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Megan Martin
Social Work Practice II
Lit Review/Group Proposal
18 September 2012

The group I have chosen to work with and research are homeless youth ages fourteen to
seventeen. Homeless youth is identified under the National Coalition for the Homeless as
individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. This
organization goes on to describe how big of a problem homeless youth are in the United Sates. A
most recent study published in 2002 reported that there is an estimation of 1,682,900 homeless
and runaway youth. This number came from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention in the US Department of Justice. The National Coalition states the majority of this
estimated number are between the ages of fifteen and seventeen. Other sources I have reviewed
in order to write this proposal have also stated the majority of the homeless youth are between
the ages of fourteen and seventeen. This repeated proof of such a majority in that age range is
why I have selected this specific age group.
Further into my research I found a site that assists my claim to homeless youth indeed
being an issue. DoSomething.org is the site that provided the assistance to my claims. First there
I found a fact of 1 out of every 3 homeless people are under the age of 18. Next there was
stated that 1.6 to 1.7 million people under the age of 18 will experience homelessness each
year. Lastly I found the statement: The majority of homeless and runaway youth are between
the ages of 15 and 17, however 3 out of 100 runaways are under the age of 10, and 11 out of 100
are between the ages of 11 and 13. To add onto the facts I have already given the National
Network for Youth provides more on their website that also provide reason to why homeless
youths are an issue. One fact is 7.6% of adolescents 12 to 17 years of age had spent at least one
night in an emergency shelter, public place, abandoned building, or with a stranger during the
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previous year (Ringwalt, Greene, Robertson, & and McPhetters, 1998). Another is that 18- to
19-year-olds are 5%, or 22,000 to 44,000 of the homeless population on a single day, or about
80,000 to 170,000 over the course of the year (Burt, Aron, & Lee, 2001). With all of the facts
and information I have provided from several different sources I have proven my point that
homelessness amongst youths ages fourteen to seventeen is certainly an issue in the United
States.
Now that I have proven this topic is an issue worth having a group over I will establish
why a group is needed. I will also specify what type of group I intend on creating. I believe it is
necessary to have a group instead of a one on one meeting of some kind. I do not know from
experience, but I can imagine that when someone is homeless they feel rather alone. They also
may possibly feel abandoned, unwanted, neglected, not loved, and etc. If I were to put myself in
a homeless persons situation I would want to know that even though I sleep on the streets there
are others that are going through the same things I am experiencing. I would want to know that
even though I may feel alone, that I am not alone. Would want to know that there are people that
do care about my situation, and that there are others that want to help me to get back on my feet
again. I would want to have some sort of support group. That is why I believe it is crucial to have
a group instead of individual counseling.
When deciding what type of group I wanted to create I looked up the definitions of
therapy and counseling to better understand what my group would be. I used the free online
definitions to compare the two words. Therapy is the treatment of physical, mental, or social
disorders or disease and Counseling is The act of exchanging opinions and ideas; consultation;
advice or guidance, especially as solicited from a knowledgeable person. I acknowledge that
there are homeless people who have physical, mental, or social disorders or diseases that need
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treatment. However the intentions of my group are going to be more directed towards counseling
the youth. I have also decided my group is going to be educational. Education and counseling as
far as building goals, getting the youth to a comfortable stability in their lives. I will dive into
greater explanation in the latter portion of my proposal as to the exact education and counseling I
intend on having for this group.
The agency that my group would most likely evolve from would be Project Concern
located on Elm Street here in Dubuque, IA. The reason I have chosen this agency is because they
specifically have a homeless assistance program. They have a twenty four hour a day hotline that
provide the following services: emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive
housing, financial assistance, emergency food, supportive services, and mental health services
(Project Concern). Their referral services include providing homeless people with information on
permanent & transitional housing & shelters, legal assistance, food & clothing referrals,
financial assistance, finding employment, supportive services, medical care & counseling,
transportation, child care, supportive & shelter/ emergency services for people experiencing
physical or substance abuse (Project Concern). Because Project Concern already has a
homeless prevention and assistance program, and people answering those hotlines and providing
all of the services I have already listed, I believe there will be no problem motivating them to
support this type of a group. Potential obstacles for this type of a group could be anything.
Obstacles such as: transportation to and from the group, meeting at a time that works for
everyone involved with the group, getting the right kinds of professional help to be involved with
the education portion of this group, and others. I acknowledge that there are going to be obstacles
with whatever type of group I try and create, because nothing in life is perfect, and nor do I
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expect it to be. So when there are obstacles I will work with my staff in the best ways we can to
overcome them.
