Purpose – This article aims to describe methodological issues in relation to the definition of homelessness and the drawing of samples of young homeless people in four European countries. The purposes of the research project were, first, to make a comparison of different homeless situations facing young people in these four countries, and second, to introduce early intervention and action planning methodologies developed in the UK and The Netherlands to other countries in the study – Portugal (a family welfare society) and the Czech Republic (an ex-communist regime redeveloping its welfare policies).
Design/methodology/approach – After extensive discussions and key worker interviews with local agencies, 54 homeless young people were interviewed in each country. Each sample was intended to be purposive in that it should recruit homeless young men and women from those born in that country from the dominant (white) ethnic group, born in that country from minority ethnic groups, and young people not born in that country. A major issue was how to define homelessness in order to be able to recruit across the spectrum of homeless youth.
Findings – The purposive samples recruited in the four countries reflected the availability of services in those countries and levels of family support. Whilst young homeless people in The Netherlands and the UK were mostly living in supported housing, in Portugal they were living as “hidden homeless” and in the Czech Republic on the streets or in squats.
Research limitations/implications – The methodological difficulties encountered during the project are themselves a useful lesson learnt, for the creation of trans-national understanding and politicy.
Practical implications – Nevertheless, despite the very different circumstances of limited services in Portugal and the Czech Republic, it appeared that both early intervention methods and key working approaches could be applied broadly across the EU.
Originality/value – Transnational studies of youth homelessness are rare and therefore produce particularly useful insights for research, policy and practice.
(Publisher abstract)
Purpose – This article aims to describe methodological issues in relation to the definition of homelessness and the drawing of samples of young homeless people in four European countries. The purposes of the research project were, first, to make a comparison of different homeless situations facing young people in these four countries, and second, to introduce early intervention and action planning methodologies developed in the UK and The Netherlands to other countries in the study – Portugal (a family welfare society) and the Czech Republic (an ex-communist regime redeveloping its welfare policies).
Design/methodology/approach – After extensive discussions and key worker interviews with local agencies, 54 homeless young people were interviewed in each country. Each sample was intended to be purposive in that it should recruit homeless young men and women from those born in that country from the dominant (white) ethnic group, born in that country from minority ethnic groups, and young people not born in that country. A major issue was how to define homelessness in order to be able to recruit across the spectrum of homeless youth.
Findings – The purposive samples recruited in the four countries reflected the availability of services in those countries and levels of family support. Whilst young homeless people in The Netherlands and the UK were mostly living in supported housing, in Portugal they were living as “hidden homeless” and in the Czech Republic on the streets or in squats.
Research limitations/implications – The methodological difficulties encountered during the project are themselves a useful lesson learnt, for the creation of trans-national understanding and politicy.
Practical implications – Nevertheless, despite the very different circumstances of limited services in Portugal and the Czech Republic, it appeared that both early intervention methods and key working approaches could be applied broadly across the EU.
Originality/value – Transnational studies of youth homelessness are rare and therefore produce particularly useful insights for research, policy and practice.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
housing, homelessness, young people, research methods, comparative studies, black and minority ethnic people;
Content type:
research
Location(s):
Netherlands, United Kingdom, Portugal, Czech Republic
International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care, 5(1), June 2009, pp.15-24.
Publisher:
Emerald
The paper addresses diversity, multi-culturalism and mental health. It reports qualitative data from a larger project on multi-cultural counselling competencies in Portugal which sought to meet the needs identified by specific minority groups by developing integrative, responsive and culturally sensitive treatments. A qualitative study is presented, with the aim of exploring the representations of mental health and illness held by ethnic minority groups in Portugal, as well as their specific needs and obstacles encountered in their interactions with health professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the results indicate that the meanings of health and mental health varied. Meanings of psychological health were related to general well-being. Help-seeking behaviours were associated with providing and receiving family and social support, mainly among participants of African descent. Although the great majority of participants had had no experience of counselling or psychotherapy, they expected psychologists to be multiculturally sensitive, as well as knowledgeable about diversity and multi-culturalism. Implications for development of mental health services for minority clients are discussed.
