Resources for Young Parents & Children Experiencing Homelessness
Young parents and their children make up a significant portion of families experiencing homelessness. About 25 percent of youth served in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Runaway and Homeless Youth Transitional Living Programs are pregnant/parenting,1 and about 27 percent of families in emergency shelters in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Options Study were headed by someone under age 25.2 Furthermore, approximately half of children in federally-funded emergency and transitional housing programs are under the age of six.3 Early experiences of homelessness can lead to developmental delays, poor educational outcomes, and social and emotional difficulties among young children. Parenting youth experiencing homelessness often need developmental supports for both themselves and their young children, as well as resources for economic self-sufficiency.
Given the importance, magnitude, and vulnerability of young parents and their children experiencing homelessness, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) developed a searchable list of resources to provide service providers and policy makers with information about ways to promote healthy development and wellbeing for this population. The following database focuses on key federal or federally sponsored resources about relevant federal programs, federal guidance, evidence-based and promising practices, early childhood supports, parenting supports, behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), housing, employment, and education.
1Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System, 2014
2Abt Associates, 2013 (Age at the time of baseline data collection)
3Abt Associates, 2014 (PDF, 68 pages)
This webinar describes how tools including a recruitment tip sheet, retention tip sheets, checklist, and toolkit can be integrated into programs and services for young fathers. The webinar audio (MP3 file) and transcript (PDF, 38 pages) are also provided.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oah-initiatives/paf/508-assets/fathertools-webinar-slides.pdf
Topic(s): Fatherhood, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webinar
This report describes a set of core components for supportive housing programs serving pregnant and parenting teens identified by a national advisory council. Core components include supports and resources to promote 1) self-sufficiency, 2) housing stability, 3) financial stability, 4) successful and engaged parenting and attachment, and 5) healthy relationships.
URL: http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/sites/default/files/Core%20Components%20of%20Supportive%20Housing%20for%20Pregnant%20&%20Parenting%20Teens_0.pdf
Topic(s): Housing, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Report
This report presents survey results describing to what extent supportive housing programs are implementing the core components for supportive housing programs serving pregnant and parenting teens. It also includes case studies of supportive housing programs demonstrating strong implementation of the core components.
URL: http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/sites/default/files/Core%20Components%20of%20Supportive%20Housing%20for%20PPT%20Findings%20from%20the%20Field_0.pdf
Topic(s): Housing, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Report
This web article gives strategies to support service providers in enrolling youth experiencing homelessness in Medicaid.
URL: http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/news/2014/03/bright-idea-everything-you-need-know-about-helping-homeless-youth-apply-medicaid?utm_source=FindYouthInfo.gov&utm_medium=Federal%20links&utm_campaign=homeless%20youth%20medicaid
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Federal programs, Health care, Homeless: youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Web article
This webpage provides information about HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Program, a competitive program that seeks to end homelessness by providing funding for nonprofit providers and state and local governments to provide shelter and quickly re-house homeless families and individuals.
URL: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This evidence-based program is designed to help men who are experiencing or at-risk for separation from their families (due to incarceration, substance abuse, military service) strengthen family ties, increase their parenting skills, and reduce their probability of future personal problems like substance abuse.
URL: http://copes.org/overview-clfc-fatherhood-program-modules/
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Fatherhood, Parenting supports
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This intervention summary describes Dare to Be You (DTBY), a multilevel prevention program that serves high-risk families with children ages 2-5 by supporting parents to develop self-efficacy, effective child-rearing skills, social support, and problem-solving skills through parent-child workshops.
URL: http://legacy.nreppadmin.net/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=65
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Early childhood development, Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Parenting supports
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This brief provides information about relevant federal programs for families and young children experiencing homelessness, and proposes best practices to facilitate collaboration among schools, early childhood programs, and service provider agencies to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.
URL: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/early-childhood.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: families
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Brief
This webinar discusses housing instability amongst vulnerable families and partnerships that can prevent and reduce homelessness. The webinar includes a roundtable discussion with federal policy makers, advocates, and researchers; presentations from Tribal home visiting grantees; and a Q&A session. The webinar transcript (PDF, 60 pages) is also available.
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtYCsQUYZ78
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Federal programs, Homeless: families, Parenting supports
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webinar
This Dear Colleague letter and accompanying pamphlet provide specific guidance for educational institutions receiving federal funding on meeting the needs and supporting the academic success of pregnant and parenting students as it pertains to Title IX.
URL: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201306-title-ix.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers, Youth
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
This webpage provides information about the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which provides grants to State Education Agencies and subgrants to Local Education Agencies to help ensure that children experiencing homelessness, including preschoolers and youth, have equal access to a free and appropriate public education.
