The social support networks of residents of a temporary shelter for the homeless were examined. Participants (N = 125) were interviewed to obtain detailed information concerning resources of support, specific types of support, and subjective appraisals of support. Seven meaningful subgroups of homeless persons were identified using a cluster analysis technique. These groups varied along the dimensions of transiency, psychiatric history, criminal victimization, and criminal activity. As expected, this population had relatively small social networks, although most clearly had some sources of support, particularly from family members. Few differences on social support variables were revealed between subgroups. The differences between the homeless and other nonclinical populations are discussed, and implications for interventions are addressed.

A growing movement has emerged that promotes a strengths-based approach to research and social policy and seeks to counter the limitations of traditional deficits-based orientations. We refer to this as a "movement" in the sense that it is an unorganized collection of groups that share a common worldview and are generally moving in the same direction. This movement encompasses researchers, advocates, and policymakers who have organized themselves around different issues such as resilience, health promotion, school reform, and community development and have developed different formal or informal organizational structures. Table 1.1 briefly contrasts the focuses of deficits-based approaches with those of strengths-based alternatives in 10 content areas.The specific rationale, terminology, and strengths-based approaches emerging in these areas vary, reflecting in part the different types of deficits models that have traditionally influenced each (see column 1 of Table 1.1). The common element across content areas is that they transform deficitsbased approaches to ones based on strengths, as shown in column 2 of Table

This paper reports the results of a study of homeless guests in four temporary shelter agencies in Detroit. Quantitative results as well as case studies are presented. Results suggest that the homeless population in Detroit is quite diverse but is a multiproblem population that frequently has difficulties with mental and physical health, employment, substance abuse, interpersonal relationships, and victimization. The authors conclude that a comprehensive and coordinated effort is needed by a wide range of service providers to address the needs of this group.Homelessness in America has received increasing media and research attention in recent years. Much of this attention has focused on the extent of mental illness in the homeless population, addressing the allegation that deinstitutionalization policies have substantially contributed to the larger number of homeless persons in recent years. However, the extent of psychiatric symptoms and chronic mental illness in the homeless is far from well established. In published research studies, the percentages reported for homeless persons with backgrounds of psychiatric hospitalization range from 5% to 95% and for having mental illness from 21% to 84% (Mowbray, 1985).Although it is somewhat limited, research indicates that the homeless may suffer from substantial health problems (Green, 1985; Nobel, Scott, Cavicci, & Robinson, 1985;McBride & Mulcare, 1985). Perhaps unfortunately, researchers have given most of their attention to assessing the mental instead of the physical health problems of the homeless. This limited perspective ignores the fact that the two health areas are often intertwined and both may be exacerbated by factors associated with homelessness, such as harsh living circumstances, poverty, and substance abuse (Brickner, 1985;Flynn, 1985). For those concerned with the chronically mentally ill homeless, this is an important area of research.In 1983, the Michigan Department of Mental Health received fundingThis document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers. This article is intended solely for the personal use of the individual user and is not to be disseminated broadly.

This article reports findings from an assessment by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), an analytical arm of the U.S. Congress. In brief, OTA found the conventional wisdom that American adolescents as a group are so healthy that they do not require health and related services is not justified. Even more disturbing, U.S. adolescents often face formidable barriers in trying to obtain health care. OTA suggested that Congress could act to 1) increase adolescents' access to health care, most effectively by supporting school- or community-based comprehensive health services specifically for adolescents, 2) restructure and reinvigorate the federal role in adolescent health, most visibly by creating an office of adolescent health in the U.S. Executive branch, and 3) improve adolescents' social environments, by providing more support to the families of adolescents, limiting adolescents' access to firearms, supporting the expansion of recreational opportunities for adolescents, and further supporting opportunities for community service. Congressional actions taken since the release of OTA's report are summarized.

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