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Riv Ed

Senior Capstone

8/17/16

Research Proposal for Senior Project

Review of Literature

The purpose of this paper is to bring awareness to the issue of homeless youth and to give

possible solutions to the problem. The articles presented gave evidence to support the paper, as well

as statistics and facts to help bring awareness to the reader. One article, Homeless Youth Statistics

and Facts, gave evidence to support the dangers that come with living on the streets. The article,

Homeless and Runaway Youth, presented great facts on how the family background attributed to

the youth's homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a website that gave many

solutions regarding the topic. The scholarly article, Youth at Risk of Drug Abuse, contributed by

providing information about drug abuse in homeless youth. Family Conflict and Violence is

another scholarly article that will be used in the paper; it presents statistics that show how violence

in the family can be the cause of the youth becoming homeless.

This research paper's subtopics are: family background, dangers, and solutions. While

looking for solutions an organization, StandUp For Kids, stood out. This is a nationwide non-

profit program that was founded by a group of volunteers in 1990. Its goal is to build relationships

with the homeless youth in hopes that, Supportive relationships with caring adults will help the

youth adjust to safe and appropriate living arrangements (StandUp For Kids, 2016). Building

healthy relationships with adults that care is a great solution that gives the youth a way to reach out

and find the help they need to get off the streets. While living on the streets, the youth may come

across many dangers. A big danger the youth face is drug abuse, as well as negative effects on their

mental health. Research has shown that many youth who use drugs have also attempted suicide. In a

nationwide survey done on youths living on the streets, ...approximately 50 percent of those who
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had tried to kill themselves said that using alcohol or drugs had led to their suicide attempt (NIDA,

1997). Research has also shown that the longer a person is homeless the more likely they are to

abuse drugs.

Scheduled Tasks

The tasks that will be performed to achieve the senior research paper are: the topic map,

doing research on the topic, organizing the research paper, preparing the citations, writing and

revising, and putting together the research paper. The organization of the senior paper will include:

the family background, which will cover abuse, abandonment, and addictions within the family; the

dangers youth face while on the streets, which are trauma, drug abuse, violence, and effects on

mental health; and the solutions. They are given by the following organizations: National Alliance

to End Homelessness [NAEH], YouthCare, StandUp For Kids, and Promise House. The topic map

and the research log will be the organizational tools used to write the paper. There will be nine

direct quotes and three paraphrased quotes for family background. For the dangers there will be

nine direct quotes and five paraphrased quotes. Under solutions there will be eight direct quotes and

four paraphrased quotes. Each subtopic has a sufficient number of sources to support it.

Key Terms

The terms that will come up in this paper are: Skid Row, homeless youth, and trauma. Skid

Row is defined as the 4th block area that reaches from 3rd street to Alameda, and from 7th street to

Main in Los Angeles, California. Skid Row is home to the largest community of homeless youth in

the country; over 2,000 people call the streets of Skid Row home. Homeless youth are individuals

who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. The National Runaway Switchboards estimates that,

On any given night there are approximately 1.3 million homeless youth living unsupervised on the

streets (National Conference of State Legislature [NCSL], 2016). Trauma is an event that leads to

emotional pain or hurt. Some terms that were used to find the sources include: drug abuse, homeless

youth, mental health, trauma, abandonment, abuse, addiction, and violence.


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Annotated Bibliography

Martinez, M. & Meeks, A. (2015, March). Take a stroll through America's Skid Row, in downtown

Los Angeles. CNN. Retrieved from www.cnn.com/2015/03/03/us/americas-skid-row-los-

angeles/

This article is going to be used to explain what Skid Row is in a paraphrased quote. Skid

Row is defined as the 54th block area that reaches from 3rd to Almeda, and from 7th street to

Main. It is located in Los Angeles, California and is home to the largest number of homeless

people in the country. This article will also give a direct quote about where the homeless

population is largest. It is said that, New York has the largest homeless population, but Los

Angeles has the highest unsheltered population in the country (Martinez & Meeks, as cited

by Jones, 2016). This source will be used to introduce the topic, and the paraphrased info

will be used in the thesis.

