Case Study of US Transitional Living Programs

167 Pages·2016·2.32 MB·English

Walden University
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Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
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2017
Sustained Education Access for Homeless Youth:
Case Study of U.S. Transitional Living Programs
Heather Hall
Walden University
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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