Reaching Out to Homeless and Runaway Youth

Reaching Out to Homeless and Runaway Youth

The Prevention Researcher, September 2001, Vol 8, No. 3
Issue available for $7 from www.TPRonline.org or 800-929-2955 ext 19

A recent issue of The Prevention Researcher, a quarterly publication on at-risk youth, includes 7 articles on homeless youth. Although informative, most of the articles are not research studies.

However, an article entitled Helping Homeless Youth Help Themselves, by Sara Jarvis, PhD, Elizabeth Lindsey, PhD and Nancy Williams, PhD, was based on 50-90 minute interviews with 12 formerly runaway and homeless youth who were interviewed between the ages of 18-25. This article presents interesting information about what youth say they learned about moving successfully toward adulthood, and what types of help and helpers had been most effective.

All 12 participants reported learning from their own mistakes and experiences. Three said they had learned from the mistakes of other friends or family members, and one from the accomplishments of others.

All 12 said that help from others was a critical factor in being able to resolve problems. They identified four types of help that were important: caring, setting boundaries and being held accountable, concrete assistance, and professional intervention. Eleven talked about being cared for by others. This did not involve others who tried to cure or solve their problems, but rather the attention, unconditional acceptance, nonjudgmental listening, and emotional support -- "being there for me," or "letting me make the tough decisions, but guiding me" or "treating me like I was her own."

Ten talked about the importance of family and professional helpers who "talked straight" to them, challenging them, holding them accountable, setting boundaries, and confronting them about the consequences of their actions.

Concrete assistance included providing groceries, a place to live, medication for mental illness, or money for school. Seven stated that some form of professional intervention had helped them get their lives back on track, such as formal counseling, informal conversations, and residential treatment.

All 12 talked about the role of their families, but not necessarily as helpful. Three-quarters mentioned the importance of friends, some long-term friends and others recent acquaintances.

Eleven of the 12 mentioned working with professional helpers, often those who were caring but also help the youth accountable (which was sometimes resented at the time, but appreciated in hindsight). Teachers, counselors, and foster parents were named as some of those who went beyond their assigned role to reach out. Those who were not helpful were described as uncaring, uninvolved, and manipulating clients to make their jobs easier.

Two conditions were essential for successful helping: the helper had to be perceived as trustworthy and the youth had to be ready to accept help. Some youth felt they had to make mistakes before they realized they needed help -- some even had to hit rock bottom first. And helpers had to prove themselves by keeping promises, honoring confidentiality, and treating a youth as whole person.

These formerly homeless youth gave advice to professional helpers who want to make a difference in the lives of youth: