Assessment, prevention, and intervention activities in a school-based program for children experiencing homelessness

Area of Science:

• Child Health
• Public Health
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Children experiencing homelessness are at higher risk for health and mental health issues.
• These vulnerable youth often face barriers to accessing appropriate healthcare services.
• School-based programs present a viable avenue for delivering essential services to at-risk children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the health needs of children experiencing homelessness or from very low-income families.
• To pilot a mental and physical health prevention program within a school-based summer camp setting.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and satisfaction with the delivered prevention activities.

Main Methods:

• A needs assessment was conducted among at-risk children in an urban school summer camp.
• A mental and physical health prevention program was implemented.
• Data on healthcare access, service utilization, and program satisfaction were collected.

Main Results:

• Children in homeless shelters reported less consistent medical and dental care access compared to housed peers.
• Children experiencing homelessness were more likely to report prior counseling participation than low-income peers.
• Both students and teachers reported positive satisfaction with the prevention activities.

Conclusions:

• School-based summer camp programs can effectively deliver health and mental health prevention services to at-risk children.
• Targeted interventions are crucial to address healthcare disparities faced by homeless youth.
• Positive program reception suggests feasibility for broader implementation.