Within my professional work, I’ve had the privilege of interacting with a number of youth who inspire me by their self-determination, insight and especially their ability to survive. Many of them are more functional than a lot of the adults I know. All of us who work in child welfare, social services and juvenile justice interact with youth, many of which are homeless. A 2014 survey by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) brought into focus demographics of homeless youth and essential services to help these youth attain stable housing, education and employment. Before we can delve into how we can empower and assist homeless youth, we have to assess the current lens through which many of us view them.
Delinquency-Based Lens
Historically, youth homelessness has been viewed through the lens of delinquency. Research is showing that the issue is more related to family, behavioral and systemic problems. Half the homeless youth identified in the FYSB study had been in foster care or had a foster care history. Most children in foster care are there because of their parents’ inability to care for them not because of anything the child has done. Once on the street, the youth do many unfortunate, often criminal things to survive as well as utilize self-destructive behaviors, such as substance use. Although we might come into contact with these youth due to their negative behaviors, we need to get down to the roots. Youth, like all humans, need to have their basic needs met, including shelter, safety and sustenance (food & water). People will do what they have to in order to meet these needs regardless of social appropriateness. We are all hard-wired to do so.
Think Basic Needs
Many communities already have services that meet basic needs. With access to federal and state funding and increased research, many more are emerging. Knowing what resources exist in your area can help you give an appropriate referral. Be familiar with any street outreach programs (SOP), drop-in centers that provide a hot meal, showers, laundry facilities and a quiet place to study, and emergency shelters. Some schools also have resources for homeless youth to try and remove basic needs barriers to their continued education. Many youth want to graduate but when you are facing lack of sleep, inability for good hygiene and transportation issues, studying and getting to class become secondary. We need to be able to help them access services to meet these basic needs. Think Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Continuum of Care (CoC)
Like so many social problems, we have found that combating youth homelessness requires all the partnerships we can get. Every agency working with youth needs to be invested and willing to work together to attain the best outcomes. Local government agencies, such as child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice and community non-profit partners can and must work together for appropriate CoC. The FYSB study states, “Bringing together stakeholders from all parts of the youth-serving community can help build the needed continuum of care - prevention, early intervention, longer-term services, and aftercare - for homeless youth. Consolidating resources and forging service alliances among these stakeholders can further develop a homeless youth continuum of care that includes coordinated screening, assessment, intake, referral, and data systems.”
Case Management
The FYSB study reports, “Screening, assessment, and monitoring of risk and protective factors are crucial to understanding their needs, matching those needs to culturally appropriate interventions, and monitoring progress over time.” Youth face many risk factors and the study provides a sobering view of common ones including elevated rates of substance use, mental health problems and exposure to trauma (abuse, neglect, witnessing parental substance use and domestic violence). These issues must be addressed as they are risk factors to homelessness. When solutions are discussed, we must have trauma-informed interventions as indicated by the high percentage of youth experiencing trauma. It’s important to also help youth reach positive development milestones. After all, these are still children.
Main Goals
The ideal outcome in youth work is empowerment, self-determination and autonomy. We can do that by determining a youth’s strengths and having a client-centered approach. Keep in mind, “Give a man a fish…” The FYSB study shows, “Improvements in risk and protective factors can serve as pathways to get to better outcomes, such as stable housing, permanent connections, well-being, and education or employment. Achieving sustainable gains in these four outcomes can help put youth on a path toward a healthy adolescence and positive transition to adulthood.” This is the outcome we hope for and why we continue to do this often heartbreaking work day-in and day-out. So as you continue to engage with homeless youth keep these factors in mind:
1) Know your community resources and be able to offer appropriate information
2) Remember the roots of youth homelessness and how these are the basis for negative behaviors
3) Consider the impact of helping direct a youth to positive interventions rather than the consequences of them becoming dysfunctional, potential criminal adults
Be safe out there and remember you are making a difference.