As I have already previously established this group is going to be for homeless youth
ages fourteen to seventeen. The way that I see group members being selected or recruited is at
first through advertising, and through word of mouth. At first I will get the support for the group
through people like landlords, housing developers church and social and human services agency
representatives (Project Concern). These are the types of people that are going to help me with
the resources the youth in my group will need. In my opinion these people have a better idea of
who in Dubuque is homeless or needs homeless assistance at least. I am expecting that once the
group gets started these people will help advertise to the homeless youths about the group and
how it can help them. Other ways than this to advertise can be through posters in businesses, in
homeless shelters, churches, good will, Hillcrest, and other agencies across Dubuque that assist
people in need in any way possible. Through this mass spread of agencies and people spreading
the word of this group, youth will start to come. Then once the youth come they may have
friends that are in the same situations. Then if that is the case then their friends are welcome to
join the group as well.
As far as distinguishing appropriate criteria for who can and cannot be a part of this
group I believe there is a simple description. All who fit the description of homeless, who are
between the ages of fourteen and seventeen, and who are looking to better their lives, are
welcome to join. However if there is a youth who comes and is just looking to rip off the agency
helping the group, or who is simply looking to cause problems, then they will be asked to leave
and not return till their attitude is adjusted about being a part of the group.
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How I intend on preparing members for the type of group this is going to be is through
advertising. For other advertising I would place something in public libraries and in high schools
if I could. I would create a website for the group explaining what it is we do, and would continue
on to make a Facebook page. I would also attempt to make sure the agency that is helping with
my group is listed in the phone book. I understand that homeless youth may not have access to
all of these advertisements. However my hope is that others may see them and spread the word
of what my group provides, and continue by passing along the word in forms of advertisements
themselves. When in advertising for something and trying to spread the word there is no such
thing as too much advertisement.
Other than through advertisement, the first session will be all about what the group is
about, what we are going to be doing in the group, setting goals to accomplish, and etc. I have
decided that this group is going to be a voluntary closed group. The reason I have decided to
have a closed group is because it builds relationships and trust easier within the group members.
The group can allow up to thirteen youths to join it, and once there are that many then the group
will become closed to anyone else. If there are others that want to join the group or are interested
in coming they will be provided with other resources and other ways to help them with whatever
they may need at the time. Those people that may be excluded will be allowed to join the second
group that is started the following semester. Depending on however many people hear about this
group and start to show interest in it, Following group, and group sizes can be altered to benefit
those that want to join. This group will be closed, but as I have said it is also voluntary, which
means that if the members want to leave at any time for some reason or another they are allowed
to do so.
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I have decided that there will be several groups if the first is successful. But the first
group will meet every Wednesday from six to seven thirty pm for an entire school semester. I
have chosen this time because my group will consist of high school teenagers. By six oclock
they will be well out of school and out of sport practices if they are involved with any. I have
chosen Wednesday as the meeting time because it is midweek and I thought it would be good to
have it as the middle of the week as something to look forward to as a relief or a break. This
group will last for the entire semester, and if all goes well then a new group will be formed for
the next semester with adaptations. At the end of the first semester group if all of the goals are
met for the group members then they will graduate from the group and move on in life. If there
are individuals that feel as if they need more help or if their personal goals have not been met
then other references can be given to them for further assistance. A new group will restart at the
same times on the same days if the youth found that time and day helpful and manageable in
order to meet successfully.
The type of person that I want leading this group is a licensed MSW. A BSW can also
help with the group, as in being the co-leader or the assistant to the leader, but I would like for
the person in charge of the group to be a MSW and someone that overall has these youths best
interests in mind.
What I intend to happen with this group is to at the first meeting establish what the youth
want to get out of coming to this group. Topics I expect to hear from them as to what they want
to work on are: a place to stay, how to survive being homeless, help with homework, maybe
resolving issues as to why they are homeless to begin with, maybe finding ways of employment,
how to possibly further their education, what are the best ways to get food, tips to survive, how
to live on their own, and etc. Once we do the initial brain storming of what we want to talk about
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in the group I will take a consensus of which of those topics are the most crucial, or the ones that
everyone feels need to be talked about first. For example if people want to talk about, or learn
more about how to get off of the streets first, or places of shelter first then that is what we will
cover first. As a side note, before this group even meets for the first time the group leader will be
well researched and have stacks of resources for these teenagers if and when they ask for them.
For example if a female teenager is pregnant then the leader will have resources as to insurance
or parenting classes, or how to raise a baby, or adoption if that is the route she wants to go, or
foster care even. Bottom line is that with whatever these homeless youths need the leader will be
ready to answer whatever questions they have, and will be ready in any way possible to help
them with whatever goals the group decides to set for themselves. If the group decides to set a
goal of mending broken bridges with family members by the end of the semester then that is
what we will work on in the group. If their goal is to have a regular source of food or need job
training skills then that is what we will work on throughout the group session time is training
them in how to work in a job field. In conclusion my intentions for this group is to establish
where the homeless youths think they need the most assistance and then to decide how they
would like help in those fields, and provide them with the right training, assistance, or resources
to better their situations.
