Educating the youth in America affects the economy and our future. The National Center on Family Homelessness (2010) reported during the 2005-2006 school year that an estimated 1.16 million children did not graduate from high school. Research shows that dropouts are more likely to be less healthy, die young, become parents at a young age, interact with the criminal justice system, need social assistance, and their children are more likely to become dropouts (Amos, 2008). According to the Alliance for Excellent Education (2011), the number of students that dropped out of Tennessee high schools from the class of 2010 was 28,200 students.
Broadbent (2008) noted that the primary barrier homeless youth experience is maintaining the link to education. Broadbent also indicated that necessary life skills, such as acquiring housing, food, clothing, and cognitive skills are lacking in homeless children. Schliesman (2003) identified programs to assist adolescents with supplemental income, basic needs, and counseling. Coates and Mckenzie-Mohr (2010) noted that homeless youth need other assistance in addition to shelter and counseling. Although assistance would enhance their present quality of life, a high school diploma is needed to attain a job and enrich the financial outlook for homeless persons.
Educational barriers and dropout rates impact the potential future earnings of homeless children. Israel, Toro, and Oullette (2010) noted that homeless persons have a lower income level than poor people who have never experienced homelessness. The impact of earning a high school diploma is likely to improve the financial future of an individual that has suffered homelessness (Day, 2011; Greenstone & Looney, 2011). If youths dropout of high schoo...
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National Institute for Literacy. (2009). National literacy facts. Illinois Literacy, 2. Retrieved from Literacy Reference Center database.
Newman, R. (1999). Educating homeless children: Witness to a cataclysm. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc.
Polakow, V. (2007). In the shadows of the ownership society: Homeless children and their families. In S. Books', (Ed.), Invisible children in the society and its schools (pp. 39-62). Mahweh, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Quint, S. (1994). Schooling homeless children: A working model for America's public schools. New York: Teachers College Press.
Schliesman, K. (2003). From homeless to hopeful. Inside Tucson Business, 13(4), 6. Retrieved from Regional Business News database.
Sinatra, R. (2007). Literacy success with homeless children. Journal of At-Risk Issues, 13(2), 1-9.
Giffords, E., Alonso, C., & Bell, R. (2007). A Transitional Living Program for Homeless Adolescents: A Case Study. Child & Youth Care Forum, 36(4), 141-151. doi:10.1007/s10566-007-9036-0.
Through Title VII-B of the act, it is intended to serve the youth who lack stable living conditions and “adequate nighttime residency” (The McKinney-Vento Act …). The U.S. Department of Education also states that, “Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is intended to ensure that homelessness does not cause these children to be left behind in school” (US department of edu). Within each state, a State Coordinator is appointed for the Education of the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Their job is to create and im a plan
National Center for Homeless Education. (2013, October). Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program. Greensboro: U.S Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/data-comp-0910-1112.pdf
Gwinnett County Public School (2010, June). Education for Homeless Children and Youth. Retrieved February 4, 2014, from http://www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps-mainweb01.nsf/F42D74FA4ECBBFED85257754006DDA21/$file/HEP_Parent_Brochure_10-11.pdf
Living without a home can put an individual at a high risk of finding themselves in dangerous situations. Among these are the possibility of: being harmed or exploited by others, raped or sexually abused, or doing illegal things, such as prostitution or drug dealing, in order to make a living (“Being”). Along with these perils comes the problematic issue of attending school. Fifty percent of homeless youth, aged sixteen or older, reported dropping out of school, being expelled, or suspended (“NRS”). Many times a youth’s attention will be more focused on their basic needs, food and shelter, and schooling no longer is a necessity to them. When an adolescent does, however, wish to enroll and attend school they are met with restrictions that prevent them from getting an opportunity. In ...
Cobb, Jodi, and Philip Brookman. The Way Home: Ending Homelessness in America. Washington, D.C: Abrams in Association with the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1999. Print.
McNamara, Robert Hartmann. "Homelessness." Encyclopedia of Contemporary American Social Issues. Ed. Michael Shally-Jensen. Vol. 3: Family and Society. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 1024-1031. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 May 2014. .
When we think of homelessness, we often think of people middle aged and older. For many years now, the problem has become more real to the younger generation. Some are there by choice but still, many are there because of circumstances beyond their control. In the report written by Eleanor J. Bader, she uncovers some of the faces of homeless people that just happen to be college students. According to Mary Jean LeTendre, who was interviewed in the report, “no college has ever asked for help in reaching homeless students” (638).
Grant, R., Gracy, D., Goldsmith, G., Shapiro, A., & Redlener, I. E. (2013). Twenty-Five Years of Child and Family Homelessness: Where Are We Now?. American Journal Of Public Health, 103(S2), e1-e10. doi:10.2105/AJPH. 2013.301618
Gattis and Larson suggest, “interested parties could benefit from an improved understanding of the mental health needs of homeless adolescents. This knowledge could be used to identify youths at risk of becoming homeless and to provide appropriate services to those currently homeless” (p. 87). In short, education and knowledge regarding the homelessness in itself can do wonders. The homeless face many hardships including depression, anxiety, PTSD, discrimination, and suicidal thoughts. These are just a few things that homeless people face that the general population don’t take into consideration on a first glance or thought. Intervention and world of mouth will also help, because this is a topic society doesn’t necessary publicize, we don’t know much about it. If this is publicized in a positive way, the motivation and self-esteem from homeless people will also rise. The increase of access to insurance would also help prevent this. In order to get treated for any mental illness they have, they need insurance. With active treatment for a mental illness, this will heighten the likelihood of obtaining a reliable job. Which in turn, will essentially help prevent the homeless from being
Although The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a program that guarantees education for the homeless youth population, many homeless do not receive the proper services they need because they are not aware of available resources (Heinze & Jozefowicz-Simbeni, 2009). Many homeless youths do not have a safe place to stay during the night or do not have any family or friends to rely on for support. In addition, approximately 7% of youth members in the United States are left without a home because of high dependence on an addictive substance or because they have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder (Heinze & Jozefowicz-Simbeni, 2009). Services that could provide shelter for the youth are often underused. Research in homeless youth
“Homeless is more than being without a home. It is tied into education needs, food, security; health issues both mental and physical, employment issues, etc. Don’t forget the whole picture.” (“Boxed In” 2005 pg. 108)
Finkelstein, M. (2005). With no direction home: homeless youth on the road and in the streets. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Tunstall, L. (2009). Homelessness: an overview. EBSCO Publishing Service Selection Page. Retrieved February 5, 2011, from http://web.ebscohost.com/pov/detail?hid=119&sid=d5f751fa-0d0d-4ed1-8deb-483e701af50c%40sessionmgr111&vid=3&bdata=Jmxhbmc9ZW4tY2Emc2l0ZT1wb3YtY2Fu#db=p3h&AN=28674966
Howard, Barbara J. “Do What You Can for a Homeless Child.” Pediatric News June 2008: 16. Academic OneFile. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.