Homeless Youth

by Jan van der Ploeg; Evert Scholte

• ISBN13: 9780803978058
• ISBN10: 0803978057
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-12-22
• Publisher: Sage Publications

Summary

This wide-ranging book analyzes the problem of youth homelessness in the western world. Taking into account psychological characteristics while highlighting the major risk factors in the family, at school and in society at large, the authors offer both practitioners and policymakers tools for dealing with all aspects of this issue.Within a clear conceptual and theoretical framework, Jan van der Ploeg and Evert Scholte define the phenomenon of homelessness, drawing on data from across Europe and North America to establish its scope and prevalence among young people today. Always alive to the practical implications of their analysis, they provide a thorough and comprehensive strategy for addressing the plight of the homeless in which prevention and intervention go hand-in-hand.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(4)
Prologue	xiii
PART ONE: UNDERSTANDING HOMELESSNESS	1	(74)
1 Defining the Problem: Homeless or Away from Home?	1	(13)
1.1 General definitions	1	(3)
1.2 Empirically based definitions of homelessness	4	(3)
1.3 Runaways	7	(4)
1.4 Homelessness is a changing state	11	(1)
1.5 Is the homeless youngster of today the homeless adult of tomorrow?	12	(2)
2 Prevalence of Homelessness amongst Juveniles: a World Survey	14	(9)
2.1 Global estimations	15	(1)
2.2 National and regional estimations	16	(4)
2.3 Regional variations	20	(2)
2.4 Some trends	22	(1)
3 Behavioural Problems: Cause or Consequence?	23	(11)
3.1 Delinquency	24	(1)
3.2 Alcohol and drug use and abuse	25	(4)
3.4 Sexual problem behaviour and prostitution	29	(1)
3.5 Victimization	30	(2)
3.6 School problems	32	(2)
4 Biographical and Psychological Factors	34	(11)
4.1 Gender	34	(3)
4.2 Minority status	37	(1)
4.3 Social class	38	(1)
4.4 Mental health of homeless people	38	(1)
4.5 Intrapsychic and behavioural problems of homeless juveniles	39	(3)
4.6 Personality traits	42	(3)
5 The Family and the Social Network	45	(10)
5.1 Multi-problem families	45	(2)
5.2 Maltreatment and abuse	47	(2)
5.3 Homeless families	49	(1)
5.4 The social network	50	(1)
5.5 Homeless youth and significant others	51	(1)
5.6 Problems with professional youth care	52	(3)
6 In Search of an Explanation: Theories of Homelessness	55	(20)
6.1 Structural risk factors	56	(8)
6.2 Individual factors	64	(1)
6.3 Multifactor explanations	65	(2)
6.4 High-risk groups	67	(1)
6.5 Some theoretical models	68	(7)
PART TWO: PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION	75	(70)
7 Prevention Programmes I: Tackling Problem Behaviour	75	(23)
7.1 Overview of prevention efforts	76	(1)
7.2 General preventive measures	77	(4)
7.3 Prevention directed at families `at risk'	81	(4)
7.4 School-based interventions	85	(9)
7.5 Secondary prevention	94	(4)
8 Prevention Programmes II: Keeping Problem Youngsters Off the Streets	98	(10)
8.1 Characteristics of effective prevention	98	(4)
8.2 Prevention of homelessness	102	(6)
9 Intervention on the Streets	108	(8)
9.1 Essential services	108	(6)
9.2 A call for a new approach	114	(2)
10 Comprehensive Welfare Programmes for Homeless Youth	116	(19)
10.1 Step 1: building a community service network	116	(4)
10.2 Step 2: building contact with homeless juveniles	120	(1)
10.3 Step 3: assessment and planning of the care	121	(9)
10.4 Step 4: execution of the care	130	(1)
10.5 Step 5: in-depth after-care	131	(1)
10.6 Does it really work?	132	(1)
10.7 The need for programme evaluation	133	(2)
11 Conclusion: Current Status and Future Directions	135	(10)
11.1 Research issues	135	(3)
11.2 Prevention initiatives	138	(2)
11.3 Welfare services	140	(5)
References	145	(8)
Index	153