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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

David Pollio, PhD¹, Sanna Thompson, PhD², Sarah Hunter¹, and Larry Morton, MSW¹. (1) Washington University, Campus Box 1196, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, 3149357516, depollio@wustl.edu, (2) School of Social Work, University of Texas, 1717 West 6th Street, Suite 335, Austin, TX 78703

Introduction: Research on youth who successfully return home following a runaway shelter stay suggests that family members and youth benefit from these services. Research focusing on successful reunification cannot determine how these youth differ from those not reunifying and limits ability to determine how successful reunification unfolds. To address these limitations, a longitudinal study of the process of returning home following shelter use is presented.

Methods: Youth entering a runaway crisis shelter and their parents were interviewed separately using a semi-structured format to determine specific issues leading to shelter admission and changes necessary to address these issues. Interviews with youth and parents occurred at recruitment and six weeks post-discharge. Interviews were transcribed, themes identified, and narratives structured by coders working separately then resolving discrepancies. Themes were examined and comparisons developed for adults versus youth, and intake versus follow-up.

Results: Seventeen families completed initial interviews (n=34). Six week follow-ups were completed by fourteen parents and twelve youth (n=26). Youth and parents demonstrated high levels of agreement concerning events precipitating shelter stay. For stable families, parent narratives focused on normative aspects of youth's behaviors and demonstrating greater empathy and insight. Changes were less evident among youth continuing to have problems post-discharge.

Discussion: Families able to focus away from youth problems and reflect on their own dynamics appeared more likely to effectively cope with the issues that led to shelter admission. The ability of the family to express empathy and normalize their view of the youth was associated with improved living situations post-discharge.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Discuss the process through which youth in runaway crisis shelter successfully return home after shelter stays;
• Describe differences in families and youth where the youth returns home and where the youth either does not return home or runs away subsequently,
• Articulate the use of qualitative data to analyze changes prospectively for runaway shelter youth and families.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered