster homes to argue that foster-family-centered services may mitigate placement instability. Reference: Hartman, C. (2006). Students on the move. Educational Leadership, 63 (5) , 20-24 Engec, N. (2006). Relationship between mobility and student performance and behavior. Journal of Educational Research, 99 (3), 168-178. Thrane, L., Hoyt, D., Whitbeck, L., Yoder, K. (2006). Impact o f family abuse on running away, deviance, and street victimization among homeless rural and urban youth. Child Abuse Neglect , 30 (10),1117-1128.