Social Services Professionals' Views of Barriers to Supporting Homeless Noncustodial Fathers

Absent and Problematic: The Representation of Fathers in the Program Policies of Organizations that Provide Family-Centred Services in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside

Parenting education interventions and parenting programs are important for health promotion efforts among children and families; however, the majority of parenting programs are directed towards and attended by mothers. This is problematic because research has consistently demonstrated that fathers' active participation in the family can have a positive influence on mothers' well-being, children's self-esteem, success in school, and interpersonal relationships. In this paper, using an intersectional poststructuralist framework, document analysis, and Bacchi and Goodwin's "What's the problem represented to be" approach (WPR), we analyzed the program policies of 12 organizations that provide family-centred services in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We identified the following three discourses: organizations strive to be client-centred and provide choices; organizations want to empower their participants; and women need safe place to raise their families. Our analysis revealed that fathers are absent or represented as problems in program policies, and that this has consequences for not only fathers but also mothers and children.

Perspectives of homeless service providers on their work, their clients, and the healthcare system

PURPOSE

To describe the perspectives of homeless service providers who work for Chicago organizations that primarily serve persons experiencing homelessness.

METHODS

A qualitative, cross-sectional study of Chicago homeless service providers (n = 17) consisting of a semi-structured interview and the Attitudes Toward the Homeless Inventory (ATHI). Interviews were analyzed for themes and patterns using inductive approach.

RESULTS

Four categories of 16 themes describing homeless service providers' perspectives and perceptions: 1) perspectives on work, 2) perspectives on the general population of those experiencing homelessness at large, 3) perceptions of the population of those experiencing homelessness based on client interactions, and 4) perceptions of hospitals and healthcare.

CONCLUSIONS

A richer understanding of the perspectives of homeless service may provide guidance in recruitment and training of workers in this area and offer insight into caring for persons experiencing homelessness in hospital settings.

Pregnancy and parenting support for youth experiencing homelessness

This study explored the perceptions and experiences related to pregnancy and parenting support among youth while homeless. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design using data collected from focus group discussions. We assessed the experiences and perceptions of youth related to pregnancy and parenting support. Eighty-one youth participated in eight focus group discussions and were recruited from shelters, drop-in centers, and organizations that serve youth in a large metropolitan areas in the southern United States. Thematic content analyses were used to generate results from the qualitative data. Four main themes emerged: youth encountered barriers to accessing healthcare services at the individual and system levels; pregnancy and parenting are stressful, especially during homelessness; support can help overcome the stresses of parenting; and embracing responsibility or "stepping up" is a positive influence of pregnancy and parenting during homelessness. Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face significant challenges to accessing healthcare services and adjusting to the parental role. Interventions for pregnant and parenting youth should be co-designed with and tailored for youth and address the existing health inequities within the healthcare and social service systems.

Protocol for #iBeatCRC: a community-based intervention to increase early-onset colorectal cancer awareness using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach

INTRODUCTION

Th last two decades have seen a twofold increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence among individuals under the recommended screening age of 50 years. Although the origin of this early-onset CRC (EOCRC) spike remains unknown, prior studies have reported that EOCRC harbours a distinct molecular and clinical phenotype in younger individuals. The sharp increase in EOCRC incidence rates may be attributable to a complex interplay of factors, including race; lifestyle; and ecological, sociodemographic and geographical factors. However, more research that address psychosocial experiences and accounts for lifestyle-related behaviours before, during and after an EOCRC diagnosis are warranted. This study aims to develop and pilot test a theory-driven, community-based intervention to increase awareness of EOCRC, reduce its associated risk factors and improve early detection among adults aged 18-49 years.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel, we will use a multistage mixed-methods study design. We will pilot a sequential mixed-methods intervention study as follows: (1) First, we will analyse linked quantitative data from the Utah Cancer Registry and National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry, linked to state-wide demographic and vital records in the Utah Population Database to identify EOCRC hotspots in Utah by examining the EOCRC incidence and survival variance explained by personal and county-level factors. (2) Next, we will conduct one-on-one interviews with 20 EOCRC survivors residing in EOCRC hotspots to ascertain psychosocial and lifestyle challenges that accompany an EOCRC diagnosis. (3) Finally, we will consider existing evidence-based approaches, our integrated results (quantitative +qualitative) and community action board input to design a community-based intervention to increase EOCRC awareness that can feasibly be delivered by means of outdoor mass media, and via social media. We will pilot the multicomponent media campaign with a quasiexperimental design among 17 EOCRC hotspot residents and 17 EOCRC 'coldspot' residents.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB_00138357). Signed informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to any data collection. Study results will be disseminated through CRC community blogs, targeted infographics, conference presentations at national and international professional conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Final intervention-specific data will be available on reasonable request from the corresponding author.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04715074.