Street Families Research Articles

NEXUS BETWEEN BIBLICAL STUDIES PROGRAM AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT OF STREET FAMILIES IN SELECTED FAITH BASED ORGANIZATION’S REHABILITATION PROGRAMS IN ELDORET TOWN, KENYA

Despite numerous efforts, the number of street families in Kenya continues to increase over time. This threat that has existed since independent has proven to be difficult to overcome. However, faith-based organizations now recognize their biblical mandate for reaching out in love to the needy as a panacea to this threat. Therefore, this study explored the nexus between biblical studies programs and the spiritual development of street families drawn from the rehabilitation programs in selected Faith Based Organizations in Eldoret Town, Kenya. The study was underpinned by the Divine Command Theory, and adopted a descriptive mixed methods research design that triangulated data collection by infusing a mix of techniques, including questionnaire, interviews and field observations. The study targeted 52 FBO directors, 687 street families, 180 chaplains, and the chairman of the North Rift Child Care and Protection Association (NRCCPA). In retrospect, a sample of 246 individuals comprising of 12 FBO directors, 48 chaplains, 185 street families and the chairman NRCCPA was constituted. Validation and reliability of the study instruments was facilitated through a pilot study conducted in the nearby town of Kapsabet in Nandi County. Consistent with the mixed methods approach, data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative data analysis was facilitated through frequencies/proportions and Chi-square tests of association. Conversely, qualitative codes were used to extract recurring themes from the qualitative nuances. The descriptive analysis results together with field observations and interview responses revealed that bible study programs continue to be a significant component of FBOs' efforts to rehabilitate street families in Eldoret town. The Pearson chi-square test, the likelihood ratio test, and the linear-by-linear test results confirmed that the nexus between these bible study programs and spiritual development among street families is positive and statistically significant. The study concludes that proactive employment of Bible study programs in FBOs in Eldoret town to rehabilitate street families has a direct impact on the spiritual growth of these families. Therefore, all FBO’s should also adopt policy guidelines that embrace bible studies programs.

Relationship between Leadership Skills Program and Spiritual Development of Street Families in Selected Faith-Based Organization’s Rehabilitation Programs in Eldoret Town, Kenya

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between leadership programs and the spiritual growth of street families participating in selected Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) rehabilitation programs in Eldoret Town, Kenya. The study was guided by the Divine Command Theory and utilised a descriptive mixed-methods research design anchored in the pragmatist research philosophy. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires for quantitative data, observations, and oral interviews for qualitative data. Various sampling techniques were employed, including purposive, proportionate stratified random, simple random sampling, and census sampling. The study sample included 12 directors of FBO’s, 185 street families, 48 chaplains, and the Chairman of the North Rift Child Care and Protection Association (NORCCAPA). Data collection instruments were validated through a pilot study in Kapsabet town in Nandi County. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests of association, while qualitative data was analysed thematically and reinforced with results from field observation using the NVIVO software. The study established a positive and significant relationship between exposure to leadership programs and the spiritual development of street families, as well as an improvement in their skills and confidence. Therefore, Christian-based initiatives infused in leadership programs given to street families ensure their holistic development by not only attending to their immediate physical and emotional needs but also nurturing their spiritual welfare. The study recommends that all FBOs implement leadership programs and policy guidelines to support these initiatives.

A critique of the efficacy of the right to shelter for street children in Kenya

The right to housing or shelter is a fundamental right that has been given recognition at national, regional, and international levels. In Kenya, everyone's right to access adequate housing and basic shelter is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and various international and regional human instruments, but there is no specific legislation or policy that caters to the right of street families and children to access housing or shelter. The gap that exists in law and policy deepens the vulnerability of street families and children, who are being left behind and not included in governmental socioeconomic programmes and interventions targeting vulnerable and marginalised persons. For example, street children are often excluded from planning, budgeting, and national decisions relating to socio-economic rights that include shelter. This article considers how Kenya's street children's right to shelter may be protected. Accordingly, it recommends measures that could be taken to protect their right to shelter, as well as other socio-economic rights, and thereby create a pathway to realising the values of equality and human dignity enshrined in the Constitution.

