HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zima, B T Articles by Benjamin, B Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zima, B T Articles by Benjamin, B

Sheltered homeless children: their eligibility and unmet need for special education evaluations.

B T Zima, R Bussing, S R Forness and B Benjamin

Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.

OBJECTIVES: This study described the proportion of sheltered homeless children in Los Angeles, Calif, who were eligible for special education evaluations because of a probable behavioral disorder, learning disability, or mental retardation, and to explore their level of unmet need for special education services. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 118 parents and 169 children aged 6 through 12 years living in 18 emergency homeless family shelters in Los Angeles County, California. Parents and children were interviewed with standardized mental health and academic skill measures in English and Spanish. RESULTS: Almost half (45%) of the children met criteria for a special education evaluation, yet less than one quarter (22%) had ever received special education testing or placement. The main point of contact for children with behavioral disorders and learning problems was the general health care sector. CONCLUSIONS: School-aged sheltered homeless children have a high level of unmet need for special education evaluations, the first step toward accessing special education programs. Interventions for homeless children should include integration of services across special education, general health care, and housing service sectors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. C. Buckner Understanding the Impact of Homelessness on Children: Challenges and Future Research Directions American Behavioral Scientist, February 1, 2008; 51(6): 721 - 736. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. W. Steele and M. A. O'Keefe A Program Description of Health Care Interventions for Homeless Teenagers Clinical Pediatrics, May 1, 2001; 40(5): 259 - 263. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. E. Cluett, S. R. Forness, S. L. Ramey, C. T. Ramey, C. Hsu, K. A. Kavale, and F. M. Gresham Consequences of Differential Diagnostic Criteria on Identification Rates of Children with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, January 1, 1998; 6(3): 130 - 140. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. R. Forness, S. E. Cluett, C. T. Ramey, S. L. Ramey, B. T. Zima, C. Hsu, K. A. Kavale, and D. L. MacMillan Special Education Identification of Head Start Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Second Grade Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, January 1, 1998; 6(4): 194 - 204. [Abstract] [PDF]