Short-Term Outcomes for Youth Receiving Runaway and Homeless Shelter Services

Abstract

Objective: Few studies have assessed the outcomes of runaway/homeless youth that seek assistance from shelter or crisis services, which would provide much needed documentation of intervention effectiveness and point to new directions for service provision. The goals of the current study were to: (1) assess short-term outcomes among runaway/homeless youth using emergency shelters and crisis services and (2) compare short-term outcomes achieved by runaway/ homeless youth in crisis shelters with similar youth using other, longer-term treatment modalities. Method: The study sampled 261 youth using runaway/homeless shelters from four midwestern states at intake and six-weeks postdischarge and 47 high-risk youth using longer-term services at intake and six weeks postintake; ten key outcome variables were assessed. Results: Every outcome variable demonstrated improvement postintervention: days on the run, school suspension and/or detention, and sexual activity decreased; perceived family support and selfesteem increased; and youth were more likely to be currently employed and less likely to have been fired. In comparing runaway/homeless crisis shelter users with day treatment users on the ten outcome variables, there were no significant differences across any of the outcome variables. Conclusions: Despite limitations, the research provides evidence for the short-term effectiveness of crisis shelter services for runaway/homeless youth.

Homeless Youth: Characteristics, Contributing Factors, and Service Options

“…Peers also play an important role in homeless adolescents' use of substances. Other homeless youths become the source of information and support but do not encourage prosocial behavior, are similarly troubled, and use drugs/alcohol (Thompson, Pollio, Constantine, Reid, & Nebbitt, 2002;Whitbeck & Hoyt, 1999). Research indicates that street friends provide an important learning environment for initiating drug use and provide opportunities and reinforcement for drug-using behavior (Kipke, Montgomery, Simon, & Iverson, 1997).…”

Successful Transitions of Runaway/Homeless Youth from Shelter Care

“…First, providers were asked what aspects of the shelter had the greatest impact on a youth's decision to return home; second, providers were asked to help interpret our previous finding that youth who completed shelter care were more likely to return home than youth who did not complete shelter care (Thompson et al, 2002); third, providers were asked why they thought that after a few months many youth returned to their old behavior patterns-running away, having school problems, using substances (Thompson et al, 2002;Thompson et al, 2000). The final question focused on the racial disparity previously found among shelter-using youth (Thompson et al, 2003).…”

Restoring Healthy Developmental Trajectories for Sexually Exploited Young Runaway Girls: Fostering Protective Factors and Reducing Risk Behaviors

“…Runaway youth with multiple risk exposures, and those with limited supportive resources, can be so difficult to find or to engage that interventions may have limited effectiveness. Unfortunately, none of the studies we reviewed [15,16,18,25] had explored differential effects of their interventions, that is, who improves most (or least).…”

“…This may miss an important early period for teens and their families when interventions may reduce negative health outcomes [3,11,13]. Some studies have evaluated interventions aimed at reducing risk behaviors, but focused only on youth accessing shelters [15,16] or older homeless adolescents [17,18].…”