Homeless Children
1) Homeless Children,
According to the Department of Education (which uses the broader definition of homelessness) “there are over 1.2 million students under the age of 18 who identified as homeless in the 2012-2913 school year, which is an 87 percent increase since 2007. Most of these children are living with at least one parent and were-doubling-up with family and friends, but the report also found that over 76,00 were living on the streets or in a shelter alone (National Center for Homeless Education, 2014). It doesn’t seem like there are that many homeless students in schools because you can’t really tell because they are like normal kids. Homeless children do have a hard time functioning or it becomes a point where they start to have issues and challenges. “Homeless children are at increased risk of a range of social problems and challenges, including physical illnesses, such as asthma; mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety; behavioral problems; learning problems and low self-esteem (Davey, 2004; Masten, Fiat, Labella, & Starack,2015; Needle, 2014) (Martin, M. E. (2018).
Homeless children are children who live on their own either on the street or in a shelter because they have nowhere else to go, and no family they can go stay with sometimes. They sleep in cars and sometimes if they still can’t get it together in school because of their situation they drop out and just live in poverty which is not good for them. “When faced with homelessness, some families are able to stay in hotels or motels; living in a hotel or motel due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations was the third most common type of homelessness reported by public schools during the 2014-2015 school year (7%)”. (www.nche.ed.gov) (Links to an external site.). They need someplace to go so that they can feel safe and have a good meal and a good night’s sleep. In our society today there are homeless children who have lost their parents and don’t have any other relatives who can take them in, so they are on their own trying to make it and provide for themselves even though it is hard. There are times children run away from home and end up being homeless because they don’t want to go back home, and don’t really know what it is like being homeless until they experience it for themselves. I have seen plenty of homeless children beginning for change or food so that they can eat but it is just sad that there are not that many resources or services provide for the homeless children. Also there are not a lot of shelters that will take them, and if there is it is a first come first serve basis in order to get in the shelter and get a bad. Some shelters you have to be out of them during the day with all of your belongings, and come back at night. If there is no support coming from anywhere or places available for the homeless children what are they suppose to do, and how will they live a normal life.
The potential risk for homeless children can be facing homelessness more then they hoped and because they are alone, and it can happen quite a lot more than before because they have gotten used to being homeless and living on the street.
A human service professional can be caring, communicating, provide resources, services, and support to them so that they can feel like someone cares about them. Also make them educate, knowledgeable on the dangers, and consequences if something happens they have no control over. The homeless children need to know that there are places they can go to for help.
There are places near me that provide housing for homeless children, and shelters. There are a number of different programs for them. One place is called Project Hope which is a program for the Education of Homeless children. This program helps in a lot of ways to ensure homeless children get a good education. “Project Hope-Virginia ensures the enrollment, attendance, and the social success of children and youth experiencing homelessness through public awareness efforts across the commonwealth and subgrants to local school divisions” (www.ttaconline.org) (Links to an external site.)
REFERENCES:
Martin, M. E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings (4th ed.). Pearson
National Center for Homeless Education
Supporting the Education of Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
http://www.nche.ed.gov (Links to an external site.)
Project Hope-Virginia Education for Homeless Children and …
http://www.ttaconline.org
2) Homeless Runaway Youth
The world we live in today face with so many changes. One change that caught my attention was homeless runaway youths. Some runway because of their sexual orientation that their family cannot except runaway. They are making it impossible for them to live at home. One example of a potential risk that could be faced by the homeless runway is the risk of other people on the streets victimized. Living on the streets can be a danger to homeless runaway youths. Finding shelter, dealing with threats from other homeless teens, and dealing with sexually abused or drugs, sharing needles, from others that are living on the streets. The other risk factors are sexual abuse, HIV, and having to beg or steal for food and money.
Human services professionals can most effectively tend to the needs of homeless runaway youths by offering counseling and outreach programs. Counseling programs provide support and encouragement, and understanding that creates better self-esteem for the teen’s mental ability. Providing services for counseling, interventions for homeless runaway youths that suffer from depression, and other mental disadvantages. Outreach programs provide shelters, food, clothing, and encouragements for the teen to improve their overall ability to find employment. Outreach programs also offer services to fro teens to find work. Outreach programs also offer the teens ways to connect to their families if they desire to do so. The human service’s main professional goal is to provide hope and trustworthy services for teens. Communication and collaborating from teens and human services professionals can provide a change to the homeless runaway teen’s life.
In the area I live in provides a governmental intervention for homeless runaway teens and low-income families. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act encourages youths to have a positive attitude. Youths ages 14-21 are allowed to participate in the program. This program enables homeless runaway youths to focus on educational needs and maintain employment while attending the program. This program focus on building self-esteem and awareness about working opposites despite their situation. I believe this program is the primary way for youths that are homeless runaways to have hope in reaching their dreams in become successful in life.
Page, M. (2017). Forgotten Youth: Homeless LGBT youth of color and the runaway and homeless youth act. Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy, 12(2), 17-45. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/1903082014?accountid=32521
Scotland County Schools. An investment in the Future. Retrieved. The Mission of Scotland County Schools workforce Innovation and Oppuniy Act (WIOA). In-school Youth Program. Retrieved from www.scotland.K12.nc.us/domain/220 (Links to an external site.).
Martin, M. E. (2018). Introduction to human services: Through the eyes of practice settings (4th ed.). Pearson.
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3) One unanticipated consequence of deinstitutionalization was the shifting of literally thousands of mentally ill patients from institutions to the streets due to a shortage of housing for the severely mentally ill (Torry et al., 2015). In fact, a 2005 study found that nearly one in six mentally ill individuals are homeless (Folsom, Hawthorne, & Lindamer, 2005).”
There is one mental illness that I know all to well and that is bipolar and depression, as most all of my client suffers with mental illness or has someone in their family that does. Bipolar is a mood disorder and those experience highs and lows with this disorder. Sometimes they will be up, and most times they a are down in a depressed state, this would be called mania, that subsides with depression. Its an chemical imbalance in the brain that alters mood which is why its so important to take medication to balance the brain. It is not know what causes bipolar, however everyone of my clients have experienced trauma or some sort. Whether it was physical, or sexual there is always some kind of trauma reported along with the diagnosis. Women are more at risk as symptoms include “Depressed mood most of the day Lack of interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities Significant unintentional weight loss or weight gain Insomnia or sleeping too much Agitation or cognitive slowness that is noticed by others Fatigue or loss of energy Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or toxic guilt Difficulty concentrating or making decisions Recurrent thoughts of suicide (Beck 2006)”.
“Depression is quickly becoming one of the most significant disorders of our time, with an estimated 350 million people experiencing major depression throughout the world (World Health Organization, 2015). In fact, depression is projected to be a leading cause of disability by 2020 (Michaud, Murray, & Bloom, 2001).”
When it comes to treatment plans the most valuable thing is counseling with a clinician who specialized in the disorder, not just general counseling. A person with bipolar or in general has to aquire self awareness skills and also understand their triggers and most important take their medication. Also one must understand that they are not alone, or crazy as most I have heard call themselves and understand that changing their perception on themselves will change their view on life. However, I explain to my clients that it is and will not be easy, however they should…
