Week 10
Homeless Adolescents
Walden University
Population and Presenting Problem
Adolescents is a time when youth need a strong support system and a feeling of
hopefulness to face the complex and often troubling development tasks of creating a stable
identity and becoming productive and autonomous adults (Hughes, Clark, Wood, Cakmak, Cox,
MacInnis, Warren, Handrahan, & Broom, 2010). An increasing number of adolescents find
themselves dealing with a different life of homelessness. According to Hughes, Clark, Wood,
Cakmak, Cox, MacInnis, Warren, Handrahan, & Broom (2010), youth comprise the fastest
growing age group within the homeless population.
Articles Reviewed
During this research about adolescent’s homelessness, it was discovered that 1.5-2
million youth experience homelessness in the United States and that they face a set of risks
related to their backgrounds and life on the streets (Nott & Vuchinich, 2016). Without protective
shelter, these youth face threats of physical and sexual attacks, mental health issues, and food
insecurities (Nott & Vuchinich, 2016). According to Dabbs, Braddock, Cuers, Elliott, &Kelly
(1993), previous research has indicated that homeless children exhibit high rates of behavioral
and emotional problems and come from families characterized by conflict and rejection. Clear
evidence is available to show that homeless adolescents are at higher than usual risk for
psychological problems, particularly depression, low self-esteem and impulsivity (Dabbs,
Braddock, Cuer, Elliott, & Kelly, 1993). Dabbs, Braddock, Cuer, Elliott, & Kelly (1993), states
that the families of homeless youths tend to be characterized by parent-child conflict, discipline
problems, physical and sexual abuse, lack of attention and caring, and substance abuse. Oliveira
& Burke (2009), conducted a study and found that Caucasian youth were more likely to be
, sleeping on the streets. Homeless youth and from service providers, this may be attributed to a
lack of extended family members for Caucasians as compared with minority youth. Although
most African American and Latino youth who “hung around” on the streets may not have been
living with their family of origin, they did not sleep on the street. They were couch surfers or
staying with extended family members or friends (Oliveira & Burke, 2009).
Evidence-based Interventions
Interventions can be implemented on the personal and societal level as well as on the
community and institutional level and can help to achieve multiple outcomes, such as
mental/physical health, accessibility of services, vocational assistance and healthy interpersonal
relationships. An intervention that could be used for homeless adolescents is Community
Reinforcement Approach (CRA). According to Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff & Bantchevska
(2015), CRA is an operant-based therapy with the goal to help individuals restructure their
environments so that drug use or other maladaptive behaviors are no longer reinforced and other
positive behaviors are reinforced. Therapists follow a standard set of core procedures and a menu
of optional treatments modules matched to the clients needs (Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff, &
Bantchevska, 2015).
Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff, & Bantchevska (2015), have identified the core session topics
which are: a functional analysis of using behaviors, refusal skills training, relapse prevention, job
skills, social skills training including communication and problem-solving skills, social and
recreational counseling and anger management and affect regulation. Each area of focus is
determined based upon the goals of counseling, and intervention components are repeated until
the participant and therapist agree that the goal has been achieved, and additional optional
modules are included based upon each clients’ needs and strengths (Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff,
& Bantchevska, 2015).
Homeless Adolescents
Walden University
Population and Presenting Problem
Adolescents is a time when youth need a strong support system and a feeling of
hopefulness to face the complex and often troubling development tasks of creating a stable
identity and becoming productive and autonomous adults (Hughes, Clark, Wood, Cakmak, Cox,
MacInnis, Warren, Handrahan, & Broom, 2010). An increasing number of adolescents find
themselves dealing with a different life of homelessness. According to Hughes, Clark, Wood,
Cakmak, Cox, MacInnis, Warren, Handrahan, & Broom (2010), youth comprise the fastest
growing age group within the homeless population.
Articles Reviewed
During this research about adolescent’s homelessness, it was discovered that 1.5-2
million youth experience homelessness in the United States and that they face a set of risks
related to their backgrounds and life on the streets (Nott & Vuchinich, 2016). Without protective
shelter, these youth face threats of physical and sexual attacks, mental health issues, and food
insecurities (Nott & Vuchinich, 2016). According to Dabbs, Braddock, Cuers, Elliott, &Kelly
(1993), previous research has indicated that homeless children exhibit high rates of behavioral
and emotional problems and come from families characterized by conflict and rejection. Clear
evidence is available to show that homeless adolescents are at higher than usual risk for
psychological problems, particularly depression, low self-esteem and impulsivity (Dabbs,
Braddock, Cuer, Elliott, & Kelly, 1993). Dabbs, Braddock, Cuer, Elliott, & Kelly (1993), states
that the families of homeless youths tend to be characterized by parent-child conflict, discipline
problems, physical and sexual abuse, lack of attention and caring, and substance abuse. Oliveira
& Burke (2009), conducted a study and found that Caucasian youth were more likely to be
, sleeping on the streets. Homeless youth and from service providers, this may be attributed to a
lack of extended family members for Caucasians as compared with minority youth. Although
most African American and Latino youth who “hung around” on the streets may not have been
living with their family of origin, they did not sleep on the street. They were couch surfers or
staying with extended family members or friends (Oliveira & Burke, 2009).
Evidence-based Interventions
Interventions can be implemented on the personal and societal level as well as on the
community and institutional level and can help to achieve multiple outcomes, such as
mental/physical health, accessibility of services, vocational assistance and healthy interpersonal
relationships. An intervention that could be used for homeless adolescents is Community
Reinforcement Approach (CRA). According to Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff & Bantchevska
(2015), CRA is an operant-based therapy with the goal to help individuals restructure their
environments so that drug use or other maladaptive behaviors are no longer reinforced and other
positive behaviors are reinforced. Therapists follow a standard set of core procedures and a menu
of optional treatments modules matched to the clients needs (Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff, &
Bantchevska, 2015).
Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff, & Bantchevska (2015), have identified the core session topics
which are: a functional analysis of using behaviors, refusal skills training, relapse prevention, job
skills, social skills training including communication and problem-solving skills, social and
recreational counseling and anger management and affect regulation. Each area of focus is
determined based upon the goals of counseling, and intervention components are repeated until
the participant and therapist agree that the goal has been achieved, and additional optional
modules are included based upon each clients’ needs and strengths (Slesnick, Guo, Brakenhoff,
& Bantchevska, 2015).
