The development of prevention and early intervention services for homeless youth: intervening successfully
Summary
Prevention of youth homelessness requires understanding of its causes and different stages of development. Effective prevention programs include: funding community network meetings to support exchange of information; and national benchmarks for student welfare. Effective intervention strategies include: family mediation services; and community residential placement schemes.
Project Number: 30156
Research Theme: Homelessness
Project Leader: Chamberlain, Chris
Funding Year: 2002
Research Centre: RMIT-NATSEM
Research & Policy Bulletin
Issue 049: School students who are homeless: finding solutions
Australia has some impressive programs in place to address homelessness among school-age children. Prevention programs such as school focused youth services (Victorian Government) and early intervention programs such as Reconnect (Australian Government) provide a model for other jurisdictions and would reduce youth homelessness.
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111 KB PDF Document
Description
It is now widely recognised that most young people have their first experience of homelessness while they are still at school. Since 1995, there has been an explicit turn in youth policy towards building an early intervention and prevention capacity in schools and local communities. However, there has been little systematic research on which strategies are most effective, the reasons why young people become homeless, and the best strategies to assist young people and their families.
This research aimed to fill a major gap and help identify patterns of effective service provision. The researchers aimed to analyse 1,200 case histories of young people who were homeless in the weeks following the 2001 census (7 August, 2001). This data base included around 50 cases of Indigenous homeless youth. In addition, the research team aimed to make field visits to 40 schools to gather additional information on good practice interventions. The field visits were to schools where there are significant initiatives to assist homeless students. The research will provide valuable information for policy makers in Commonwealth and State Government departments, as well as valuable information for school welfare teams and other professional service providers. Most importantly, there will be information on strategies for family reconciliation, and strategies to support young people moving to independent living, with the important outcome of reducing welfare dependence.
More Information
Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 049: School students who are homeless: finding solutions
111 KB PDF Document
Positioning Paper: No. 048: The development of prevention and early intervention services for homeless youth: intervening successfully
1.6 MB PDF Document
Final Report: No. 069: Youth homelessness: four policy proposals
372 KB PDF Document
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