Elizabeth R. Anthony

Perceived control and communication about sex: A study of South African families

Caregiver–youth communication about sex protects youth against HIV/AIDS, and caregivers who believe that sex knowledge is important are more likely to talk to their youth about sex. However, caregivers who experience barriers to communication about sex may not talk to their youth about sex even if the caregiver believes that sex education is important. The Theory of Planned Behaviour predicts that an actor has perceived control is necessary for behavioural change. This study therefore hypothesised that caregivers’ perceived control moderates the relationship between caregiver attitudes about youth sex knowledge and caregiver–youth communication about sex. Results from a sample of 99 female South African caregivers of adolescent (10–14 year old) youth supported our hypothesis, indicating that caregiver attitudes about providing youth with sex knowledge positively predict communication about sex only when caregivers have perceived control. This finding illustrates the importance of perceived control in predicting caregiver–youth communication, and therefore has implications for family-based interventions aimed at improving caregiver–youth communication about sex.

Surveying Homeless and Unstably Housed Youth: Methodological Considerations When Estimating the Prevalence and Characteristics of the Population (Research Note)

The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness has called for ending youth homelessness by 2020, a goal that requires accurate data on the scope and characteristics of youth experiencing homelessness. This research note describes the methodology and results of a collaborative survey conducted by 30 community-based organizations to estimate and describe youth experiencing homeless. Data were collected from 558 youth. Approximately 23% of youth were homeless or unstably housed the night before the count; an additional 15% reported being homeless in the month before the count. Characteristics of youth experiencing homelessness are described, and comparisons are made between homeless and nonhomeless youth. Strengths and limitations of the methodology are discussed in light of their implications for sampling and data collection with vulnerable and difficult-to-access populations.

Addressing the Early Childhood Mental Health Needs of Young Children: Evaluating Child and Family Outcomes

ABSTRACT. The prevalence of serious emotional and behavioral concerns in early childhood is estimated to be in the range of 9% to 14% of the general population (Brauner & Stephens, 2006) and as high as 24% among low-income children (Brown, Copeland, Sucharew, & Kahn, 2012). Unfortunately, mental health concerns among young children often go unidentified and untreated (Breitenstein, Hill, & Gross, 2009). As longer-term research has illustrated the impact of untreated mental health issues in early childhood on later health, social-emotional functioning, and academic success (Zero to Three, 2012), intervention with families facing such concerns offer opportunities to positively impact the trajectory of these issues. Using data from a longitudinal, pre–post design, this secondary analysis examines the delivery (n = 808) and outcomes (n = 664) of child- and family-centered early childhood mental health (ECMH) services delivered in home by 6 agencies. Although ECMH treatment models differed across sites, parents reported significant reductions in childrens internalizing and externalizing behavior problems, and service providers noted significant improvements in parent–child relationship functioning over time, particularly for children with a relationship disorder. Future research using a rigorous experimental design is needed to confirm these preliminary findings. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications of this work for practice, research, and policy.

Caregiver–Youth Communication about Sex in South Africa: The Role of Maternal Child Sexual Abuse History

Much of the research on child sexual abuse focuses on negative outcomes. This brief report explores a potentially protective parenting behavior among black South African female caregivers with and without a child sexual abuse history. Using cross-sectional baseline data, we hypothesized that caregiver child sexual abuse history would be positively associated with caregiver–youth sex communication and this relationship would be strongest for girls. Youth whose caregiver experienced child sexual abuse were more likely to report communicating with their caregiver about sex than youth whose caregivers did not experience child sexual abuse; however, this relation did not hold for caregiver reported communication. Child sexual abuse survivors’ ability and decision to discuss sex with their youth has the potential to protect youth from sexual risk and demonstrates resilience among a group rarely acknowledged for positive parenting practices.

Family, Identity, and the American Dream: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Families’ Experiences With Foreclosure

This article reports the findings from in-depth qualitative interviews with 18 service providers who worked with families facing foreclosure. The interviews’ purpose was to better understand a broad range of families’ experiences and inductive coding focused on quotes that reflected the meaning of those experiences. The analysis extracted three main themes related to foreclosure representing threat: (a) foreclosure threatened children’s education, (b) foreclosure threatened family memories, and (c) foreclosure threatened clients’ sense of self and attaining the American Dream. Providers reported that families fought to keep their homes and hoped to buy again after foreclosure. The findings suggest that social work services could be beneficial in helping families navigate the emotional and financial impact of the foreclosure experience.

Parenting and child experiences in shelter: A qualitative study exploring the effect of homelessness on the parent–child relationship

Depending on the data source, between half a million and 2.48 million children in families experience homelessness each year in the United States. Recent data suggest that approximately half of all homeless children are under the age of 6. A considerable body of quantitative research has documented the occurrence of poor outcomes associated with childhood homelessness in the domains of social–emotional development, physical and behavioral health, academic achievement, and family stability. This qualitative study presents results from 19 interviewers with formerly homeless parents reflecting upon how the experience of being homeless affected their young children and their ability to parent. Findings are contextualized within an attachment perspective. Parental reported effects included confusion, sadness, anxiety or depression, withdrawal, lack of appetite, aggression, and disregard for authority. Parents also talked about the disempowering experience of parenting while in shelter. Unexpectedly, parents of infants said their children were not affected by homelessness, and few parents identified the need for mental health services for their children. The experiences of parents with whom we spoke provide invaluable insight into what shelter staff, social service agencies, philanthropy, policymakers, and researchers can do to support and respect the parent–child relationship in families who are experiencing homelessness.

Investing in high quality preschool: lessons from an urban setting

Abstract Large numbers of children of low income families in the United States arrive at kindergarten already far behind their more affluent peers on measures of school readiness. In the absence of any federal preschool policy and amidst alarm about this growing divide, universal prekindergarten (UPK) programs have been launched around the United States, at both the state and local levels, to address the school readiness gap. Invest in Children, a public/private partnership in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, OH) launched a UPK program of high quality, affordable preschool nine years ago. The program’s creation, implementation and challenges are discussed along with evaluation findings that document its positive impact on school readiness. Lessons learned are discussed in terms of the impact of political and economic shifts, as well as state policy changes, on this local program. The program’s planned expansion and enhancements to program design and evaluation are also described.

Assessing the Deployment of Home Visiting: Learning from a State-Wide Survey of Home Visiting Programs

Objectives Large-scale planning for health and human services programming is required to inform effective public policy as well as deliver services to meet community needs. The present study demonstrates the value of collecting data directly from deliverers of home visiting programs across a state. This study was conducted in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires states to conduct a needs assessment of home visiting programs for pregnant women and young children to receive federal funding. In this paper, we provide a descriptive analysis of a needs assessment of home visiting programs in Ohio. Methods All programs in the state that met the federal definition of home visiting were included in this study. Program staff completed a web-based survey with open- and close-ended questions covering program management, content, goals, and characteristics of the families served. Results Consistent with the research literature, program representatives reported great diversity with regard to program management, reach, eligibility, goals, content, and services delivered, yet consistently conveyed great need for home visiting services across the state. Conclusions Results demonstrate quantitative and qualitative assessments of need have direct implications for public policy. Given the lack of consistency highlighted in Ohio, other states are encouraged to conduct a similar needs assessment to facilitate cross-program and cross-state comparisons. Data could be used to outline a capacity-building and technical assistance agenda to ensure states can effectively meet the need for home visiting in their state.