Purpose Unaccompanied youth homelessness is a serious concern. Response, however, has been constrained by the absence of credible data on the size and characteristics of the population and reliable means to track youth homelessness over time. We sought to address these gaps. Methods Using a nationally representative phone-based survey (N = 26,161), we solicited household and individual reports on different types of youth homelessness. We collected household reports on adolescents aged 13–17 and young adults aged 18–25, as well as self-reports from young adults aged 18–25. Follow-up interviews with a subsample (n = 150) provided additional information on youth experiences and enabled adjustment for inclusion errors. Results Over a 12-month period, approximately 3.0% of households with 13- to 17-year-olds reported explicit youth homelessness (including running away or being asked to leave) and 1.3% reported experiences that solely involved couch surfing, resulting in an overall 4.3% household prevalence of any homelessness, broadly defined. For 18- to 25-year-olds, household prevalence estimates were 5.9% for explicitly reported homelessness, 6.6% for couch surfing only, and 12.5% overall. The 12-month population prevalence estimates, available only for 18- to 25-year-olds, were 5.2%, 4.5%, and 9.7%, respectively. Incidence rates were about half as high as prevalence rates. Prevalence rates were similar across rural and nonrural counties. Higher risk of homelessness was observed among young parents; black, Hispanic, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) youth; and those who did not complete high school. Conclusions The prevalence and incidence of youth homelessness reveal a significant need for prevention and youth-centric systems and services, as well as strategies to address disproportionate risks of certain subpopulations.

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Significant progress is required in developing and evaluating appropriate and effective psychosocial support interventions for partners of prostate cancer survivors as partners appear to have significant unmet needs in this area.

This paper reports results of mixed methods, population survey of housing instability, and homelessness. Child welfare personnel conducted the Quick Risks and Assets for Family Triage (QRAFT), a three-question screening tool intended to identify housing instability and homelessness. The QRAFT requires users to assess family housing history, current housing arrangement, and current housing condition, on a four-point scale from "asset/not a risk" to "severe risk." The QRAFT was completed among 6828 families undergoing new child maltreatment investigations. Approximately 5.4% of families demonstrated significant to severe housing problems; approximately one-third exhibited moderate housing risk. Housing problems and homelessness were significantly associated with the outcome of child welfare investigations; among families with substantiated child welfare determinations, 21% demonstrated significant to severe housing risk, a significantly higher proportion than among families where the investigation outcome was unsubstantiated or differential response (i.e., voluntary services). Of significant to severe housing risk families, 15.7% later met eligibility criteria for a supportive housing intervention, suggesting that housing concerns combined with substantial parent and child functional difficulties. Qualitative data indicated the QRAFT was perceived as easy to administer, effective as a screening tool, and useful to "apply the housing lens" early in child welfare involvement.

Family involvement contributes to student success, and family-school communication (FSC) is intended to promote parent involvement; however, little is known about the communication processes that enlist that involvement. There are unanswered questions about how elementary educators perceive, prepare for, and engage in communication with families. Using an ecological framework and qualitative design, this study explored educator perceptions of FSC at elementary schools serving a US military population. Individual interviews were analyzed for thematic content, resulting in six themes: the critical importance of communication; its types and formats; school climate; teacher preparation; roles and skills; and contextual influences including considerations for military families. Teachers described effective and ineffective approaches and skills, role and time pressures, and recommended practices. Participants lacked formal preparation for FSC and constructed their skills based on experience. The authors discuss implications for personnel preparation and staff development, school and classroom policies and practices, and ecological considerations unique to military contexts.

Positive behavior support (PBS) has evolved over the past 15 years from an individualized approach to behavior management to one with an increased focus on universal applications. Although there are clear areas of convergence between individualized and universal supports, it is also clear that the provision of individualized supports is an independent activity and an area where there is still much left to be accomplished. We assert that the research agenda is unfinished, crucial research-to-practice questions remain unresolved, and knowledge about the extent to which individualized PBSs are available is incomplete at best. We argue that individualized supports need to be a primary consideration in research and training, particularly as aspects of individualized supports are mandated considerations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Emphasis on individualized supports is important not only because they demonstrate promise but also because of their potential to protect the interests of individuals with severe disabilities.

The majority of children in the child welfare system enter because of neglect and come from poor families with high rent burden, substandard housing and risk for homelessness. In this paper, we describe a model programme for families with dual vulnerability in housing and child welfare. Clients presented with a variety of parenting, substance use and/or mental health issues. The Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) programme prioritizes prompt family access to housing and related supports and operates from an intensive, family‐centred casework that promotes client engagement as a mechanism for change. We used a mixed methods approach that included the administration of Alpert and Britner's Parent Engagement Measure (quantitative) and open‐ended interviews (qualitative) with 41 parents involved in the child welfare system. Results indicate high levels of client engagement, with convergence across the formal measure and interview themes. SHF promoted client engagement through the swift provision of tangible resources, as well as caseworker resourcefulness and responsiveness. The Parent Engagement Measure performed well psychometrically. We compare findings with prior research and discuss implications, limitations and future directions.

Maternal resolution of a child's diagnosis relates to sensitive caregiving and healthy attachment. Failure to resolve is associated with maternal distress, high caregiving burden, and the quality of marital and social support. This study examined maternal resolution of diagnosis in a child psychiatric population utilizing the Reaction to Diagnosis paradigm. Thirty-three mothers of children ages 2–7 years with psychiatric disorders were interviewed using the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview. Slightly over half of the sample was classified as resolved. Associations between maternal resolution status, maternal depression, childrearing stress, and child functioning were examined and a predictive model for maternal resolution status was tested. Specific findings included a significant association between childrearing stress and maternal resolution status with support for some additional predictive power for maternal depression on resolution status. Child functioning was not significantly associated with resolution status, and may exert influence indirectly through its association with childrearing stress. There were no significant associations between maternal or child demographic characteristics and maternal resolution status. Clinical and research implications are discussed.