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Case Study of US Transitional Living Programs PDF

167 Pages·2016·2.32 MB·English
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Sustained Education Access for Homeless Youth: Case Study of U.S. Transitional Living Programs Heather Hall Walden University Follow this and additional works at: htps://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Political Science Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Tis Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by Heather Hall has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Ross Alexander, Committee Chairperson, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Gloria Billingsley, Committee Member, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Dr. Joyce Haines, University Reviewer, Public Policy and Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Sustained Education Access for Homeless Youth: Case Study of U.S. Transitional Living Programs by Heather P. Hall MSPP, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004 MBA, Mercer University, 1999 BBA, Pace University, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulifllment of the Requirements for the Degree o f Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2017 Abstract Without interventions to address homelessness among youth, the risk of homelessness for future generations is great. As a result, the federal government has invested in funding Transitional Living Programs (TLPs), though it is not clear whether these programs have achieved the intended outcomes of helping youth transition from homelessness to being able to sustain employment and avoid poverty through access to educational and workforce programs. Using the broad conceptualization of democratic governance as the foundation, the purpose of this case study was to assess whether access to educational programs through TLPs benefitted homeless youth in terms of program success. Data for this study were collected through interviews with 9 administrators of TLP service providers and publicly available documents for the years 2008-2014. Interview data were inductively coded and subjected to thematic analysis, and data from public sources were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Qualitative analysis revealed that long term, post- TLP outcomes were difficult to track as individual TLPs tended to lose contact with youth, though self-advocacy for participants, coupled with the ability to sustain long term independence, were keys to success for program participants. Participants also noted their perception that education through TLPs provide opportunity for stable social and economic connections. Positive social change resulting from this study may be attained if TLP long-term outcomes are evaluated using metrics that are realistic for the target population, and organizational goals are refocused on improving opportunities fo r youth to make meaningful contributions to their communities, and thereby build the social equity necessary for long-term success. Sustained Education Access for Homeless Youth: Case Study of U.S. Transitional Living Programs by Heather P. Hall MSPP, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004 MBA, Mercer University, 1999 BBA, Pace University, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillmen t of the Requirements for the Degree o f Doctor of Philosophy Public Policy and Administration Walden University February 2017 Dedication This research is dedicated to my mom, Eileen K. Hall, who made her transition while I was on this journey. Mom always made education a priority at home and set a high bar for accomplishment. To my sons, Jerome Williams and Justin Williams, and to my daughter, Jamila Williams: I have taught you to keep striving forward and upward and to never give up on achieving your goals. All of you have inspired and encouraged me in your own special way. To the many homeless youth and young adults who have been failed by systems purportedly designed to help them succeed and improve their futures: This study would have been impossible without you. Acknowledgments First, giving honor to the Creator and the Ancestors. I am extremely thankful for all past, present, and future blessings. I am grateful for Dr. Ross Alexander, my committee chair, for his guidance and encouragement during this journey. I am also thankful for Dr. Gloria Billingsley, my methodology committee member, for her support. Dr. Joyce Haines, my university research reviewer, has my sincere appreciation for her contribution to my achievement of this goal. I am thankful to the participants who spared the time to speak with me and for their supervisors who approved their participation. I am forever grateful to colleagues, family, and friends who offered their best wishes for my success and are eagerly awaiting my completion of this journey. To Dr. Mildred Charles, thank you for your words of encouragement and our conversations during this past year. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................v Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................1 Public Policy and Disenfranchised Communities ................................................... 1 Legislation............................................................................................................... 4 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................11 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................12 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................14 Research Questions ......................................................................................................14 Theoretical Framework of the Study ...........................................................................15 Operational Definitions ................................................................................................20 Assumptions, Limitations, Scope, and Delimitations ..................................................21 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................23 Summary ......................................................................................................................24 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................26 Democratic Governance and Public Policy .................................................................26 Structure of the Review ...............................................................................................28 Research Strategy.........................................................................................................28 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................29 Theory of Democratic Governance ....................................................................... 29 i The Public Policy Process ..................................................................................... 33 Democratic Governance and Policy Initiatives..................................................... 42 Social Change ..............................................................................................................63 Summary ......................................................................................................................66 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................68 Exploratory Case Study ...............................................................................................68 Research Approach ......................................................................................................69 Population in the Study ................................................................................................74 Sampling ......................................................................................................................75 Informed Consent.........................................................................................................78 Confidentiality .............................................................................................................79 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................79 Rationale for Data Collection ......................................................................................81 Instruments for Data Collection ...................................................................................82 Validity of Data............................................................................................................83 Procedures for Data Analysis.......................................................................................84 Presentation of Results .................................................................................................85 Relationship of Exploratory Study to Larger Study ....................................................85 Implications for Social Change ....................................................................................85 Summary ......................................................................................................................87 Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................88 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................88 ii Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 90 NVivo Analysis ..................................................................................................... 92 Public Databases ................................................................................................... 96 In-Depth interviews ................................ ................................ ............................ 100 Trustworthiness ................................ ................................ ................................ .......... 107 Summary ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 108 Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations ................................ .......... 110 Overview ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 110 Key Results ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 111 Interpretati on of the Results ................................ ................................ ....................... 113 Limitations of the Study ................................ ................................ ............................. 116 Recommendations ................................ ................................ ................................ ......117 Implications ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 119 Conclusion ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 120 References ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................ 123 Appendix A: Service Provider Organizations ................................ ................................ ..136 Appendix B: Research Questions Matrix: In -Depth Interviews ................................ ......141 Appendix C: Semistructured Interview Questionnaire ................................ .................... 145 Appendix D: Definitions of Homeless for Federal Program Serving Children, Youth, and Families ................................ ................................ ............................. 149 Appendix E: Transitional Living Program Logic Model ................................ ................. 153 Appendix F: 2015 Point -in-Time and Housing Inventory Counts...................................154 iii

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