Common Needs for Children Living in Homeless Shelters and Foster Care

The researchers found that there are everyday needs for children living in homeless shelters and foster care, but there are also varying interventions that can help these kids.

In the U.S., many children are living in homeless shelters and foster care. Both groups have higher rates of social, emotional, and physical difficulties than other kids. There is a lack of information about the specific interventions that can help these kids. This study by Zlotnick and colleagues aims to identify promising practices to help children transition. They used a standardized vocabulary to analyze the literature and find studies focusing on treating homeless or foster kids.

The goal of this study was to analyze the various interventions that are available for kids living in homeless shelters or foster care. The researchers selected only studies that were published between January 1993 and 2009. The interventions that were included in the study were categorized into two categories: case management and mental health. Most studies that examined the treatment of children who were living in foster care or homeless didn't include a sample of both groups. Instead, they focused on the mental health conditions of the kids. There were also a few articles that used rigorous study designs. Despite the overlapping nature of the two groups, studies that examined the treatment of these kids were mainly focused on one population.

Most studies on the treatment of children living in foster care and homeless shelters focused on reducing family instability and trauma. However, there is a lack of evidence-based practice regarding the effectiveness of these interventions on the children in these two groups. This suggests that further research is needed to develop effective interventions that can help reduce the effects of trauma.

Zlotnick, C., Tam, T., & Zerger, S. (2012). Common needs but divergent interventions for US homeless and foster care children: results from a systematic review. Health & social care in the community, 20(5), 449-476.