URL: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webinar presents research on the characteristics of young fathers, identifies the unique needs of young fathers, describes strategies for engaging young fathers in programs, and provides links to additional resources to support working with young fathers.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/snippets/508%20documents/paf_aca_webinar_slides.pdf
Topic(s): Fatherhood, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webinar
This webpage provides resources for early care and education providers to strengthen their ability to serve young children experiencing homelessness. It includes links to resource guides, federal policies and guidance, webinars, blog posts, and relevant organizations.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ecd/interagency-projects/ece-services-for-homeless-children
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Federal programs, Homeless: families
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance, Webpage
This report illustrates how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) can provide long-term stability for young parents, but also describes the difficulty homeless young families often experience accessing TANF programs and meeting eligibility requirements. Policy and practice recommendations are provided.
URL: http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/archive/0114.pdf
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Policy recommendations
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Report
This fact sheet provides an overview of the services and assistance that FYSB provides around runaway and homeless youth (RHY) programs, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program, and Family Violence Prevention and Services Program.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/fysb_services_20150406.pdf
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
This webpage provides information about HUD’s Family Unification Program, a program in which Housing Choice Vouchers are provided to families for whom the lack of adequate housing is the primary reason for child welfare involvement or youth (18-21) who left foster care after age 16 and lack adequate housing.
URL: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv/family
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This web article describes five things service providers should know about teen parents and how to help them. It summarizes findings from a Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy study, highlighting issues of family conflict, abuse and neglect, homelessness, and trafficking among teen parents.
URL: http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/media-center/slideshows/five-things-know-about-teen-parents-and-how-help-them
Topic(s): Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Web article
This fact sheet explores state-by-state eligibility for health care coverage, including through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), for key subpopulations of youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
URL: https://aspe.hhs.gov/pdf-report/health-coverage-homeless-and-risk-youth
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Federal programs, Health care, Homeless: families, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Homeless: youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Fact sheet, Federal guidance
This webpage provides a review of the home visiting research literature in order to determine which home visiting program models have been found to meet HHS criteria for evidence of effectiveness and are, therefore, determined to be “evidence-based.” This Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) review includes a list of evidence-based home visiting models with links to brief program descriptions and summary of results on program model effectiveness, details of the studies reviewed, and a summary of findings by outcome domain.
URL: http://homvee.acf.hhs.gov/Model/1/Attachment-and-Biobehavioral-Catch-Up--ABC--Intervention/51/1
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Early childhood development, Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Parenting supports
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
These case studies demonstrate how home visiting efforts can provide critical services that support maternal and infant health outcomes and family stability among women experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://www.design-consultants.com/Clients/birthtothree/miechv.april/april.2014.documents/Promising_Housing_Efforts_032714_FINAL.pdf
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Federal programs, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Case studies
This memo discusses the use of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to address the needs of families at-risk of or experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/tanf-acf-im-2013-01
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: families
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
This information memorandum addresses whether federal Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds can be used to match the Homeless Assistance grants under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocs/im_135_csbg_federal_matching_requirements_hud_mckinney_vento.pdf
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: families
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
This website includes a searchable list of evidence-based practices that support the health of women before, during, and after pregnancy in order to improve birth outcomes and give infants up to age two a healthy start. Also included are tools and materials to support the implementation of these practices.
URL: http://healthystartepic.org/resources/evidence-based-practices/
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Early childhood development, Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Federal programs, Parenting supports
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webpage provides information about the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, which offers assistance to help current and former foster care youth achieve self-sufficiency. Activities and programs may include help with education, employment, housing, and connections to caring adults.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/resource/chafee-foster-care-program
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This report describes the experiences of teen parents impacted by homelessness in Massachusetts. It reveals the trauma, abuse and neglect, family conflict, and in some cases, commercial sexual exploitation these youth experience. The report concludes with policy recommendations.
URL: http://www.massteenpregnancy.org/sites/default/files/publications/matpliving-edgesummer2013.pdf
Topic(s): Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Policy recommendations
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Report
This webpage provides information about the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs that aim to improve maternal and child health, prevent child abuse and neglect, encourage positive parenting, and promote child development and school readiness. It includes links to information about grants and grantees, home visiting models, and technical assistance.
URL: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs/homevisiting/index.html
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Early childhood development, Federal programs, Health care, Homeless: families, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This fact sheet provides an overview of the history and services of Maternity Group Homes. These homes support pregnant and/or parenting young people between the ages of 16 and 22 who are experiencing homelessness, along with their dependent children.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/mgh_20150824.pdf
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Fact sheet
This Dear Colleague Letter provides information to State Title I and Education Coordinators on how to use funds under Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, to provide services including counseling, tutoring, transportation, food, and clothing to children and youth experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/homeless/homelesscoord0815.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
This Dear Colleague Letter provides guidance to State Directors of Special Education to help ensure highly mobile children with disabilities receive required special education and related services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in a timely manner.