In Text Citation: ( Jones, as cited by Martinez, & Meeks, 2016)

Homeless and runaway youth. (2016, April). National Conference of State Legislature. Retrieved

from www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/homeless-and-runaway-youth.aspx

This article provided three direct quotes, and one paraphrase. The first direct quote will be

the introduction sentence to the subheading danger. This quote lists three of the dangers that

will be covered. The National Runaway Switchboard [NRS] says, It is estimated that 5,000

unaccompanied youth die each year as a result of assault, illness, and suicide (The NRS, as

cited by Homeless and Runaway Youth [HRY], 2016). The dangers cited are going to be a

very important part of this paper. The second direct quote will give statistics on issues within

the family that caused the youth to leave the home. Studies have shown that, [Forty six] 46

percent of runaway and homeless youth reported being physically abused, 38 percent

reported being emotionally abused, and 17 percent reported being forced into unwanted

sexual activity by a family member (The NRS, as cited by HRY, 2016). These reports show
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how family abuse is a big contributor to youth becoming homeless. The last direct quote that

will be used from this source explains the problem youth in foster care are faced with.

Youth who have been involved in the foster care system are more likely to become

homeless at an earlier age and remain homeless for a longer period of time... youth aging out

of the foster care stystem often have little or no income support and limited housing options

and are at higher risk to end up on the streets (The NRS, as cited by HRY, 2016).

Abandonment or lack of family support is an issue faced by many homeless youth. The

paraphrased information from this source also explains why some youth become homeless.

Many youth become homeless due to problems at home including physical, emotional, and

sexual abuse. In some cases the youth are kicked out because the parents are unable to care

for them. These situations would fit under abandonment and abuse.

In Text Citation: (The NRS as cited by HRY, 2016)

Homeless youth: Define the problem and the population. (2002). National Resource Center of

Domestic Violence. Retrieved from www.nrcdv.org/rhydvtoolkit/each-feild/homeless-

youth/define.html

This source provides three direct quotes and one paraphrased quote. The first direct quote

shows how mental health differs by the gender of the youth. Research suggests that the

cumulative effects of distress that runaway and homeless youth experience differ across

gender. In one report, Russell found that young women were more likely to report symptoms

associated with mood [depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety]... while the male street

youth reported external symptoms [substance abuse, or violence] (Homeless youth: Define

the Problem and the Population, 2002). Both genders living on the streets face dangerous

effects on their mental health, though, their symptoms are shown in different ways. The next

direct quote talks about youth that age-out of the foster care system. Every year between

20,000 and 25,000 youth ages 16 and older transition from foster care to legal emancipation,
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or age out of the system. They enter into society with few resources and numerous

challenges... such as lack of self-sufficiency skills, lack of financial resources, mental health

and post-traumatic stress disorder, physical health concerns, and greater rates of substance

abuse(Homeless youth, 2002). These kids being forced out of foster care are being

abandoned by the system, leaving them with no choice but to be homeless. The third direct

quote explains how family conflict contributes to youth becoming homeless, Youth often

identify severe family conflicts as the primary reason for their homelessness. Some youth

may be rejected and abandoned by their parents due to pregnancy, sexual orientation, or

gender identification (Homeless youth, 2002). The abandonment led by conflicts is what

leads many youth to become homeless. The paraphrased information was taken from the

National Alliance to End Homelessness [NAEH] and it says that around fifty percent of the

homeless youth population are runaways that will return home at some point (NAEH, as

cited by Homeless youth, 2002). Though the youth may return home, if nothing has changed

they are very likely to leave again.

