As trusted health care providers in the school setting, school nurses are positioned uniquely to identify children at risk for or victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). Nevertheless, many victims go unrecognized and unaided due to inadequate provider education on victim identification. This review provides a comprehensive…

Notes that children and adolescents appear to suffer the most detrimental effects of homelessness. Discusses the problems faced by homeless youth and the educational systems that must respond to them, including causes and demographics of homelessness, detrimental effects of shelters, the victimization of homeless adolescents, and educational and…

Documents living conditions of adolescents (n=390) who left home and were living in the streets of Toronto, Canada. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the most consistent predictions of hunger, criminal activity, and incarceration were the conditions of street life itself: lack of secure shelter and length of time on the street. (JBJ)

The "new homeless" of the eighties and nineties are not only more numerous; they are younger, more likely to use drugs, and they exhibit symptoms of mental illness. Homeless mentally ill individuals typically have estranged family relationships and fewer supportive relationships compared with other homeless persons. They typically have…

Presents taxonomy of hostility toward street children: (1) penal-instructive hostility based on punishing children for inappropriate behavior; (2) collective frustrated hostility based on ethnocentric social class attitudes toward the poor; and (3) cultural hostility, accounted for by differences attributed to sedentary and nomadic peripatetic…

This essay with photographs describes the experiences of two runaways, examining why they left home and how they found help. Although runaways have a reputation for being irresponsible, they usually have good reasons for leaving home. The nun who ran Noah's Ark, where both the runaways featured found shelter and help, estimated that only about two…

Introduces workshop papers proposing research agendas based on the assumption that street children's public image hinders both research and program development. Argues that research emphasis should shift to analysis of children's relationship to the street environment; this approach, derived from social science research, entails innovative and…

Findings from interviews of street children in Pretoria, South Africa, are presented, discussed, and compared with past research. Indicates the average age of South African street children is 13 years. Most are males of African origin; have been on the streets three years or longer; and cited family violence, parental alcoholism, abuse, and…

There is an alarming trend in homelessness: children aged 17 and younger are the most rapidly growing group of the homeless; families continue to be a growing group of the homeless; and many people who are homeless were raised or have lived in the suburbs. Homelessness is no longer an inner-city phenomenon. Three homeless youth were interviewed…

The 12 chapters of this volume offer a comprehensive portrait of today's children and their challenging urban environments. The opportunities and obstacles that confront children are examined in detail, and key social problems are discussed in the following contributions: (1) "Growing Up in the Urban Environment: Opportunities and Obstacles for…

America is called the "Land of Opportunity." Popular stories help to develop and perpetuate a mental model that says anyone can make anything of themselves. Education is promoted as the great equalizer; it is believed that anyone can go to high school in the United States, and even to college if they try hard enough. This mental model is…

This publication represents the first report tailored to a non-specialist audience from an extensive case study in the Philippines, one of five country studies selected as the first project of the Urban Child Program of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) International Child Development center. The Philippines study focuses explicitly on…

Highlights and reviews a number of children's and young adult books that feature homeless children and families. Broadly categorizes the books according to qualities and plot elements, including appreciation of people, nonstereotypical portrayals, positive tone, and story appeal. Offers a bibliography of 24 recommended books. (MJP)

Discusses causes of the street children phenomenon in the Philippines, emphasizing how uneven development and unequal social order affect socioeconomic, political, and cultural spheres. Examines contributors to poverty--government allocation of funds for debt repayment and military and widespread graft. Notes that street children are often…

The introduction to this analysis of the federal budget and investment in children in 1988 argues that American children are not physically, educationally, economically, or spiritually safe. The introduction also describes characteristics of the children; specifies a five-point policy agenda for 1988 that emphasizes preventive measures; and…