The way the group leader can measure whether or not the goals are being met is through
an evaluation process. These evaluations can be taken at four times throughout the semester. One
fourth the way through the semester, then half way through the semester, next at three fourths
through the semester, and then at the end of the meetings to see how the members thought the
group was progressing, and whether or not the goals were being met. The evaluations are going
to be on slips of paper that are passed out to the youth at the beginning of each evaluation
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meeting with questions on the paper for them to answer. The questions will be basic such as what
is their purpose for attending these meetings? What do they hope to get out of the meetings?
What goals have they set for themselves? Do they see these goals being met and why or why
not? What do they like most about this group and what do they like least? If they could change
something or add something to the group what would it be? Are they comfortable with these
people in this group? If not what is something that would make them more comfortable? Before
each evaluation the group members would be reminded that the only person that reads their
evaluations is the group leader and the assistant (if there is one.) These sets of questions is how I
plan on evaluating whether or not the goals are being met. Based off of the members responses to
the questions the leader will alter the ways in which to better meet the goals if need be.
The ground rules for the group will have rules and consequences if the rules are broken.
The first consequence if the rules are broken is that the person will be talked to privately and
reminded of the rules and asked not to break them again. If the same person breaks the rules
again they will be asked not to come to the group the following time the group meets, and they
will be reminded that if they break the rules a third time they will no longer be allowed to come
to the group anymore. The third time if that same individual breaks the rules they will be
provided with several other resources that can help them, but they will not be allowed to come
back to the group. Now however, if that person changes by the next semester, then they will be
allowed to come back if they agree to follow the rules.
The rules for the group are simple and easy to follow. Everyone must show respect to one
another. Only one person talks at a time. Everything that is said in the room during the meeting is
confidential and the information disclosed in the room does not leave the room once the meeting
is done for the day. There will be no stealing from the members in the group, nor from the place
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we meet. We can share our own feelings and experiences, but try not to give advice to the other
members. Advice giving is up to the leader only. We as a group share responsibility for making
this group work. We accept people as they are when they come to the group, and will pass no
judgment upon them. Everyone is allowed and given the opportunity to share. All members are
given the right to speak, but also are given the right to remain silent. The right to asking
questions id given, as well is the right to refuse to answer questions. Last but not least we will
begin and end our meetings on time (Peer Support Group Facilitator Training Student Manual,
by Sharon Mahre).
The way in which trust will be established amongst the group members and the leader is
by doing ice breakers and trust building activities that will be determined later on in the group
planning process.
The overall purpose for this group is to help and assist the homeless youths of Dubuque
IA in any and all ways possible. Once the program in Dubuque takes effect maybe it can spread
to other areas of the United States like Stand Up for The Kids is spreading. Another purpose of
this group is to help in the effort of making a difference in the lives of homeless people. The final
purpose of this group is a hope of finally diminishing the number of 1.6-1.7 million homeless
youths under the age of 18 to as little of a number as possible.

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Works Citied
1. "Project Concern - Homeless Assistance Program." Project Concern - Homeless Assistance
Program. United Way, 2008. Web. 18 Sept. 2012. <http://project-
concern.org/homelessassistancemain.html>.
2. Mahre, Sharon. "Ground Rules for Support Groups." Peer Support Group Facilitator
Training. Catholic Charities Counseling Services Support for Separated and Divorced,, 1988.
Web. 18 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nacsdc.org/aware/groundrules-mahre.pdf>.
3. "Stand Up. Be Change." Stand Up for Kids. Joomla!, 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.standupforkidsfoundation.org/>.
4. "Homeless Youth." National Coalition for the Homeless. National Coalition for the Homeless,
21 Feb. 2012. Web. 18 Sept. 2012. <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/youth.html>.
5. "11 Facts about Homeless Youth." Do Something. DoSomething.org, 2012. Web. 18 Sept.
2012. <http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-homeless-youth>.
6. "Homeless Youth." National Coalition for the Homeless. National Coalition for the Homeless,
Aug. 2007. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/youth.pdf>.
7. "Streetwork: Homeless Youth Facts." Safe Horizon ::. Safe Horizon, 2012. Web. 18 Sept.
2012. <http://www.safehorizon.org/index/what-we-do-2/helping-youth-14/streetwork-homeless-
youth-facts-220.html?gclid=CKu-8OCSvrICFaUWMgodCWAAAQ>.
8. "Unaccompanied Youth Fast Facts." Unaccompanied Youth Fast Facts. National Network for
Youth, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.
<http://www.nn4youth.org/system/files/FactSheet_Unacompanied_Youth_0.pdf>.