In Text Citation Used by Quotes 1 & 2: (Homeless youth, 2002)

In Text Citation Used by Quote 3: (NAEH, as cited by Homeless youth, 2002)

Wyman, J. R. (June, 1997). Youths at risk of drug abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Retrieved from archives.drugabuse.gov/NIDA_Notes/NNVol12N3/Runaway.html

This database contributed two direct quotes, and two paraphrased quotes. The first direct

quote is about drug abuse and what can be done to help. These very high rates of drug abuse

underscore the critical need for intervention and treatment services for runaway and

homeless youths - a need that is not being adequately met (Ringwalt, as cited by Wyman,

1997). The second direct quote is about how the family's substance abuse effects the youth's

mental health: An interesting finding was that runaways and homeless youth with

substance-abusing family members were twice as likely as those without such family
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members to have tried suicide. This association remained significant even after taking into

account the youth's own substance abuse (Dr. Ringwalt, as cited by, Wyman, 1997). This

quote shows the seriousness of the substance abuse within the family. The paraphrased

information shows the connection between drug abuse and homelessness. A survey showed

that the longer a person is homeless the more likely they are to abuse drugs (Kipke, as cited

by, Wyman, 1997). Street youth, in particular, are at a greater risk of abusing drugs. The next

paraphrased quote also explains how drug abuse is a serious problem among homeless youth.

Youth living on the streets are involved in harder drugs such as meth, heroin, and crack

cocaine (Ringwalt, as cited by Wyman, 1997). These harder drugs are a huge danger to the

youths' physical and mental health.

In Text Citation Used by Quotes 1, 2, & 4: (Ringwalt, as cited by Wyman, 1997).

In Text Citation Used by Quote 3: (Kipke, as cited by Wyman, 1997).

Family conflict and violence. (n. d.). Federal Data Resource. Retrieved from youth.gov/youth-

topics/runaway-and-homeless-youth/family-conflict-and-violence

Family Conflict and Violence is an article that one direct quote was pulled from. This quote

gives statistics about the relationships between the youth and the family. Studies show that,

41 percent of youth attribute running away to poor relationships with parents, while only 7

percent of parents report the same (Family Conflict and Violence, N.A). Based on this

quote, youth blame parents more than parents take accountability for.

In Text Citation: (Family Conflict and Violence, N.A)

Homeless statistics and facts. (2016). Safe Horizon. Retrieved from

www.safehorizon.org/page/homeless-youth-statistics--facts-

69.html?gclid=CMSVhMCIqM4CFVBbfgod87MHyA

This source presented a lot of useful information to the paper. There are going to be multiple

direct quotes and paraphrased quotes. An example of both will be given in this research
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paper. One direct quote that will be used explains how youths' sexual preferences can put

them at greater risk, Homeless youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or

transgendered are more likely to commit suicide than other youth (Homeless Youth

Statistics & Facts, 2016). One of the paraphrased quotes that will be used explains the

violence that homeless youth are faced with. Nearly half of the homeless youth population

have been assaulted with a weapon while living on the streets. (Homeless Youth Statistics &

Facts, 2016).

In Text Citation: (Homeless Youth Statistics & Facts, 2016)

Rotheram-Borus, Song, Gwadz, Lee, Van Rossem, & Koopman. (March, 2015). Unaccompanied

youth: NN4Y fast facts. National Network for Youth. Retrieved from

www.nn4youth.org/wp-content/Uploads/FastSheet_Unaccompanied_Youth.pdf

In this source two direct quotes were found. The first quote is from a study done 2004, it

stated that, An estimated 16,859 to 27,600 runaway and homeless youth in the United States

are currently HIV positive (Rotheram-Borus, song, Gwadz, Lee, Van Rossem, & Koopman,

2015). The danger of getting a sexually transmitted disease is a very traumatic event that

many youth face on the streets. Another study done in 2006 reported that, Homeless youth

are 7 times as likely to die from AIDs and 16 times as likely to be diagnosed with HIV as the

general youth population (Ray, as cited by Rotheram-Borus et al., 2015).

In Text Citation Used by Quote 1:(Rotheram-Borus et al., 2015)

In Text Citation Used by Quote 2: (Ray, as cited by Rotheram-Borus et al., 2015).

