Volunteerism among homeless persons with developmental disabilities.
People with developmental disabilities have been historically excluded from mainstream society. Using the strength-based perspective, volunteerism was explored among homeless persons with self-reported developmental disabilities. It was hypothesized that volunteerism would be associated with indicators of healthy community integration. This would include volunteerism associated with unemployment due to disposable time and desire to gain job-related skills. Nearly half volunteered (n = 29), were older, visited friends or family monthly, and reported employment status that was associated with volunteerism. Logistic regression indicated that visiting with friends or family monthly increased volunteering, but unemployment decreased volunteering. Volunteerism might be a way "to give back" to agencies assisting them. Similarly, visiting family or friends suggests maintenance of social and community ties, suggesting healthy community integration.
Morton
Larry G
LG
School of Social Work, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, USA. LMortoni@emich.edu
Cunningham-Williams
Renee M
RM
Gardiner
Giovanina
G
D000328:Adult; D019058:Community Networks; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment; D014838:Volunteers
Soc Work. 2008 Jul;53(3):255-65
19275121
Community Ment Health J. 2009 Oct;45(5):341-8
19263221
Health Place. 2005 Jun;11(2):93-105
15629677
Skinmed. 2003 May-Jun;2(3):168-72; quiz 173-4
14673294
Community Ment Health J. 2006 Aug;42(4):377-404
16897413
Am Psychol. 1976 Jan;31(1):47-52
1247207
Addiction. 1997 Apr;92(4):437-45
9177065
Brain Inj. 1999 Jun;13(6):417-31
10401543
AIDS Care. 1997 Jun;9(3):273-84
9290833
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1990;16(3-4):207-22
2288321
Public Health Rep. 1998 Jun;113 Suppl 1:31-41
9722808