Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-2014
Abstract
Objective: This research evaluates the effectiveness of a pilot collaboration in Georgia (USA) designed to help homeless veterans, with open child support cases,locate employment, find permanent housing, resolve legal issues, and begin making child support payments. Method: The study employed a single group pretest posttest research design (n= 45). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from all 45 participants enrolled in the study. Results: Between baseline and posttest,mean monthly child support payments increased 47% ($55 to $81). While child support payments improved, they remained well below the $396 mean monthly amount owed. Sixty-nine percent of the sample remained unemployed at posttest and presented with major barriers to employment. Half of focus group respondents reported improved housing conditions over the course of the study. While a few veterans reported progress on resolving legal issues, the majority had extant legal issues at the end of the study. Conclusions: While a majority of focus group participants felt their lives had improved, stronger interventions tailored to help participants overcome multiple, complex barriers to employment will be necessary to help homeless veterans secure living wage employment and make substantial child support payments.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.15640/jssw.v2n2a14
Recommended Citation
Brooks, F., Hartinger-Saunders, R., Scurlock, R., & (2014). Helping homeless veterans find employment and pay child support: a program evaluation. The Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 2(2), pp. 252-253.https://doi.org/10.15640/jssw.v2n2a14
Comments
Originally published in
Brooks, F., Hartinger-Saunders, R., Scurlock, R., & (2014). Helping homeless veterans find employment and pay child support: a program evaluation. The Journal of Sociology and Social Work, 2(2), pp. 252-253.https://doi.org/10.15640/jssw.v2n2a14
(c) The Authors.