...understanding of how physical and sexual abuse are correlated to runaway teens and how depression, stress and prostitution faced by many young people, today. Runaway Teen Struggles “The runaway and throwaway issue has been a silent crisis far too long. We badly need a little noise, and the hope is that government officials, educators, and ordinary citizen join in the clamor.” Maureen, Blair Although estimates vary, each year approximately 1.5 million young people in the United States—more than half of them between the ages of 15 and 17—leave home suddenly under difficult circumstances. Some run away, while parents or guardians send others away. Many runaways find that while they may have gotten away from adults at home who seemed unable or unwilling to protect and care for themselves. The adults they fine on the streets are no more nurturing, each year, some five thousand young people on the street die of suicide, illness,...
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...to resources and social services that are required for the basic human needs (NASW, 1996). Today, there are many issues facing poverty in America. One that has the most impact on the future of our generation is the youth, and among those who are greatly impacted are of the LGBT – lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. There are many reasons to why young adults are forced to live on the streets. Through this research we can answer some basic questions, including to why so many LGBT youth are becoming homeless. In recent years the LGBT youth have recently sky rocketed in a high proportion which is estimated to be of 600,000 or more homeless youth across the country that is between 20 to 40 percent, which is according to the( National Gay and lesbian Task Force Policy Institute). In New York City 15,000 to 20,000 LGBT youth are among the homeless population which was according to a city count that was conducted in 2008. However it is clear that the LGBT youth experience homelessness and only about 5 percent of them have gone and identified themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, that’s according to the federal centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One reason that the rate is emerging is because these youth are being pushed out of their homes do to their family’s response to their sexual orientation or gender identity. In most cases many face abandonment and rejection from families, and in other reason most...
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...Homeless LGBT Youth Patricia Lynard Literature Review SOWK 469 Applied Social Work Research Kofi Danso, Instructor Minnesota State University, Mankato March 6, 2013 Background/Intervention Someone who identifies as homeless LGBT youth is someone who fits into three categories combine. Firstly, they are young usually between the ages of 13-17 years of age. They are also homeless which loosely describes a person without a regular dwelling. There are several reasons why someone may become homeless; some examples include financial difficulties or family problems that force someone out of their home. The last category is an individual who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). It is estimated that people who identify as LGBT make up 20% of the homeless population (Van Leeuwen, Boyle, Salomonsen-Sautel, Baker, Garcia, Hoffman, & Hopfer, 2006). When these categories are combined the individual is considered homeless LGBT youth, which is the focus of this literature review. The interventions for homeless LGBT youth are limited, but they can access local homeless shelters they however run the threat of being harassed by other people using the facilities for their sexual orientation. There a few organizations designed to help the homeless LGBT youth these interventions provide emergency housing for LGBT youth who have either been thrown out or have run away from their homes (Rosario, Schrimshaw, & Hunter, 2012). Purpose The purpose of this literature...
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...Homeless Youth: Research, Intervention, and Policy by Karen Spuriel Coleman- MBA Abstract Homelessness among youth in the U.S. is disturbingly common, with an estimated annual prevalence of at least 5 percent for those ages 12 to 17. Although homeless youth appear throughout the nation, they are most visible in major cities. Rigorous research on this special population is sparse, making it difficult to capture an accurate and complete picture. Despite its limitations, recent research describes homeless youth as a large and diverse group. Many homeless youth have multiple overlapping problems including medical, substance abuse, and emotional and mental problems. Literature suggests that comprehensive and tailored services are needed that address both the immediate and long-term needs of homeless youth. Where appropriate, services should include assistance with meeting basic needs as perceived by youth as a gateway to other needed services. In addition to serving those already homeless, interventions are needed to prevent homelessness among at-risk youth. Lessons for Practitioners, Policy Makers, and Researchers • As used here, the term “homeless youth” focuses on minors who have experienced literal homelessness on their own—i.e., who have spent at least one night either in a shelter or "on the streets" without adult supervision. On occasion, where warranted by the research being discussed, the term is also used to describe homeless young adults up to age 24. • Homelessness...
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...Homeless Youth General Education Capstone October 14, 2013 Homeless Youth Homelessness affects many youth today; 46% runaway because they express their gender identity, and or sexual identity because their family rejects them, 43% are kicked out by parents also known as thrown away. Youth also take more things literally then adults, so they feel misunderstood especially when they are opening up about their sexual lifestyle. Homelessness in youth is worldwide and needs a world wide solution. Just to name a few countries that have issues with youth and homelessness; Russia’s homeless population has decreased some since the 1990’s but according to Anna Rudnicki the totals are still around 3,000 – 10,000 homeless street kids. (2013). In Australia the homeless youth rate is “estimates that 50,000 Australians under the age of 24 years are homeless with numbers increasing” With numbers increasing Australia needs to find a situation that will help lower their numbers and help get these teens off the street, Since health issues can become an issue. Another area with a heavy population of homeless youth is in Canada. Every day in Canada you can find homeless kids. “Canada, on any given day it is estimated that there are 150,000 homeless youths on the streets” (Rogers, 2012). Rogers’s states that this is an estimate since most homeless youth do tend to avoid shelters. With every country and every town we can find a teen that is homeless, while being homeless the can become sick, and...
