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.
References
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)
Information Memorandum: TANF-ACF-IM-2013-01 (Use of TANF Funds to Serve Homeless Families and Families at Risk of Experiencing Homelessness)
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
Information Memorandum: Use of Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) Funds to Meet Matching Requirements for Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance programs
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_req…
Topic(s): Federal programs, Homeless: families
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
Inventory of Evidence-Based Practices for Healthy Start Programs
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
John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program
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
Living on the Edge: The Conflict and Trauma that Lead to Teen Parent Homelessness
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-ed…
Topic(s): Homeless: pregnant and parenting youth, Policy recommendations
Audience: Policy makers, Service providers
Type of Resource: Report
Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting
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
Maternity Group Homes Fact Sheet
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
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education's Dear Colleague Letter on Education for Highly Mobile Children
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
Office of Special Education Programs' Dear Colleague Letter on Education for Highly Mobile Children
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.p…
Topic(s): Education, Federal programs, Homeless: families, Homeless: youth
Audience: Service providers
Type of Resource: Federal guidance
Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) Resource and Training Center
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
