title: Factors associated with homelessness of adolescents under supervision of the youth protection system.
abstract: There are two factors that limit our knowledge of the risk factors associated with homelessness among runaway adolescents, namely (1) the samples used are often composed of youth homeless service users and/or youths living on the streets (visible homelessness), whereas most adolescents in fact use "private" resources (hidden homelessness), and (2) failure to use an adequate control group to identify risk factors associated specifically with homelessness. Our study compares the characteristics of two groups of youths under the supervision of the youth protection system, according to the presence or absence of periods of homelessness. The results throw light on the factors underlying the shift from "at risk" to "homeless", showing that youths with experience of homelessness are more likely to have been placed in substitute home environments, have experienced significant relationship difficulties with one of their parents (deterioration of the parent/youth relationship and parental abuse) and to have been diagnosed with behavioural disorders. The findings suggest that the decision to place young people under supervision is based more on the dynamic between risk factors rather than on the existence of behavioural problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoéducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, C.P. 1250, Succ. Hull, Canada J8x 3X7. marie.robert@uqo.ca
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pauzé
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011792:Quebec; D012944:Social Support