EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL-PROBLEMS AND SEVERE ACADEMIC DELAYS AMONG SHELTERED HOMELESS CHILDREN IN LOS-ANGELES-COUNTY

Objectives. Few studies have estimated the extent of specific emotiona l, behavioral, and academic problems among sheltered homeless children . The objectives of this study were to describe such problems, identif y those children with the problems, and evaluate the relationship betw een child problems and use of physical and mental health services. Met hods. From February through May 1991, 169 school-age children and thei r parents living in 18 emergency homeless family shelters in Los Angel es County were interviewed. To evaluate the answers, interviewers used standardized measures of depression, behavioral problems, receptive v ocabulary, and readings. Results. The vast majority (78%) of homeless children suffered from either depression, a behavioral problem, or sev ere academic delay. Among children having a problem, only one third of the parents were aware of any problems, and few of those children (15 %) had ever received mental health care or special education. Conclusi ons. Almost all school-age sheltered homeless children in Los Angeles County have symptoms of depression, a behavioral problem, or academic delay severe enough to merit a clinical evaluation, yet few receive sp ecific care. Programs targeted at sheltered homeless school-age childr en are needed to close this gap.