The Visible Child InitiativeInvesting in the healthy development and academic success of children who have know homelessness

Presented by Sharon Henry-BlytheFamily Housing Fund

Visible Child InitiativeMarch, 2014

Homelessness in Minnesota

Homeless in MinnesotaOne-night statewide homelessness count in October 2012:

• Overall, 10,214 homeless adults, youth, and children were counted, up 6 percent over 2009.

• The 6% increase between 2009 and 2012 follows a jump of 25% between 2006 and 2009.

• There was a slight increase (4%) in the total number of families experiencing homelessness, but a 22% increase in the number of two-parent homeless families.

Wilder Research 2012 Minnesota Homeless Study

Homeless in Minnesota• In greater Minnesota, the number of

people found outside the shelter system increased while the number in the Twin Cities area was down.

• Greater Minnesota also saw an increase in homeless families not using shelter.

• Increases in the metro area occurred almost exclusively in emergency shelters, including a 44 percent increase in the number of children in emergency shelters.

--Wilder Research 2012 Minnesota Homeless Study

Homeless in Minnesota• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of children are in the care

of their mother or a single female caregiver. Four percent are in the care of a father or male caregiver. One-quarter (24%) are in the care of two parents or caregivers.

Wilder Research 2012 Minnesota Homeless Study

• Racial disparities are severe. African American and American Indian families are ten times as likely to be homeless as their white neighbors in Minnesota.

2009 Minnesota homeless studyHomeless children and their families

Wilder Research

Homelessness Children in Minnesota

• Wilder Study documented 3,546 homeless children with parents—a 9% increase from 2009.

• 51% of Minnesota homeless children are age 5 and younger.

• (36%) are between 6 and 12 years old and 13% are between 13 and 17 years old.

--Wilder Research 2012 Minnesota Homeless Study

Homelessness Children in Minnesota26% of parents whose children were with them said at least one of their children had an emotional or behavior problem (up from 21% in 2009).

15% had at least one child with a chronic or severe physical health problem.

11% said their children skipped meals in the previous month – not enough money to buy food.--Wilder Research 2012 Minnesota Homeless Study

Homelessness, Trauma, and Parenting

• The trauma of homelessness and severe poverty can dramatically compromise a child’s opportunity for healthy development.

• Childhood homelessness appears to be a common precursor to adult homelessness, and families appear to be repeating the cycle of homelessness from one generation to the next.

Homelessness, Trauma, and Parenting

Trauma, grief, and loss permeate the lives of homeless adults and often begins in childhood.• Physical abuse as a child• Sexual abuse as a child• Neglect• Domestic Violence • Sexual assault or rape as an adult• Chemical Dependency• Mental Illness

Impact of Homelessness on Children

• Toddlers living in homeless families begin to demonstrate significant developmental delays after 18 months of age

• At risk for poor social, emotional and cognitive developmental outcomes

• Risk increases as children progress from early childhood to school age

Breaking the Cycle of Generational Homelessness

Visible Child Initiative Key Strategy

Embed Evidence-Based, Research-Informed, Culturally- Appropriate Practices Into “Systems” that Reach Homeless Families With Young Children.• Increase frontline staff understanding of children’s

mental health.• Promote front-line staff use of culturally-sensitive family-

centered practices.• Reduce the negative impacts of parental chemical

dependency on the lives of children who currently live in supportive housing.

Visible Child Initiative Key Strategy

Embed Evidence-Based, Research-Informed, Culturally- Appropriate Practices• Increase homeless and formerly homeless children’s

access to age appropriate, culturally-sensitive children’s mental health services.

• Build parent confidence in their ability to support their children's social and emotional development

• Increase the availability of quality, trauma informed child care and early childhood services available to homeless and formerly homeless children.

Visible Child Initiative Key Strategy

• 90 Day Window for Children• Culture Matters• Trauma Informed Child Care and Early

Childhood Services: Caring for Young Children Who Have Experienced Significant Trauma

Visible Child Initiative Key Strategy

Trauma Informed Child Care and Early Childhood Services: Caring for Young Children Who Have Experienced Significant Trauma• Understand the effects of homelessness and

associated trauma on young children’s social emotional development, the impact of trauma on parenting practices and how quality care can mediate the effects of trauma on young children.

Trauma Informed Child Care

TRAINING GOALS• Culture, Trauma and Parenting Practices.• Help Parents Understand the Impact of

Trauma on Parenting Practices and Child Wellbeing.

• Identify Characteristics of Quality Child Care for Children Who Have Experienced Homelessness and Associated Trauma.

Trauma Informed Child Care

Promote Protective Factors for young children. Babies develop within the context of relationship

and culture. A young child’s healthy development is directly tied

to the capacity of the primary caregiver “Good Enough Parenting”

Sensitive, responsive parent Reliable, predictable care

Trauma Informed Child Care

Can (trauma informed) quality child care mediate the impact of homelessness on children’s well-being and serve as another protective factor for children who have experienced homelessness?

Kindergarten Readiness“A poll of kindergarten teachers found that they rate knowledge of letters and numbers as less important readiness skills than being physically healthy, able to communicate verbally, curious and enthusiastic, and able to take turns and share.”

The Future of Children-Princeton Brookings: School Readiness: Closing Racial and

Ethnic Gaps The Future of Children 2005

The Visible Child InitiativeSmallerBy Laura Purdie Salas

Life shrinkswithout a home to live in.

It shrivels until it fits into a torn grocery sack orholey old suitcase,

until it is itty bitty enough for you tothrow your socks, your comb, andyour dreams into that sack flat out fastwhen Mama snaps, “We got to move. Now!”

My life has melted so small – soon I expect to disappear completely.

For More InformationSharon Henry-BlytheFamily Housing FundDirector, Visible Child Initiative

612-375-9644, ext. 19sharon@fhfund.org

www.visiblechild.org