Elizabeth W. Lindsey

How Runaway and Homeless Youth Navigate Troubled Waters: Personal Strengths and Resources

Little attention has been paid to how runaway or homeless adolescents are able to make successful transitions into adulthood. This article reports on partial findings from an exploratory study of the research question, “How do formerly runaway and homeless adolescents navigate the troubled waters of leaving home, living in high-risk environments, and engaging in dangerous behaviors, to make successful developmental transitions into young adulthood?” This qualitative study involved interviews with 12 formerly runaway or homeless youth. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method. This paper reports on findings related to the personal strengths and resources that enabled youth to make successful transitions: learning new attitudes and behaviors, personal attributes, and spirituality. Recommendations for program development and intervention with homeless or at-risk youth are discussed.

STUDY ABROAD AND VALUES DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

This article presents results of a qualitative study of values development in U.S. and Scottish social work students who participated in a study-abroad program. Six themes emerged: opening the mind to new ways of thinking; awareness and insight into ones own values and beliefs; social awareness and challenges to societal values and beliefs; appreciation of difference, cultural sensitivity, and anti-discriminatory practice; social justice; and professional identity development. Implications for social work study-abroad programs and future research are discussed.

From Trauma to Resiliency: Lessons from Former Runaway and Homeless Youth

This exploratory study presents findings on resiliency development in five former runaway and homeless youth. Subjected to chronic trauma, this unique population lacked the protective factors other studies have associated with resiliency development. Five young women were compared and contrasted in relation to the following questions: what factors promote resiliency in runaway and homeless youth and how are resilient youth differentiated from their peers who continue to exhibit high risk behaviours? A multiple case study design was used to explore themes that emerged from in-depth interviews with an original sample of 22 former runaway and homeless youth. These themes included determination, meaning and purpose in life, self-care and readiness to accept help.

How Runaway and Homeless Youth Navigate Troubled Waters: The Role of Formal and Informal Helpers

Most adolescents navigate the transition from adolescence to young adulthood with relative success. However, runaway and homeless youth experience formidable obstacles in their paths and engage in dangerous behaviors that threaten their well being and long-term prospects. This study is part of a larger exploratory research effort aimed at understanding how runaway and homeless adolescents navigate the troubled waters of their adolescence to make successful developmental transitions into young adulthood. The focus of this paper is to report findings related to the formal and informal helping resources that enable runaway and homeless youth to resolve difficulties, deal with hazards, and achieve some level of self-defined success in young adulthood. This study utilized a qualitative research design, and the primary data collection method was in-depth interviews with 12 formerly runaway and homeless young people. The constant comparative method was used to analyze the data. Evidence emerged regarding who provided help, the types of help provided, conditions that facilitated acceptance of help, and advice to helping professionals. The findings illustrate the experiences youth had with helpers that they found valuable and experiences they perceived as detrimental.

The North Carolina Independent Living Program: A Comparison of Outcomes for Participants and Nonparticipants

Effectiveness of a state independent living program (ILP) was evaluated by comparing outcomes for program participants and nonparticipants in four core areas: housing, education, employment, and financial self-sufficiency. One to three years after discharge from care, ILP participants were more likely to be living independently or paying all of their housing expenses while living with others than were the nonparticipants. Program participants also reported a higher level of educational attainment and aspirations. There were no statistically significant differences regarding employment or financial self-sufficiency. Findings are compared with those of similar studies, and recommendations for program modification are described.

Mothers' Perceptions of Factors Influencing The Restabilization of Homeless Families

Family homelessness has increased dramatically in the past decade, but little attention has been focused on the process by which homeless families become restabilized. The author presents findings from a qualitative study of the restabilisation process. Four factors that affect the process are discussed: children, personal resources, external resources, and socioeconomic context. The findings indicate the significant role shelter staff and other social service providers can play in assisting mothers in both emotional and instrumental ways. Implications for direct practice with homeless mothers and their families are discussed as well as implications for policy and program development.

Spirituality and Religion in the Lives of Runaway and Homeless Youth: Coping with Adversity

Abstract This qualitative study, part of a larger study of resiliency, explores the impact of spirituality on runaway and/or homeless youth. Interviews with 19 former runaway and homeless youth were analyzed to explore their experience of spirituality as they coped with the adversity in their lives. Five themes related to spirituality emerged: a belief in divine intervention; having a personal relationship with a nonjudgmental higher power; use of prayer; participation in traditional and nontraditional religious practices; and finding meaning and purpose in life, including a desire to “give back” to their community. Implications for social work practice and research are addressed.

The Sexual Orientation Matrix for Supervision: A Tool for Training Therapists to Work with Same-Sex Couples

SUMMARY The Sexual Orientation Matrix for Supervision (SOMS) was created in order to assist supervisors and trainers in preparing supervisees to work with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. The SOMS was developed around two core concepts: (1) degree of heterosexual bias, and (2) degree of acceptance of LGB orientations and behavior. Supervisors can employ the matrix to explore both their own and their supervisees levels of comfort, knowledge, and experience in working with LGB clients including same-sex couples. This article describes the development of the matrix, an exploration of the concepts underlying this tool, and an explanation of how to use the matrix, including suggested tasks for supervision of therapists working with same-sex couples.

Spirituality and Religion in the Lives of Runaway and Homeless Youth

Abstract This qualitative study, part of a larger study of resiliency, explores the impact of spirituality on runaway and/or homeless youth. Interviews with 19 former runaway and homeless youth were analyzed to explore their experience of spirituality as they coped with the adversity in their lives. Five themes related to spirituality emerged: a belief in divine intervention; having a personal relationship with a nonjudgmental higher power; use of prayer; participation in traditional and nontraditional religious practices; and finding meaning and purpose in life, including a desire to “give back” to their community. Implications for social work practice and research are addressed.

Feminist Issues in Qualitative Research With Formerly Homeless Mothers

This article describes the authors attempts to incorporate feminist principles into a qualitative study of the process of successful restabilization among formerly homeless mother-headed families. It discusses methods for dealing with such issues as the research agenda, epistemology, and ethics, so the credibility and agenda of feminist qualitative research is not compromised, and presents case examples from the authors field journals and transcripts of interviews.