1. Missoula’s Homeless Children: Effects of Homelessness on Mental, Emotional and Social Health April 15 By, Sarah Shapiro

2. Did you know? Nationally: More than 1.5 million children live in families without a home Missoula: Half of the homeless are families, and are the fastest-growing population of homeless people in the U.S. and in Montana ◦(Missoula County Public Health Department, 2012)

3. Research Questions What effect does homelessness have on Missoula children’s mental (cognitive), emotional and social well-being? What interventions are in place in Missoula to reduce the effects of homelessness on children? What are the barriers to addressing the problem of homelessness in Missoula.

4. Research Methods Literary Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis ◦5 Key Informant Interviews  January 2016 through March 2016

5. Results Theme One: Academic Struggles are Common “Being homeless is like having a learning disability imposed on them. It makes academics even harder for a homeless child. In the hierarchy of needs, academics will come after basic needs.” (KI 3)

6. Results Theme Two: Emotional and Social Issues Occur Often “These children take on an adult level of commitment, and are left feeling stressed and anxious. Homeless children handle more responsibility than the average child their age.” (KI 5)

7. Results Theme Three: Lack of Funding for Organizations that Address Homelessness “Lack of money is one of the biggest barriers. Bad outcomes occur when you take away the support. These organizations rely on the money to come in each year to serve the populations.” (KI 3)

8. Results Theme Four: Stigma Halting Progress “The stigma of parents having to say they failed is a big issue. It prevents families from attempting to get the help that is offered in Missoula. It even prevents children from asking for help.” (KI 4)

9. Results Theme Five: Missoula Helping the Homeless Children “Although there are many services in Missoula, homeless families and children are still an underserved population. Many services they do not have access to because of different barriers, including time limits or definitions of homelessness.” (KI 4)

10. Discussion Research Question: What effect does homelessness have on Missoula children’s mental (cognitive), emotional and social well-being?

11. Discussion Research Question: What interventions are in place in Missoula to reduce the effects of homelessness on children?

12. Discussion Research Question: What are the barriers to addressing the problem of homelessness in Missoula.

13. Significance The number changes, but on a given day, at least 200 people are homeless in Missoula ◦(Missoula County Public Health, 2012) Future problems Long term results

14. Questions? Thank you for watching my presentation!

15. Sources Cited Administration for Children and Families. (2016). Definitions of Homelessness for Federal Program Serving Children, Youth, and Families. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/homelessness_definition.pdf Aratami, Yuriko. (2009). Homeless Children and Youth. National Center for Children in Poverty. Retrieved from http://nccp.org/publications/pub_888.html http://nccp.org/publications/pub_888.html Effects of Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness on Children and Youth. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx http://www.apa.org/pi/families/poverty.aspx Geoffrey. Personal Interview. February 19, 2016. Hart-Shegos, Ellen. (1999). Homelessness and its Effects on Children. Family Housing Fund. Retrieved from http://www.fhfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Homlessness_Effects_Children.pdf http://www.fhfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Homlessness_Effects_Children.pdf Karen Kane. Personal Interview. January 13 th, 2016. Kelly, Elizabeth. (2007). The Long-Term Effects of Homelessness on Children. Retrieved from http://www2.leg.state.vt.us/CommitteeDocs/2014/Vermont%20Child%20Poverty%20Council/Reports%20and%20Resources/W~H omelessness~The%20Long-term%20effects%20of%20Homelessness%20on%20Children-January%202007~10-31-2013.pdf http://www2.leg.state.vt.us/CommitteeDocs/2014/Vermont%20Child%20Poverty%20Council/Reports%20and%20Resources/W~H omelessness~The%20Long-term%20effects%20of%20Homelessness%20on%20Children-January%202007~10-31-2013.pdf Laura Folkwein. Personal Interview. February 26, 2016. Michael Moore. Personal Interview. February 26, 2016. Missoula County 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness. (2012). Missoula County Health Department. Retrieved from http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/21013 http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/21013 What is Qualitative Data Analysis. (2012). QDA. Retrieved from http://onlineqda.hud.ac.uk/Intro_QDA/what_is_qda.php.http://onlineqda.hud.ac.uk/Intro_QDA/what_is_qda.php