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...YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN CALIFORNIA Name: Class: Date: Executive summary The United States will endure being an advanced country if the numbers of people holding cardboard on the street do not lessen. 1 out of 7 people in U.S suffer from hunger and are forced to sleep in parks, under bridges, in shelters or cars. Every year, the homeless population grows in the United States. Persons become homeless for many reasons. Because they are destitute, they have been struggling in every way that human likely can have. To get back on their feet, they need help in every way. The homeless population is increasing drastically in society. People who are more fortunate than others should put social status aside and take an action to help homeless people to get back on their feet. Homelessness is a state where an individual or a family does not have a home to live. Along with that, the person is deprived of the legal, and the social dimensions are making him emotionally weak and in the state of isolation. Since the year 1980s, there had been a great shock to the Americans due to the rising homelessness. It led to a burst in the studies and the increasing stories related to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of July 1987. In this act, there was an interference allowed off the federal government into this policy of homelessness, which had created many issues. For many years after that, this issue of homelessness remained on the top of the line in the political issues face...
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...Homeless Youth I was surprised to learn that so many youth in America don’t have a home to go to every day and night. I decided to look up some statistics on homeless youth; I got my information from the National Coalition for the Homeless. Considering the statistics of how many youth are homeless is from 2002, there is about over one million homeless youth in the US. Pregnant and homosexual, bisexual, and transgender teens account for the highest percent of homeless youth. That doesn’t really surprise me because when most parents find out that their daughter is pregnant or a sexual orientation they don’t approve of they’ll get angry or not accept it so ultimately they’ll kick them out. With the economy today a lot of teenagers don’t have jobs, so if their parents kick them out then they don’t really have a choice but to slum in the streets or if possible find a shelter. Although, most teens don’t experience long-term homelessness; they usually find a relative or find a way to make it on their own. The National Coalition of the Homeless says that the three major causes of homelessness are family problems, economic problems, and residential instability. None of this information surprises me because of physical and sexual abuse within families and the economy downfall and homes being foreclosed on. Since most youth can’t afford to sustain themselves on their own they turn to other means to make money. Some of these ways are selling drugs and selling their body. I...
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...involved in illegal activities. Social disorganization focuses on the idea that crime is largely a product of unfavorable conditions in certain communities. These unfavorable conditions in certain communities lead to a high degree of “high school dropouts, unemployment, deteriorating infrastructures, and single-parent homes.” Social disorganization wants to pinpoint street crime at the neighborhood level. Social disorganization is blaming the environment surrounding youths for corruption. Individuals suffer from growing in communities that is filled with crime. People constantly speak about how growing up in Brooklyn and Compton gun shots can be heard every night. A young individual hearing gun shots or seeing a dead body in the street get traumatized. Youths at a young age who believe he or she needs to protect him or herself do not lean on parents or law enforcement. These youths turn to strangers or weapons. A teenager who sees a dead body in the street believes he or she should get a gun to protect him or herself. Social disorganization relates to organize crime and its evolution by social disorganization originating it. Social disorganization is the beginning of youths resulting...
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...situation of street children in your area or town. In writing this academic paper the following must be considered. 1. Definition of streetism. 2. Types of streetism. 3. Causes of streetism on children in your area. 4. Effects of streetism on children in your area. 5. The role of teachers, schools, community and government in combating streetism in your area, town or Zambia FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS 1. It must be typed. 2. Eight(8) pages inclusive of reference 3. Refer to six books or more 4. Due date: 14th September, 2012 Streetism is known to be one of the issues concerning society. However , in this essay the main focus is about the meaning of streetism and types of streetism, causes and effects of streetism on children and the role of teachers, schools, community, and government in combating streetism. The term streetism comes from the concepts street and street youth which share the three elements; these elements are spending a significant amount of time on the streets, making the street into a way of life and inadequate protection, supervision and care from responsible adults. The word street refers to places like bus stops, outside of the shops, minor and major roads of the towns, parking lots, garbage disposal places, markets, bars, shopping centers, and other public places where youths temporally or permanently stay in the form of shelter or seeking refuge. These are the places where street children are...
