The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64152

Andrea Ault, BBA, Wagner School of Public Service, New York University/ Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, 222-38 143rd Avenue, Laurelton, NY 11413, (917) 364-4487, aa825@nyu.edu and Erez Lenchner, MA, PhD(c), Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, Nathan Kline Institute/ NYU Wagner, Nathan Kline Institute for Pscyhiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962.

Researchers are now beginning to recognize the need to examine the relationships between parents’ exposure to violence and traumatic events and the mental health of their children in the general population. However, little research has been done on specific populations, namely families coping with multiple stressors. This poster analyzes such relationships in a population of homeless mothers with mental illness. Analysis will be based on recent data collected from a currently funded randomized clinical trial of a Family Critical Time Intervention titled Homeless Families in Westchester County, NY. An overall description of the study, eligibility requirements to participant in the study, descriptive statistics of the population (i.e., mothers and children), and analysis of relationships will be discussed in the poster. Finally, policy implications on planning and developing new services and treatments for children will be discussed. The hypothesis is that relationships between a mother’s exposure to violence/traumatic events and her child’s mental health exist within this population of mothers and children.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• 1. Identify which types of mothers’ exposures to violence and traumatic events have relationships to their child’s mental health.
• 2. Discuss policy implications as they relate to the development of new services and treatments for children.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.