Circularity as a New Imperative in Plastics Waste Management in Kenya

Plastics are a major source of pollution in Kenya and present a wicked problem for the country, drawing in several players; the national and county governments, private sector, NGOs and street families each with their own agenda. The government has taken steps to control the plastic pollution problem through recent policy action including a ban on single use plastics and development of regulations. Producers have responded spontaneously through formation of collective Producer Responsibility Organizations to handle delegated extended responsibility over products they introduce into the market throughout the life cycle including the post consumption phase. The objective of the study is to analyse if the Responsibility Organizations are adequately designed to deliver on sustainability objectives in the plastics waste value chains. A case study approach was adopted using a review of secondary data. It is a finding of this study that two voluntary Producer Responsibility Organizations are operational in the plastics sector with commitments towards sustainability that work through member contributions and incentives to plastics waste collectors. A number of enabling policies and legislation are still in Draft form and need to be finalized. Comprehensive data on plastic production remains a challenge to assess the effect of the extended responsibility efforts so far. The plastics waste sector offers opportunity for employment for marginalized groups. Adaptive management practice offers opportunity for self-regulation by plastic producers with minimal government policing. The environmental, social, and governance aspects of the Producer Responsibility Organizations need to be strengthened

Factors Affecting the Effectiveness ofStreet Families’ Rehabilitation Programs in Nairobi City County Kenya

Introduction:Street family rehabilitation is a major problem in Nairobi County as the numbers keep rising despite rehabilitation efforts. The current study was to assess the factors affecting the effectiveness of street families’ rehabilitation programs in Nairobi City County Kenya. Attachment theory was employed in the study. Methodology:The concurrent triangulation study design was employed. A sample of 135 respondents was selected through simple random sampling and data collected through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data and presented in tables. Findings:The study revealed that poverty (28.2%) was the greatest demographic factor affecting the effectiveness of street family rehabilitation programs. Results also revealed that the main resource available for rehabilitating street families the County is personnel (36.4%) and funding (13.6%) were the main needed resource for rehabilitation and that resource availability (52.7%)negatively affected street family rehabilitation. Finally, financial mobilization at (37.3%) by rehabilitation personnel was the main technical expertise need for effective street family rehabilitation which further affects the effectiveness of street family rehabilitation programs in Nairobi City County. The study therefore concludes that demographic factors, resource availability as well as technical expertise negatively affect the effectiveness of street families’ rehabilitation programs in Nairobi City County Kenya.

Betoning the Right to a Dignified Life Through the Lens of Street Families in Kenya

Betoning the Right to a Dignified Life Through the Lens of Street Families in Kenya

Street mothers' well-being and motivation to leave street life in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia: A phenomenological study.

Being-street mother is a challenging life situation for both the mothers and their children. However, the lived experiences of motherhood in street families are not explored very well in Ethiopia in general. Hence, this study explored street mothers' well-being, perception of street life, and motivation to leave street life in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia. A phenomenological study was conducted on 10 street mothers from July 13, 2021 to July 17, 2021. The mothers were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using face-to-face in-depth interview method. Data were analyzed using framework approach. Four themes emerged from the data: well-being of mothers and their children with four subthemes (physical, social, mental, and spiritual wellbeing), perception of street life, motivations to leave street life and efforts to end street life. Nearly all of the street mothers perceived that living on the street was terrible for them and their kids. They described it as an absolutely revolting, bitter, awful, horrible, and difficult life. Generally, street mothers had the motivation to leave street life, but only some had exerted tangible efforts to end the street life. Street mothers had a very poor status in almost all dimensions of well-being. The perception of mother about their street life was negative. The mothers had strong motivation to end street life but were unable to make strong tangible efforts showing that they need assistance mechanisms before they change to street extended families under misery.

Factors Associated with Health Seeking Behavior for Reproductive Tract Infections among Young Street Females in Eldoret, Kenya

Introduction: A reproductive tract infection (RTIs), among young women is a public health concern, especially in developing countries like Kenya. When a reproductive tract infection occurs, urgent treatment should be done to avoid short and long term consequences. However, few studies have evaluated factors associated with RTIs and healthcare seeking behaviours especially, among young street women in low and middle-income countries. Objective: This study aimed at determining the factors associated with healthcare seeking behavior for RTI infections among young street females in Eldoret town in Kenya. Methodology: This study utilized a cross-sectional study design. The study participants were young street females aged between 10-24 years. The independent variables of the study were age, education level, occupation, marital status, and healthcare associated factors such as distance to the facility, and health care perspectives on reproductive health were assessed. Informed consent was obtained from participants while assent was obtained from guardians for minors and persons in charge of street families. Results: A total of 77 young street females were enrolled. Those aged ≤15 years were 10 (13%) while those aged ≥ 20 years were 48 (62.3%). The study established that participants aged between 16 to 19 years were less likely to report having had an RTI compared to those aged between 20 to 24 years (95% CI; 0.216 (0.070-0.671), p=0.006). Majority had heard of RTI (62, 80.5%). Out of the fifty respondents (65%) who reported having ever experienced RTI in their lifetime, 36 (72%) sought treatment for the illness with 46 respondents (94%) seeking treatment after two days post-onset of symptoms. Additionally, the main first points of seeking treatment were pharmacies (21, 43%) and health facilities (25, 51%). Conclusions: The study findings show there’s a high burden of STIs among young street females in Eldoret.

Youth Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Unique Needs and Practical Strategies From International Perspectives

Youth Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Unique Needs and Practical Strategies From International Perspectives

The City of Angels/COVID California’s Center-Stage County

[Excerpt] I remember reading a comment in early June about how residents of Los Angeles were behaving as though we had all simply grown bored with the coronavirus that we collectively decided to start act like it no longer existed. This theory seemed plausible, when on every street families could be seen walking around without face masks and young adults were suddenly socializing again in close physical proximity to others who clearly were not members of their households. Bars, beaches, and gyms began to reopen as Southern Californians seemed eager above all else to “get back to normal.” On June 24, however, with more than 88,500 residents diagnosed, Los Angeles officially become the county with the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States (Gutman et al, 2020). Furthermore, as of June 22, the U.S. itself was currently registering the highest number of deaths from COVID-19, despite accounting for only 4% of the world’s population (Elflein, 2020).

Including Homeless Families and Children in the Social Protection System: A Brief Review of International Experience and Data on a Philippine Pilot Program

The Philippines’ social protection system is anchored on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Under the management of the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), the 4Ps covered over 3 million families and about 7.5 million children for a period of 64 months (February 2008 to May 2012), helping ensure that these children will grow up to be educated, healthy, and productive members of Philippine society. Part of its program innovations and improvements to keep pace with the challenges of a rapidly growing and urbanizing economy is the launched in late 2012, the pilot program - Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF). This program aims to provide immediate support and services (e.g. health, education, and housing grants) to homeless families with a long-term view towards empowerment to find alternatives to the harsh life on the streets, as well as integration into the 4Ps. Protecting street children from the potential harm and abuse of street life, and creating a stable environment which could eventually see them going back to school and receiving further investments in their wellbeing are also among the program objectives. The present study analyzed the key information of the MCCT-HSF beneficiaries, reviewed country experiences (in Chile, South Africa, India, and Brazil) support and services for the homeless, and determined main areas for consideration to enhance the design of the MCCT-HSF.

Participatory Action Research with Filipino Street Youth: Their Voice and Action against Corporal Punishment

The study investigated perspectives on corporal punishment of adolescents from street families in Manila, with the aim of creating actions that address the issue in that specific context. Participatory action research (PAR) was employed as a research design, collecting qualitative data with 11 youth, selected through purposive sampling. Results showed that harsh corporal punishment is highly normative in that context, most frequently physically and emotionally abusive, and often co‐occurs with verbal abuse. It has negative effects on the youth's feelings towards, and their relationship with, their parents, and it leads to defiant behaviours. The youth planned an action project to address the issue of corporal punishment in their families: producing a video clip and holding a parents' meeting. Through the PAR process, the youth were empowered to voice their feelings and perceptions and to take action to address the issue of corporal punishment in their families and in the wider community. The study demonstrated how PAR can serve as a pathway towards empowerment for a very vulnerable group.‘Investigated perspectives on corporal punishment of adolescents from street families in Manila’Key Practitioner Messages: Little is known about children's perceptions related to corporal punishment, and children remain powerless to address this issue which most often happens in the intimate family context. Harsh corporal punishment is a highly normative experience for street youth in Manila, and is often physically and verbally abusive. The PAR process served as a pathway to empowerment for the youth, enabling them to address the issue of corporal punishment in their context. ‘Little is known about children's perceptions related to corporal punishment’

“My body breaks. I take solution.” Inhalant use in Delhi as pleasure seeking at a cost

BackgroundInhalant use has existed in India since the 1970s and has increased significantly over the last decades, especially among street-oriented young people. The latter constitute a heterogeneous category: children from street families, children ‘of’ the street, rag pickers, and part-time street children. There are also inhalant-using schoolchildren and young people in slums. MethodsFieldwork was conducted for 1 year. Team ethnography, multi-sited and comparative research, flexibility of methods and writing field notes were explicit parts of the research design. Most research was undertaken with six groups in four areas of Delhi, exemplifying six generic categories of inhalant-using street-oriented young people. ResultsInhalants in India are branded: Eraz-Ex diluter and whitener, manufactured by Kores, are used throughout Delhi; Omni glue in one specific area. There is a general lack of awareness and societal indifference towards inhalant use, with the exception of the inhalant users themselves, who possess practical knowledge. They conceive of inhalants as nasha, encapsulating the materiality of the substances and the experiential aspects of intoxication and addiction. Fragments of group interviews narrate the sensory appeal of inhalants, and an ethnographic vignette the dynamics of a sniffing session. These inhalant-using street children seek intoxication in a pursuit of pleasure, despite the harm that befalls them as a result. Some find nasha beautiful, notwithstanding the stigmatization, violence and bodily deterioration; others experience it as an overpowering force. ConclusionA source of attraction and pleasure, inhalants ravage street children's lives. In this mysterious space of lived experience, their self-organization evolves. Distinguishing between hedonic and side effects, addiction helps to understand inhalant use as at once neurobiological, cultural, and involving agency. The implications are that India needs to develop a policy of treatment and employment to deal with the addiction.

Living Status/Shelter of Street Families of Kolkata: Prospects and Challenges

Kolkata is a densely populated city of eastern India with an estimated population of about 10 million and it is the fourth largest city in India (after Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore). A huge number of the population has settled their family on the pavements/streets or in the unauthorized slums (jhupri at canal side) of Kolkata for more than 40 years after migration from different districts of West Bengal and its neighboring states like Bihar, Orissa & Uttar Pradesh and from the neighboring country, Bangladesh and Nepal for securing their better living and it is a continuous process. But, there they live without requisite facilities and it is unprotected without any doubt. This present paper examines living status/shelter of street dwellers of Kolkata and their strategies for its improvement in future. For the purpose of the study, qualitative and quantitative data had been collected through adopting a random purposive sampling. Five hundred members of street families of different parts of Kolkata were interviewed in respect of their age, sex, religion, education, occupation, connecting person and etc. using a structured interview schedule. The information on their better shelter had also been collected through focus group discussion. From the study, it reveals that safe shelter was a prime hindrance for their survival. Due to absence of this, women’s privacy and security were violated. For their better shelter the majority of them were indifferent and only 10% of them had taken initiative on their own for safe shelter at the suburban area of the city.

Gendercide: Examining gender-based crimes against women and men

Inhalant use has existed in India since the 1970s and has increased significantly over the last decades, especially among street-oriented young people. The latter constitute a heterogeneous category: children from street families, children ‘of’ the street, rag pickers, and part-time street children. There are also inhalant-using schoolchildren and young people in slums.Fieldwork was conducted for 1 year. Team ethnography, multi-sited and comparative research, flexibility of methods and writing field notes were explicit parts of the research design. Most research was undertaken with six groups in four areas of Delhi, exemplifying six generic categories of inhalant-using street-oriented young people.Inhalants in India are branded: Eraz-Ex diluter and whitener, manufactured by Kores, are used throughout Delhi; Omni glue in one specific area. There is a general lack of awareness and societal indifference towards inhalant use, with the exception of the inhalant users themselves, who possess practical knowledge. They conceive of inhalants as nasha, encapsulating the materiality of the substances and the experiential aspects of intoxication and addiction. Fragments of group interviews narrate the sensory appeal of inhalants, and an ethnographic vignette the dynamics of a sniffing session. These inhalant-using street children seek intoxication in a pursuit of pleasure, despite the harm that befalls them as a result. Some find nasha beautiful, notwithstanding the stigmatization, violence and bodily deterioration; others experience it as an overpowering force.A source of attraction and pleasure, inhalants ravage street children's lives. In this mysterious space of lived experience, their self-organization evolves. Distinguishing between hedonic and side effects, addiction helps to understand inhalant use as at once neurobiological, cultural, and involving agency. The implications are that India needs to develop a policy of treatment and employment to deal with the addiction.