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...Insecurity: A strategy to save our youth from organized crime Introduction Organized crime is criminal organizations are terms which categorise transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals, who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit Literature Review In his study, Irving Spergel (1990) found out that gangs exist in large, middle sized cities and they are now spreading to suburban and smaller countries around the world. Gangs have turned out to be important social institutions for low income male youths and youth adults from newcomer and residual populations. This can be attributed to the fact that gangs serve social, cultural and economic functions that are no longer adequately performed by the families of these young people, the schools they go to and finally the labor market. Youth gangs are now present in both socialist and free market societies, developing and developed countries, these clearly shows that society as a whole failing terribly in regard to proper upbringing and guidance of the youth. A study by Jeff Ferrell showed that cultural space has a significant impact on youth crime. Cultural space denotes those arenas in which young people construct meaning, perception and identity from e.g. media factories, political machines and legal bureaucracies. The media displays popular culture as a youthful lifestyle that involves drugs, a lot of money, violence and delinquent behavior....
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...The Importance of Youth Curfews Length: 391 words (1.1 double-spaced pages) Rating: Red (FREE) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Importance of Youth Curfews A short definition of a curfew is a time of night that if you are under 18 , 16 or whatever the age is, or you are not with an adult, you would be fined and taken home. Do we need them? This is a good question because there are so many different opinions. I will be trying to cover most of these opinions in the text you are about to read. Curfews, what are they? A curfew is a time of day or night, usually around 8 or 9 o’clock, where you have to be off the streets if you are under a certain age (around 16 or 18 would be normal). If you are on the streets without an adult or someone over the allowed age you will be fined and taken home. If you are doing any criminal activity you could be taken straight into police custody. Do we need them? At the moment there is lot of youth crime and gang related violence. These problems lead to even bigger problems such as deaths, drugs and little children being educated to think that gang wars and drug lords are the way of life. This will never stop unless strong actions are taken and maybe a curfew could stop this. A curfew is a good choice to stop this behaviour by not letting young kids get dragged into the gang way of life and stopping drugs being sold to the children. It could also...
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...unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children and youth; or 7)individual or families who are fleeing violence (Bassuk, DeCandia, Beach, & Berman, 2014). Homelessness has been a social problem for many decades but it was not until the mid 1980s that family and child homelessness surfaced as a significant problem...
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...start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” – Mother Teresa (Mother Teresa, 2001). Many people have difficulties in their lives that make them more susceptible to becoming homeless. When these complications become reinforced they can initiate a downward spiral that almost seems impossible to get out of. Approximately 3.5 million people are likely to experience homelessness in a given year (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). Not receiving the help needed in time can result in living on the streets. Some of these complications include mental illness, lack of affordable healthcare, drug addiction, domestic violence, decreasing work opportunities and housing, decline in public assistance, and poverty. It has become so common to see a homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. 43% of the homeless population are women, 36% are families with children, and 7% are unaccompanied minors. 50% are African-American, 35% white, 12% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian. 66% of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness and veterans constitute 40% of the homeless population (GrabStats, 2008). Having insufficient money does not help to cover the expenses of a home, a family, and bills. The typical lower class citizen has to deal with all types of financial issues. These issues include debt, loans, bills, and payments. If one has low-income or is unemployed they are consequently at risk of living on the streets. Families can...
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...Homelessness Do you ever take what you have for granted? Have you ever stopped to think about what you would do without the necessities you have? Most of us do not realize that we are lucky to be able to go home at night and sleep in a bed. The ugly truth is that there are hundreds of thousands of people in the world that are unable to go to a home at night and sleep in a nice warm bed. What's even worse is that a lot of these people are children, and have never known what it was like to sleep in a bed without any fault of their own. Our neighbourhoods are filled with homeless children and families that deserve the simple things that we may take for granted every day. As we grow older we concern ourselves about the youth that will soon take care of what we accomplished and built to improve our lives. 33,000 Canadians are homeless on the street, 11,000 of which are youth (" Report on youth homelessness", 2012).That is a large chunk of our youth not able to experience or have the same choices as we might have had in our lives. Every person is able to improve or make a change to better this world and environment, and we especially need our youth to help us grow and make a difference in the world. We need to help get our youth off the streets and empower them that they can make a difference, and they do matter. People become homeless for many reasons; however, the most common reason is the inability to pay rent. ("Homelessness in Canada", 2012) Many people may think that people...
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...poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa Jenny closed her eyes and pictured last year’s Christmas. Her family was all gathered around the tree, everyone wearing smiles and speaking with laughter. It was warm and she was excited not only about the holiday season, but also because she had planned to finally tell her parents about Maggie, her girlfriend of five months. She was a bit worried about how her parents would react but they loved her and would want her to be who she was and to be happy. She couldn’t wait to stop hiding, to stop pretending she was something else. She never thought that would be her last Christmas with her family. She never imagined that a year later she would be living on the streets, cold, scared and hungry watching all the happy families go in and out of the stores and shops. Her parents kicked her out when she broke the news about Maggie. For a while she stayed with friends until there were no more offers of a place to lay her head for the night. She tried shelters until she got beat up one night when someone let it slip she was gay. For a bit she was staying at a home for LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) youth, but they ran out of funding and shut down. Now, she has nowhere to turn and wishes that someone would help her. LGBT youth homelessness is rising at an alarming rate and without specific measures in place to combat the problems...
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