The paper addresses diversity, multi-culturalism and mental health. It reports qualitative data from a larger project on multi-cultural counselling competencies in Portugal which sought to meet the needs identified by specific minority groups by developing integrative, responsive and culturally sensitive treatments. A qualitative study is presented, with the aim of exploring the representations of mental health and illness held by ethnic minority groups in Portugal, as well as their specific needs and obstacles encountered in their interactions with health professionals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the results indicate that the meanings of health and mental health varied. Meanings of psychological health were related to general well-being. Help-seeking behaviours were associated with providing and receiving family and social support, mainly among participants of African descent. Although the great majority of participants had had no experience of counselling or psychotherapy, they expected psychologists to be multiculturally sensitive, as well as knowledgeable about diversity and multi-culturalism. Implications for development of mental health services for minority clients are discussed.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, multicultural approach, needs, psychotherapy, attitudes, black and minority ethnic people, counselling;
Journal of Substance Use, 8(3), September 2003, pp.170-175.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
It is the primary intention of this paper to draw attention to social problematic features of drug use among two white minority ethnic groups: Portuguese and Italians. The concern about these white minority ethnic groups draws upon a study of problem drug use and race/ethnicity that was conducted at a London drug project in 2000/2001. The study entailed: (1) a detailed study of a sample of files of clients registered with the drug project; and (2) an open-ended questionnaire interview with staff of the project. Data were also drawn from the project's inhouse reports. While this paper focuses on the Portuguese and Italian clientele of the drug project, it also provides data on a control group of indigenous white (English, Scottish and Welsh) clientele of the drug project for comparison. Findings show points of convergence and divergence in the social needs of clients across the three ethnic groups. The findings also point to forms of social exclusion that are seemingly specific to Portuguese and Italians, which can compound their problem drug use. In conclusion, this paper points to the need to assign recognition to white ethnic minority drug use - in its own right - in policy and practical approaches to problem drug use.
It is the primary intention of this paper to draw attention to social problematic features of drug use among two white minority ethnic groups: Portuguese and Italians. The concern about these white minority ethnic groups draws upon a study of problem drug use and race/ethnicity that was conducted at a London drug project in 2000/2001. The study entailed: (1) a detailed study of a sample of files of clients registered with the drug project; and (2) an open-ended questionnaire interview with staff of the project. Data were also drawn from the project's inhouse reports. While this paper focuses on the Portuguese and Italian clientele of the drug project, it also provides data on a control group of indigenous white (English, Scottish and Welsh) clientele of the drug project for comparison. Findings show points of convergence and divergence in the social needs of clients across the three ethnic groups. The findings also point to forms of social exclusion that are seemingly specific to Portuguese and Italians, which can compound their problem drug use. In conclusion, this paper points to the need to assign recognition to white ethnic minority drug use - in its own right - in policy and practical approaches to problem drug use.
Subject terms:
immigrants, social exclusion, socioeconomic groups, substance misuse, unemployment, black and minority ethnic people, drug misuse;
Part 1 provides a background to equal opportunities issues, including sex discrimination, racial discrimination and race relations, age discrimination, sexuality, and discrimination against offenders and ex-offenders. Part 2 looks at law and practice in the UK, and at policy issues. It also includes a section on HIV and AIDS. Part 3 details equal opportunities in the EC, looking at, country by country: the position of women, parental rights and childcare, race relations, disability, age issues, and sexuality.
