Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P G Shane.
Among the most 'invisible' people of this society are homeless and runaway youth. They present a major public health issue for society. Health problems, physical and mental, acute and chronic, are commonly found in studies of such youth. Many of their problems are exacerbated by and related to social policies of our society both in genesis and severity.
In this study of homeless and runaway young people served by youth shelters in New Jersey mental health problems were predominant. They include anxiety, depression, suicide attempts, drug and alcohol abuse. The sample exhibited high levels of general behavioral problems and school and/or peer problems. One quarter of the sample had had trouble with the law. About two thirds of the sample were homeless rather than runaway. For a similar proportion of the sample this was a repeat experience and/or had lasted a week or more. Only one third were able to be reunited with their families after being served. The prognosis for these youth is poor without specific programs to protect them and their physical and mental health.
In examining the relationship of emotional responsiveness and authoritarianism to the success of child welfare institutions as measured by running away behavior structural factors relating to both are discussed. The emotional deficit of the care giving situation seems to be a factor related to running away. Authoritarianism was not a related factor. Though both runaways and nonrunaways rated the institutional experience to be less emotionally responsive than their families, workers and runaways rated runaways experience as the least emotionally responsive. This is thought to relate to both runaways history and the consistency and continuity of caregivers. This further points to a pressing need for child welfare programs to greatly increase continuity of care and positive emotional contact between youth and caregivers. Individuation of youth in group living situations and foster care is crucial to their benefitting from such programs.
In recent years, the population of runaway and homeless youth has changed. In a study of 536 homeless and runaway youth who were clients of service agencies in New Jersey, homeless youth predominated. Only one-third of the sample were able to return home after service and this particular focus of service is seen as feasible only for a minority of such youth.