This paper presents preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of a model of care designed to provide safe and effective services in both short-term shelter and short-term staff secure detention programs. Boys Town short-term crisis shelter programs were designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for homeless and runaway youth in need…

Examined factors contributing to depressive symptoms and co-occurring depressions, substance abuse, and conduct problems among runaway and homeless adolescents. Found that although family-of-origin factors contributed to depressive symptoms and comorbidity, experiences and behaviors when adolescents were on their own also had powerful effects.…

Introduces workshop papers proposing research agendas based on the assumption that street children's public image hinders both research and program development. Argues that research emphasis should shift to analysis of children's relationship to the street environment; this approach, derived from social science research, entails innovative and…

Investigated the impact of childhood sexual abuse on later sexual victimization among homeless and runaway youth. Found high rates of childhood sexual abuse and street sexual victimization, with females experiencing higher rates than males. Early sexual abuse increased likelihood of later victimization indirectly by increasing amount of time at…

Some studies suggest lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teens are at higher risk than peers for violence at home, in school, and in the community. That can bring them into the child welfare system or services for runaway and homeless teens. This study compared self-reported experiences of sexual and physical abuse based on sexual orientation and…

Using intensive qualitative interviews with 40 homeless youth, this study examined their early family histories for abuse, neglect, and other family problems and the number and types of transitions that youth experienced. Multiple forms of child maltreatment, family alcoholism, drug use, and criminal activity characterized early family histories…

In 2004, Chapin Hall researchers conducted a study to learn why youth ran way from substitute care (Courtney, et al., 2005). As part of the study, qualitative interviews were conducted with 46 youth who had run away from care and 16 professionals and foster parents who worked with these youth. Although the youth were not prompted with specific…

This report to Congress on the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Program summarizes the work of the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FSYB) and its grantees during fiscal years (FY) 1993 and 1994. In FY 1994, the FSYB celebrated its twentieth anniversary. During the first 20 years of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, the FSYB conducted a…

Street youth remain at the fringes of society reflecting larger inherent social problems. Whether due to the death of parents, as a result of war, poverty, famine, disease, abandonment or abuse the health and social problems of the world's 100 million street youth are profound. By 1987 it was accepted that street youth were a high risk population…

This brochure describes activities of the three bureaus of the Administration for Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF). The Children's Bureau of ACYF helps state, local, public and private agencies, and associations of agencies develop programs to assist families with problems which affect their children. Activities of the Children's Bureau focus…

This report contains the results of a 3-year study sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, whose purpose was to assess what has been happening to youth who commit status offenses (truants, runaways, incorrigibles), in the aftermath of the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The book reviews and…

This report provides the status of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's activities on behalf of runaway youth and their families as of March 31, 1976. The report is divided into four major sections including background information, discussion of projects supported by the various offices and agencies of the Department, preliminary…

Examination of data from 1985 visits by 110 runaway and 655 non-runaway youth to an outpatient medical clinic reveals that runaway youth are at greater risk for a wide variety of medical problems and of health-compromising behaviors including suicide, depression, prostitution, and drug use. (Author/BJV)

Studied relationships among physical and sexual abuse in family of origin, participation in deviant subsistence strategies, and victimization in 108 runaway and homeless adolescents in four Midwestern states. Path analysis indicated that abusive family backgrounds directly affected adolescent victimization and indirectly increased likelihood of…

Examines the barriers and issues that exist in providing services to high-risk youth, such as runaways and homeless youth, for HIV infection. Ways of removing those barriers by empowering both service providers and youth are offered. Recommendations are also provided for policy development concerning youth and HIV/AIDS. (GR)