The number of homeless families is growing and the risk factors, stressors, and needs of this population are have not been fully addressed by the treatment and service systems. The pathways to family homelessness are complex, multi-factored, and interactive, and do not lend themselves to simple categorization. However, the risk factors associated with women becoming homeless have been consistently reported as: childhood physical and sexual abuse; childhood housing instability, homelessness, and/or foster care placement; recent loss or eviction from housing; lack of social support and social network conflict; mental health problems; frequent use of alcohol or drugs; pregnancy or recent child birth; and adulthood physical and sexual abuse/trauma.
Although the literature documents the escalation in the number of homeless families, the extreme conditions they experience, and the linkage between these experiences and mental health and substance use/abuse sequella, there is a paucity of intervention research focused on this population.
In response to this need, the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) launched the Collaborative Program on Homeless Families: Women with Psychiatric and/or Substance Use Disorders and their Dependent Children. The program is a two-phased, 5-year knowledge development initiative evaluating the effectiveness of time-limited, intensive intervention strategies providing mental health and/or substance abuse treatment, trauma recovery, housing, support, and family preservation services to homeless mothers with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders caring for their dependent children.
This presentation, introducing the symposium, will provide the background, conceptual underpinnings, and structure of the initiative.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the development and rationale of the Center for Mental Health Services and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Homeless Families Initiative.
Keywords: Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.