Part 1 provides a background to equal opportunities issues, including sex discrimination, racial discrimination and race relations, age discrimination, sexuality, and discrimination against offenders and ex-offenders. Part 2 looks at law and practice in the UK, and at policy issues. It also includes a section on HIV and AIDS. Part 3 details equal opportunities in the EC, looking at, country by country: the position of women, parental rights and childcare, race relations, disability, age issues, and sexuality.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, lesbians, offenders, parental rights, physical disabilities, race relations, sexual harassment, social policy, women, age discrimination, black and minority ethnic people, child care, equal opportunities, European Union, ex-offenders, gay men, good practice;
Post general election edition including many of the concerns raised in the 1997 election campaign. Section 1 looks at current welfare policy and provision in Britain and section 2 examines international developments. Includes papers on: social policy under the Major governments; welfare to work; towards a learning society or towards 'learningfare'; the Family Law Act 1996; charging for community care; funding long-term care; issues facing the social services workforce; the experience of black workers in the social care workforce; the new boundaries of health and welfare in collaborative care; quality services in quasi markets; the relationship between social policy, its producers and consumers; the future of the welfare state; comparing welfare states; family-state boundaries in Europe; familism and selectivism in community care for the elderly - a comparison of the Republic of Ireland and the UK; social policy in Portugal; the welfare state and the Spanish socialists; and East Asian social policy.
Post general election edition including many of the concerns raised in the 1997 election campaign. Section 1 looks at current welfare policy and provision in Britain and section 2 examines international developments. Includes papers on: social policy under the Major governments; welfare to work; towards a learning society or towards 'learningfare'; the Family Law Act 1996; charging for community care; funding long-term care; issues facing the social services workforce; the experience of black workers in the social care workforce; the new boundaries of health and welfare in collaborative care; quality services in quasi markets; the relationship between social policy, its producers and consumers; the future of the welfare state; comparing welfare states; family-state boundaries in Europe; familism and selectivism in community care for the elderly - a comparison of the Republic of Ireland and the UK; social policy in Portugal; the welfare state and the Spanish socialists; and East Asian social policy.
Subject terms:
interagency cooperation, long term care, multidisciplinary services, older people, policy formulation, quality assurance, service users, social policy, social workers, staff, training, welfare state, black and minority ethnic people, central government, charges, community care, comparative studies, education, families, employment, financing;
Describes child welfare systems in all the EC member states and provides a guide to the institutions and legislative processes within the European Union as they affect children. Also includes detailed information on: family trends; family policy; caring for children; poverty and social exclusion; education; health; homelessness; youth justice; residential and foster care; adoption; disability; violence to children; migrants, refugees and race; child labour; and civil rights.
Describes child welfare systems in all the EC member states and provides a guide to the institutions and legislative processes within the European Union as they affect children. Also includes detailed information on: family trends; family policy; caring for children; poverty and social exclusion; education; health; homelessness; youth justice; residential and foster care; adoption; disability; violence to children; migrants, refugees and race; child labour; and civil rights.
Subject terms:
homeless people, homelessness, law, physical disabilities, poverty, refugees, residential care, rights, social exclusion, social policy, social care provision, violence, youth justice, adopted children, black and minority ethnic people, child care, children, childrens rights, education, families, employment, European Union, foster care, health;
Location(s):
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Europe, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom
University of Kent. European Institute of Social Services
Publication year:
1993
Pagination:
401p.
Place of publication:
Canterbury
Detailed account of social services in the twelve member states of the European Community. Contains sections on: organisation, responsibility and finance for social services; preventative services; children and families; elderly people; people with disabilities; addictions; illnesses; AIDS/HIV; socially excluded people; young people; services for migrants; names and addresses of major public and private social services agencies.
Detailed account of social services in the twelve member states of the European Community. Contains sections on: organisation, responsibility and finance for social services; preventative services; children and families; elderly people; people with disabilities; addictions; illnesses; AIDS/HIV; socially excluded people; young people; services for migrants; names and addresses of major public and private social services agencies.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, immigration, learning disabilities, mental health, mental health problems, older people, physical disabilities, poverty, prevention, private health care, social exclusion, social services, voluntary organisations, young people, addiction, alcohol misuse, black and minority ethnic people, children, drug misuse, families, health care;