Safety

Child Trends published this brief to help state policymakers and educators develop supportive learning environments that meet the needs of students with a history of traumatic experiences and ensure that all students succeed in school. The authors define a supportive learning environment as a school that provides a safe and positive school culture and climate and attends to the physical, mental, social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. (author abstract modified)

This research brief from SchoolHouse Connection looks at demographic and risk factor data of high school students experiencing homelessness compared with students not experiencing homelessness. It uses the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results from 17 states during the 2016-2017 school year. According to these data, more than 28% of students experiencing homelessness miss school due to safety concerns, which is nearly five times higher compared with their stably housed peers. These safety concerns include navigating through dangerous neighborhoods, often before sunrise and after dark, and being bullied by their classmates. This brief provides action steps schools can take to help these students feel safe and increase their attendance.

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) developed this issue brief to help law enforcement better understand its role in addressing the intersections between juvenile justice and youth homelessness. It provides recommendations based on the CJJ Principles for Change and highlights local examples of successful implementation of these recommendations. CJJ contends that through proper training and by collaborating with local leaders, homeless programs, juvenile justice agencies, and other stakeholders, law enforcement can play an important role in improving outcomes for vulnerable youth and ensuring that young people do not experience homelessness as a result of justice involvement, or come into contact with the system as a result of their lack of stable and secure housing.