Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108337

Embry Howell, MSPH, PhD¹, Michael Eiseman, BA², and Susan Popkin, PhD². (1) Health Policy Center, The Urban Institute, 2100 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037, 202-261-5714, ehowell@ui.urban.org, (2) Metropolitan Center, Urban Institute, 2100 M St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037

This presentation will provide new data on the mental health of children residing in five HOPE VI public housing developments around the country, and changes when children move away from public housing. HOPE VI is a program to remove and replace, or redevelop, some of the poorest quality public housing in the country. A survey of families in these developments was conducted in 2001,while they lived in HOPE VI housing. A subsequent survey re-interviewed families who moved away from public housing, who moved to other public housing, or who stayed in HOPE VI projects. We examined several indicators of children's mental health: receipt of school services for emotional/behavioral problems; whether the parent reported emotional/behavioral problems, and if so which type (using a standard check-list from the National Health Interview Survey Child Health Supplement); whether the child had been suspended or expelled from school; and whether the child had contact with the justice system. These indicators of emotional /behavioral problems are shown to be related to the type of housing the child occupies in the second wave (public or other); neighborhood characteristics such as levels of neighborhood violence; and parental stress and depression. Boys who moved away from public housing experienced a greater reduction in behavior problems than those who remained in public housing. Children whose mothers were depressed experienced more behavior problems. One major benefit of improving housing and neighborhood quality may be improved mental health status for children, especially boys.

Learning Objectives:

• This paper will improve the understanding of attendees regarding the influence of housing and neighborhoods on the mental health of children.

Keywords: Adult and Child Mental Health, Community Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation