Identifying Unmet Mental Health Needs in Children of Formerly Homeless Mothers Living in a Supportive Housing Community Sector of Care

Abstract

This study reports psychosocial characteristics of a sample of 111 children (K to 2nd grade) and their mothers who were living in urban supportive housings. The aim of this study was to document the various types and degree of risk endemic to this population. First, we describe the psychosocial characteristics of this homeless sample. Second, we compared this homeless sample with a grade-matched, high-risk, school-based sample of children (n = 146) who were identified as showing early symptoms of disruptive behaviors. Third, we compared the parents in both samples on mental health, parenting practices, and service utilization. Results showed that children living in supportive housing were in the at-risk range and had comparable levels of externalizing problems, internalizing problems, school problems and emotional strengths with the school-based risk sample receiving prevention services at a family support community agency. Mothers in supportive housing reported significantly higher psychological distress, less optimal parenting practices and greater service utilization. These findings are among the first to provide empirical support for the need to deliver prevention interventions in community sectors of care.

Predisposing, Enabling and Need Correlates of Mental Health Treatment Utilization Among Homeless Men

“…It is a promising finding that homeless men in the Skid Row area are more likely to receive mental health care when they are also receiving substance abuse treatment, as prior research suggests that those being treated for substance abuse behavior should be screened for mental health problems and vice versa (Kavanagh and Connolly 2009; Lee et al 2010). Recent utilization of a drop-in center in the Skid Row area was also associated with mental health care utilization; such an association suggests that usage of other services, even those which may seem unrelated to mental health care specifically, may serve as important enabling gateways through which homeless men come to utilize mental health services.…”

A Theory of Mental Health and Optimal Service Delivery for Homeless Children

“…Investigation of utilization patterns suggests frequent contact with multiple social systems, particularly health care and child welfare (Culhane et al 2011; Park et al 2012). Homeless children are frequently treated in emergency departments, primary healthcare settings, and social service agencies (Cumella et al 1998; Weinreb et al 1998), but specialized mental health care utilization lags—particularly in light of the prevalence of psychosocial disorders (Buckner and Bassuk, 1997; Lee et al 2010; Redlener et al 2005). …”

Executive Functioning as a Mediator of Conduct Problems Prevention in Children of Homeless Families Residing in Temporary Supportive Housing: A Parallel Process Latent Growth Modeling Approach

“…Lee et al (2010) reported on the psychosocial characteristics of a sample of children and their mothers who were living in urban supportive housing. This selective risk sample was compared to a demographically similar sample of children from a school-based prevention study where children were recruited based on teacher ratings of children's aggressive/disruptive behavior.…”