A family support service for homeless children and parents: user and staff perspectives

Abstract

Children and their parents who become homeless constitute a group of families with a complex range of social care and health needs, including mental health difficulties. In response to this, a local authority housing department established a family support team (FST) that provides assessment and detection of a range of problems, support to parents and children, parenting interventions for child behavioural problems, liaison with other agencies, and referral to specialist services when appropriate. The aim of this study was to establish the perceptions of parents and staff on their experience of the service, and ways of improving it in the future. The study adopted a developmental evaluation approach and used multiple methods, including in‐depth interviews with families; diaries; reflective activities; participatory learning and action; and observation of the FST. The study mapped the innovative service and captured the range of skills in the team and the complexity of agencies the team interacted with. It also identified areas for further development in terms of the mental health needs of children and parents who have become homeless.

Experiences of Homeless Families in Parenthood: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence

“…The reasons for the families' homelessness are different from those that lead to homelessness in adults. Most families are left homeless by: domestic violence [15][16][17]; repeated episodes of trauma and violence throughout life; child abuse; relationship breakups [15,16]; neighbourhood harassment; mental health problems involving parents and/or children [15,16,18]; special educational needs [15,16]; lack of family and social support networks; lack of access to statutory services [15][16][17]19]; social and emotional problems [17,20]; chronic instability; compromised health [19]; family head with a physical disability, with chronic health problems or with mental health problems [17]; poor financial situations and/or low income streams [21]; precarious housing situations; financial problems due to underemployment or unemployment; past mistakes (e.g., high school or college dropouts); and premature responsibilities, such as assuming a parental role at a young age [19]. The characteristics of these homeless families are heterogeneous.…”

Social Communities and Homelessness: A Broader Concept Analysis of Social Relationships and Homelessness

“…Such scholarship has informed methods of service delivery, helping to generate social support or create positive social networks founded on supportive interventions (Anderson, Stuttaford, & Vostanis, 2006;Bridgman, 2006;Ferguson & Xie, 2008;Hutchison, Searight, & Stretch, 1986;Martin & Nayowith, 1988;Nelson, Aubry, & Lafrance, 2007). Most of this literature focuses on family or friend relationships or describe the development of positive peer relationships within homeless populations and the subsequent impact these types of relationships have on housing.…”

Common needs but divergent interventions for U.S. homeless and foster care children: results from a systematic review

“…2002, McDonald et al. 2003, Davey 2004, Kirk & Griffith 2004, Lewandowski & Pierce 2004, Anderson et al. 2006, Weinreb et al.…”

“…2000, Sanchirico & Jablonka 2000, McDonald et al. 2003, Davey 2004, Anderson et al. 2006, Ferguson 2007, Taylor et al.…”