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

Abstract #108698

Jordan Braciszewski, BS¹, Debra M. Hernandez Jozefowicz-Simbeni, MSW, PhD², and Bart W. Miles, PhD². (1) Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, 71 W. Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48202, 313-577-9413, jmb@wayne.edu, (2) School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass, Thompson Home, Room 314, Detroit, MI 48202

Across the country, thousands of youth become homeless; either having run away or being asked to leave their homes. Under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the federal government has helped create emergency housing programs for homeless and runaway youth, providing for both immediate and longer-term assistance. Transitional Living Programs (TLPs) are funded by the Family and Youth Services Bureau who serve thousands of homeless, runaway, missing, and sexually abused children. TLPs provide housing for 16-21 year olds for approximately 18-months, during which time they offer parenting classes, family budgeting training, health and nutrition information, and educational opportunities, amongst many other services. While housed in a TLP, youth have full access to the services noted above in addition to substance abuse treatment, sex education, employment opportunities, and communication skills training. The following study examines national data on 8,235 youth who utilize such services. The relation of sociodemographic variables to service use and access to resources for those residing in TLPs is presented. Gender, race and educational status (dropout versus high school graduate) relate to intake needs and service use in TLP programs. Future research and policy implications are discussed, centered on recommendations for increased access to support services for runaway and homeless adolescents.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess the efficacy of transitional living programs
• Assess the utilization of services within transitional living programs
• Understand the sample of individuals that utilize each specific service offered in a transitional living program

Keywords: Homelessness, Service Integration

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.