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COUN 6785: Social Change in Action:

Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy

Social Change Portfolio

C. Bilzing

Introduction: Addressing the Homeless Population in Oahu, Hawaii

The state of Hawaii is a place that many people dream of visiting in a lifetime. The luscious scenery and picturesque beaches seen in photos of Hawaii are a vision that many people that have never visited think about when planning a vacation. Where this information about the islands is very true, it does not paint a picture of what the islanders call “the real Hawaii”. Those that live here are able to experience first hand the not so glorious aspects about life in Hawaii and one of the biggest concerns of the community being that a majority of the population is suffering from living in poverty Due to the high numbers of individuals living in the community living at or below the poverty level, the homeless population continues to grow in the state. This portfolio specifically addresses communities living in poverty as well as the homeless population of Oahu, Hawaii.

Part 1: Scopes and Consequences

The growing population of the homeless community in Oahu, Hawaii sparks a major concern in the mental health community that could be dramatically changed with a prevention program aimed at addressing direct concerns with those individuals that are homeless in the community. The island of paradise is one that does not lack scenery and tranquility for many vacationers, however those living in the community struggle in various financial areas as well as lack the mental health support that many need in order to be successful living the rich island lifestyle. Research on the homeless population in Oahu states that Hawaii has the highest number of homeless population per capita in the nation (Engfer, 2017). Compared to a national average of 19 homeless individuals per 10,000; Hawaii’s homeless population is 45 to every 10,000 (Engfer, 2017). When looking at the data compared to the national average as well as the geological size of the state in comparison to others, the homeless community should be a major concern for the state as well as the rest of the nation. The direct consequences of the homeless community is that mental health concerns as well as addiction concerns can lead to high levels of crime, exposure to disease, or even suicide (Engfer,2017). It also puts children and youth at further risk of developing many of the same issues and increases the risk of teen runaways in the area (Engfer, 2017).

Homelessness in Oahu, Hawaii can be addressed by putting in place a prevention program aimed directly at mental health awareness and services in the community.

Part 2: Social- Ecological Model

In order to configure if this plan is suitable for the community as well as obtainable, risk and protective factors should be evaluated in order to determine various levels of awareness. The Social-Ecological Model helps to identify risk and protective factors at five different levels that include individual, peer, family, school, and community/culture (Swearer & Hymel, 2015). Applying the Social-Ecological Model to address a prevention program for homelessness in Hawaii that is aimed directly at mental health awareness and services in the community will help to determine the need for social change on this topic in the community.

Individual- Risk factors that can lead to homelessness in the community are age, childhood trauma, substance use, and mental health issues. Many reports on those found homeless in Hawaii have one or all of these risk factors that could place an individual at risk for becoming homeless on an individual level. Protective factors include receiving services for mental illnesses and substance abuse, an absence of substance use, as well as developed coping skills.

Peer- Risk factors that involve peers that could contribute to homelessness in this community include: having negative peer influence, being involved with other peers that are homeless, lack of social skills and antisocial behaviors. Peer influence begins to weigh heavily on an individual's life choices beginning in early adolescence and therefore could either positively and negatively influence choices that lead to homelessness (Tyler & Ray, 2019). Protective factors include having close peers that positively influence the individual and having developed social skills and confidence that aids in decision making.

Family- Risk factors that involve the family include: having family members that were previously or currently homeless, experience abuse and/or violence,financial stress and poverty and dealing with divorce and separation. In Hawaii, family influence is the most important factor in the decision making process and life choices of an individual. In most cases, individuals that experience one or more of these risk factors are more than likely to be put at higher risk of becoming homeless (Tyler & Ray, 2019). Protective factors include financial stability, living with both parents present, and no experiences with abuse and violence in the family.

School- Risk factors that involve school include: no graduating high school/dropping out and a lack in quality of education based on low standards of learning as well as financial stress (Tanabe & Mobley, 2011). The school systems in Hawaii have some of the highest numbers of teen dropouts as well as a low standard of education in the state(Tanabe & Mobley, 2011) . The quality of education is low due to many of the state living below poverty and lack of funding for school systems. Protective factors include: successful graduation from high school and investment in higher education/vocational programs post graduation.

Community/Culture: Risk factors that involve community and culture include: living in an area of poverty, housing availability, and employment difficulties. As stated previously, Hawaii has some of the highest numbers of those individuals living in poverty in our country making housing unaffordable to many (Engfer, 2017). Many of the state thrives financially from local and family businesses due to cultural responsibility and tradition (Engfer,2017). Protective factors include: living above the poverty line, being employed, and having access to affordable housing.

References

Engfer, K. (2017). Homeless in Paradise: A Phenomenological Study of Psychological Dynamics with the Homeless on Oahu. Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, 12(2), 142–156

Swearer, S. M., & Hymel, S. (2015). Understanding the psychology of bullying: Moving toward a social-ecological diathesis–stress model. American Psychologist, 70(4), 344-353.

Tanabe, C. S., & Mobley, I. H. (2011). The Forgotten Students: The Implications of Federal Homeless Education Policy for Children in Hawaii. Brigham Young University Education & Law Journal, 2011(1), 51–74.

Tyler, K. A., & Ray, C. M. (2019). Risk and protective factors for substance use among youth experiencing homelessness. Children and Youth Services Review, 107. https://doi-org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104548