Youth homelessness statistics & facts. (2015). Safe Horizon. Retrieved from

www.safehorizon.org/get-informed/homeless-youth-statistics-facts/#statistics-and-facts/

This source provided statistics that were put into a block quote. The 2013 count of homeless

youth in New York City captured the prevalent circumstances cited by youth as the reasons

behind their homelessness. [They found that] 34% [of youth reported] physical, sexual, or
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mental abuse; 34% [reported] fighting frequently with parents; 31% [reported being] kicked

out of the home; 26% [of youth reported] neglect, [or the] parents not meeting basic needs;

20% [of youth were] not willing to live by parents' rules; 20% [reported that their] parents'

use of drugs or alcohol [was the cause of their homelessness] (Youth Homelessness

Statistics & Facts [YHSF], 2015). All of these reports can be tied into family background.

In Text Citation: (YHSF, 2015)

Preventing youth homelessness. (2013). Youth Care. Retrieved from www.youthcare.org/our-

programs/prevention

Youth Care is an organization that provided many solutions for the paper. The paraphrased

information consists of three programs and what those programs offer. Youth Care is

comprised of three programs dedicated to helping youth get off of the streets. Safe Place is

the first program and it offers emergency shelter as well as case managers to youth in need.

The second program is YFCN (Youth and Family Connection Network). YFCN provides

case management services to help prevent the youth from becoming homeless. Preventing

Homelessness among High-Risk Youth is the third program. They work with youth at risk of

homelessness in order to help the youth find better paths (Preventing Youth Homelessness,

2013).

In Text Citation: (Preventing Youth Homelessness, 2013)

Youth-solutions. (2016). National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved from:

www.endhomelessness.org/pages/youth_solutions

This source provided the paper with three direct quotes, and one paraphrased quote. The

direct quotes are strategies given by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The first

strategy is, Early and intense intervention plus family reunification if possible. Sometimes,

youth simply need to be reconnected to their family and provided case management to

resolve the internal conflict that led to homelessness. Other times early and intense
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intervention by child welfare services or other public programs can help end youth

homelessness (Youth Solutions, 2016). This is one of the solutions that will be given in the

paper. The paraphrased information is about housing programs in big cities. There are many

housing programs across the country, especially in big cities such as Chicago, New York

City, Los Angeles, and San Fransisco (Youth Solutions, 2016). The largest homeless

populations are in big cities, thus, having housing programs in big cities is a good solution.

In Text Citation: (Youth Solutions, 2016)

StandUp for kids. (2016). 2009-2016 StandUp For Kids. Retrieved from:

www.standupforkids.org/about/default.aspx

StandUp For Kids is an organization that contributed greatly to the paper by providing

numerous direct quotes and a paraphrased quote. One of the direct quotes will be used in the

introduction, it gives the percentage of youth in the homeless population. [Thirty-nine

percent] 39% of the homeless population is young people under the age of 18 (StandUp For

Kids, 2016). This fact shows the seriousness of the topic. It is hoped that this information

will draw people in and get them interested in the paper. Another direct quote that will be

used explains the estimated number of youth sold into sex trafficking. 'An estimated 100,000

children are sold into the sex trade within the US every year... Human trafficking of youth is

[also] the largest growing crime (StandUp For Kids, 2016). Homeless youth are at a far

greater risk of becoming victims of this violent crimes than other youth. This paraphrased

information is followed by a quote; the purpose is to introduce an organization that offers

solutions. StandUp For Kids is a nationwide non-profit organization that was founded by a

group of volunteers in 1990. Their goal is to build relationships with homeless youth, in

hopes that, Supportive relationships with caring adults will help the youth adjust to safe and

appropriate alternative living arrangements [while the youth grow] (StandUp For Kids,

2016). This program gives youth the solutions they need to get off of the streets.
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In Text Citation: (StandUp For Kids, 2016)

Promise house. (May, 2016). Promise House. Retrieved from: promisehouse.org/

This source provided one direct quote. The quote is from Promise House, which is a program

that offers, Emergency shelter, transitional living, pregnant and parenting teen services,

individual, group and family counseling, street outreach and educational intervention

(Promise House, 2016). All of the services given by Promise House have proven to be

helpful solutions.

In Text Citation: (Promise House, 2016)

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