An increasing number of families are becoming homeless, often as a result of domestic violence, which leaves women and their school age children without homes. This multidisciplinary volume is the first to look at the variety of problems encountered by this group and to propose strategies for managing those problems. The contributors to this book provide evidence that homeless children often have more acute problems and needs than other children; as a result of the insecurity of their situation, they may experience physical health problems and developmental delay. They are also at high risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties such as sleep disturbance, eating problems, aggression, over-activity, anxiety, depression and self-harm. At the same time, due to their unstable situation, they are less able to access support from the health, education and social services.
Homeless Children defines the specific problems and needs of homeless children, and draws up practical guidelines for staff and agencies on recognising and dealing with those problems. It then looks at policy and service development for homeless families in education, health and social care, and concludes that conventional methods of provision have to be adapted to meet the specific needs of this vulnerable group.
Table des matières
1. Introduction, Stuart Cumella and Panos Vostanis, University of Birmingham. 2. Homeless Families, Stuart Cumella. 3. Health Problems and Homeless Children, Kath Hutchinson, Health Visitors Association. 4. Child Mental Health Problems, Panos Vostanis. 5. Parenting Issues in Homeless Families, Jacqueline Barnes, Tavistock Clinic and Royal Free Medical School. 6. Homeless Children and Domestic Violence, Gill Hague and Ellen Malos, University of Bristol. 7. Homeless Adolescents, Robert Wrate and Caroline Blair, Young People’s Unit, Edinburgh. 8. Effects of Changes in Housing Legislation, Pat Niner, Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, University of Birmingham. 9. The Impact of Health and Social Services, Stuart Cumella. 10. Homeless Children: Public Health Perspectives, Christine R. Victor, Public Health Research Unit, Brighton. 11. Doubly Disadvantaged: Education and the Homeless Child, Sally Power, University of Bristol, Geoff Whitty and Deborah Youdell, Institute of Education, University of London. 12. Access to Voluntary Sector Agencies, Leila Baker, Shelter. 13. Family Homelessness in the USA, John C. Buckner and Ellen L. Bassuk. 14. Responding to Family Homelessness, Stuart Cumella and Panos Vostanis.
A propos de l’auteur
Gill Hague is Emeritus Professor of Violence Against Women Studies in the University of Bristol’s Centre for Gender and Violence Research (of which she was a co-founder in 1990). She has worked for 40 years in the field and has played a key role in the pioneering development of violence against women research. She has been an activist, practitioner, academic and researcher, and has published extensively in the field.