URL: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/memosdcltrs/12-0392dclhighlymobile.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
This webpage provides training and technical assistance resources for Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) grantees and professionals working with pregnant and parenting teens. It includes information about PAF grants which help pregnant and parenting teens and their families gain access to health care, child care, housing, and other supports.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/oah-initiatives/paf_program/about.html
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Federal programs, Health care, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This report summarizes findings from workgroup meetings convened by the Office Adolescent Health, including promising practices for engaging and retaining pregnant and parenting teens, important program components when working with this population, and examples of implementing these program components.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/resources-and-publications/info/Assets/paf_expert_panel_rpt_2012.pdf
Topic(s): Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This audiocast is designed for Early Head Start providers to learn about the definition and causes of homelessness, health and developmental concerns that can result from homelessness, and strategies for supporting families experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/ehsnrc/comp/mental-health/ProvidingaSafe.htm
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Homeless: families
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Audiocast and handouts
This audiocast is designed for Early Head Start providers to learn about the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act definition of homelessness, working with families experiencing homelessness under the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and strategies for building effective community partnerships.
URL: http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/ehsnrc/comp/mental-health/CreatingSafeHav.htm
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Homeless: families
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Audiocast and handouts
This webpage provides information about Second Chance Homes, which are adult-supervised, supportive housing arrangements for adolescent mothers and their children. Information about eligibility criteria and federal funding for Second Chance Homes is provided.
URL: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/other/sch/about
Topic(s): Federal programs, Housing, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This brief summarizes findings from a qualitative study that explored the challenges of serving young fathers in home visiting programs and the strategies staff use to engage young fathers across five home visiting programs in the United States.
URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/opre/20151124_serving_young_fathers_in_home_visiting_programs_brief.pdf
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Fatherhood, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Brief
This website provides a range of resources from a 2007-2011 initiative that sought to improve the housing, health, and development of homeless and at-risk young mothers and children.
URL: http://www.familyhomelessness.org/youngmothers.php?p=ss
Topic(s): Early childhood development, Evidence-based programs or promising practices, Homeless: families, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This brief describes the challenges unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness face, explains students’ educational rights under the McKinney Vento Act, and provides strategies for supporting the educational success of this vulnerable group of youth.
URL: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/youth.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Brief
This website provides a brief overview on young parents experiencing homelessness. In addition, the website spotlights particular webinars and conference presentations that provide specific information, strategies, and programs for service providers supporting young parents experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/youngparents
Topic(s): Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This website provides resources on laws, policies, links to federal resources, and other materials relevant to early childhood education and young homeless children.
URL: http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/early-childhood
Topic(s): Early childhood development
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webpage provides information about federal grant programs relevant for serving young parents and their children experiencing homelessness including Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs, Head Start, Child Care and Development Block Grant, Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and many others.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/homelessness/grants/index.html#
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Early childhood development, Federal programs, Health care, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webpage provides information about HUD homeless programs and initiatives that can be used by youth and youth serving providers, in addition to resources and links to other federal agencies, technical assistance providers, and organizations serving youth experiencing homelessness.
URL: https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-youth/
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: youth, Housing
Audience: Service providers, Youth
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webpage provides advice and resources for pregnant and parenting youth who have a mental health condition.
URL: http://www.voices4hope.net/parenting.html
Topic(s): Behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse), Parenting supports, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Youth
Type of Resource: Webpage
This webinar describes what Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions are pertinent to expectant and parenting youth and their children, as well as what health care resources and services are available for this population. The webinar audio (MP3 file) and transcript (PDF, 43 pages) are also available.
URL: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/snippets/508%20documents/paf_aca_webinar_slides.pdf
Topic(s): Federal programs, Health care, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Webinar
This brochure explains to parents, guardians, and caregivers the educational resources, options, and rights available to children and youth experiencing homelessness.
URL: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/parentbrochure_eng.pdf
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Parenting supports
Audience: Service providers, Youth
Type of Resource: Brochure
This tip sheet provides service providers with information and links to additional resources for working with pregnant and parenting teens. Topics include ways to promote self-sufficiency and relationship outcomes for pregnant and parenting teens, and the developmental outcomes of their children.
URL: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/pregnant-parenting-teens-tips.pdf
Topic(s): Parenting supports, Pregnant and parenting youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Tip sheet
