RESEARCH TOPICS

RESEARCH BY TOPIC

Several studies have explored the issues surrounding family reunification with homeless youths. One such study discussed the program, "Operation Runaway" which based its success with this population according to three basic factors: the model is family focused, crisis oriented, and community based.¹ Another critical element of the program explored within this study was the unique partnership between the police and the organization in question.

One issue that is mentioned within this area of research is the need for cultural sensitivity when working with families of runaway/homeless youths. After providing a generic model for intervention services, the authors of "Examining risk factors associated with family reunification for runaway youth: Does ethnicity matter?" provide the following commentary: "Parental relationships must be the primary target for interventions. Interventions must include parent training that improves communication and positive parent-child interactions. Teaching parents management skills, such as effective parental monitoring and discipline, is needed. Cultural differences in parenting practices among ethnic groups must be addressed, however, because socialization processes differ. ... Interventions to assist families and youth overcome conflict and rebuild relationships must be culturally sensitive to the divergent needs of these groups."²

One of the oft-discussed means by reestablishing contact between a street youth and his/her family is through the use of a telephone helpline. In one study, the author explored the Message Home Helpline which is a national free phone helpline available to people who have runaway or left home which allows them to send a message to their families, to seek confidential advice and if necessary, to be helped to a place of safety.³ The author found that the youths in the study called the service within a short time of leaving home. It was determined that this initial contact was critical for youths who wanted to make contact or return to their homes but were afraid to make that initial step. According to the author, "[u]sing the helpline to broker that initial contact allowed them to voice their fears and apprehensions and in many cases this facilitated their return home."

As with other interventions, studies suggest that a "one-type, fits-all" model is not effective. In discussing three categories of runaway youths (i.e., runaway-homeless youths, throwaway youths, and independent youths), the authors of the study, "Differences and Predictors if Family Reunification among Subgroups of Runaway Youths Using Shelter Services," revealed that "[p]redictors associated with family reunification among the three subgroups add support for considering key developmental tasks when designing interventions that can affect the experiences of these troubled youths. Intervention efforts must be based on adequate assessments so that they can be tailored to the specific needs of these subgroups of youths."⁴ Finally, some emerging evidence has indicated the effectiveness of Ecologically Based Family Therapy with this group⁵.

_{¹ D.B. Riley et. al, "Common Themes and Treatment Approaches in Working with Families of Runaway Youths," The American Journal of Family Therapy, Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 139-153, March-April 2004.
² S.J. Thompson, et. al, "Examining risk factors associated with family reunification for runaway youth: Does ethnicity matter?" Family Relations, Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 296-304, July 2003.
³ F. Mitchell, "'Can I Come Home?' The Experiences of Young Runaways Contacting the Message Home Helpline," Child and Family Social Work, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 3-11, February 2003.
⁴S.J. Thompson, et. al, "Differences and Predictors if Family Reunification among Subgroups of Runaway Youths Using Shelter Services," Social Work Research, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 163-172, September 2001.
⁵N. Slesnick, et al, "Ecologically based family therapy and outcome with substance abusing runaway adolescents," The Journal of Adolescence, 28, pp.277-298, 2005.}