Resolution Addressing The Needs Of Homeless Youth And Families In Juvenile And Family Courts

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/jfcj.12103
• Published date: 01 March 2018
• Date: 01 March 2018

Resolution Addressing The Needs Of

Homeless Youth And Families In

Juvenile And Family Courts

WHEREAS, an estimated 200,000 were families with children were homeless on a

single night in 2016, of which 35,000 were unaccompanied youth younger than 24.

Other estimates indicate 380,000 youth younger than 18 experienced a period of home-

lessness of 1 week or more during the year and nearly 90,000 students in public schools

are homeless;

WHEREAS, identifying and recognizing homeless youth and families within juve-

nile and family courts is challenging given the sensitive nature of the topic, various defi-

nitions of the term “homeless,” and the current lack of data collection on the topic;

WHEREAS, adolescence is a period of rapid development and events such as run-

ning away or being homeless have the potential to disrupt social and developmental tra-

jectories and profoundly impact social development;

WHEREAS, youth experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience men-

tal health and substance abuse issues, victimization, sexually transmitted infections and

unplanned pregnancies, and education and employment challenges;

WHEREAS, youth experiencing homelessness are more likely than other to come

to the attention of the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems because they engage

in minor offenses such as missing school; breaking curfew; loitering; and survival crimes,

such as theft and engaging in sex for money, food, or a place to sleep.

WHEREAS, some jurisdictions have documented the phenomenon of youth stay-

ing longer than necessary in justice system custody because they “have nowhere else to

go;”

WHEREAS, research has found that 44% of homeless youth said they had had a

stay in jail, prison, or a detention center, 78% said they had at least one interaction with

police, and 62% said they had been arrested. Approximately 50% said they had been in

foster care, and experienced homelessness for longer periods of time than youth not in

foster care. Homeless youth are also disproportionately African-American, Hispanic, or

LGBTQ;

WHEREAS, youth leaving out-of-home placements or aging out of foster care

often lack the life skills, job training, education, and needs-based case management

Juvenile and Family Court Journal 69, No. 1

©2018 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges

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