Is there room at the inn? Palliative care for the homeless

One of the main themes of the 2006 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was to ensure ‘access for all’ and over 75 countries including the UK took part in the celebrations. This remains a welcome goal as it reiterates the view held in palliative care settings that everyone has a right to high quality end-of-life care. Most people come from family homes into palliative care facilities, and there is documented evidence (Gomez et al, 2011) that most people prefer to die in their own homes. In that case, facilities and services are brought to their homes to enable their wishes. While efforts are being made to ensure such preferences and access for black and minority ethnic groups, the needs of other vulnerable groups such as travellers, prisoners and homeless people require extra commitment from palliative care service providers. The profile of homeless people suggests their symptoms may not always be cancer-related, but may include liver failure due to alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDS, and self-neglect (St Mungo’s, 2004). With liver failure, jaundice is the overt symptom to look for, together with capsular pain. The work of St Mungo’s (2004) together with Marie Curie hospice services highlighted how homeless people tend to present with spontaneous bleeding, low mood, social isolation and self-harm/neglect, which may suggest a perceived lack of purpose in life. Judging by the continued presence of homeless people, it makes sense to conclude we have failed to eradicate the causes of homelessness, which makes the argument for their accessing palliative care more important. But it must be acknowledged that homeless people and the nature of their profile pose a challenge for accessing palliative care services., for example, where they live (on the streets or temporary unsuitable accommodation), communication issues or tensions with health professionals, stigma and prejudice they may experience. GPs and community nurses may not always register and visit them on the streets. Unlike younger homeless people, whose numbers are well documented (Warnes and Crane, 2000), older homeless people are not well accounted for. Warnes and Crane (2000) report on an analysis of the Hansard which showed less than 1% of items on older homeless people, compared to 24% on young homeless in the same period. The lack of statistical evidence may also suggest low priority being given to their plight. Conversely, it may suggest the complexity of identifying the homeless, rough sleepers or missing persons. Homeless people over 50 tend to be invisible as they often stay hidden away from public view. Definitions of homeless do not help, as the suggestions point at those over 50, sleeping rough and/or living in temporary/inappropriate accommodation, and even those at risk of imminent homelessness. Because of their profile, homeless people might benefit from specially designed caring services embedded in the palliative care philosophy, with a focus on the psychology of homelessness and the lifestyle and street families network inherent in their life. The preference for dying at home seems to work better when the patient has a supportive family or friends. With a homeless patient, the ideas of discharge and home visits need reviewing. A coordinator role, which has worked well at St Mungo’s hospice, might be crucial across the country. And lessons could be learnt from joint-working between St Oswald’s Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support when they collaborated with Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust to develop a specific service for people with learning disability approaching the end of life. Doing it this way means that homeless people can be afforded access to palliative care services without restrictions on their lifestyles and behaviours, often found in hospitals. If effective palliative care is to be delivered to homeless people, health professionals within the field must have further awareness of the complexities inherent in being homeless, for example, a high mortality rate, which suggests prompt decisions and immediate intervention are important. In addition, homeless people tend not to have surrogate decision-makers and health professionals may end up acting in their ‘best interest’. With that in mind, palliative care training should be offered to staff in hostels and other temporary accommodation. Collaboration with community nurses working in palliative care settings about homeless people should also be encouraged. Politicians must provide extra funding to hospices and other palliative care settings to enable this. Homeless people approaching end of life can be supported to enhance their quality of life, albeit briefly. Services that recognise the complex symptoms and lifestyle inherent within homelessness should be supported. BJCN

CATEGORIES OF STREET BEGGARS AND FACTORS INFLUENCING STREET BEGGING IN CENTRAL TANZANIA

This study examined categories of street beggars and factors influencing beg- ging activities in Central Tanzania using Dodoma and Singida Municipalities as case studies. A cross-sectional research design was employed in this study. Structured questionnaires were administered to 130 street beggars, who were selected from various public spaces using a convenience sampling technique. Focus-group discussions, key-informant interviews, and observations were also used to collect primary data. The study found that street beggars fell into four categories namely beggars on the streets, beggars of the streets, beggars in the streets, and beggars of street families, based on where they slept after begging hours and con- tacts with their families. Furthermore, the phenomenon of street begging is an outcome of many factors, including poverty, unemployment, physical challenges, death of parents, and family disintegration. The study recommends that to address the phenomenon of street beg- ging, policy planners and local government authorities must adopt multi-faceted, multi-target- ed, and multi-tiered approaches in the form of preventative and responsive interventions.

The role of solvents in the lives of Kenyan street children: an ethnographic perspective

This paper explores the use of solvents among a group of street children in Ruiru, a satellite town of Nairobi. Solvent use is functional- dulling the senses against the hardship of the streetyet it also provides a link to the support structure of the ‘street family’ as a potent symbol of shared experience. Organisations working to rehabilitate street children are criticised for failing to appreciate the social context of solvent dependence amongst street children. Dependence on glue is preceded by dependence on ‘street families’, therefore organisations working to rehabilitate street children need to ensure they work through, rather than in conflict with, the ‘street family’. Key Words: Solvents, street children, Kenya, ethnography

The Lives of Sesame Street: The Impact of Foreclosures on Young Children and Families

While significant attention has been paid to Wall Street investors and families impacted by the current subprime mortgage crisis in the USA, the lives of Sesame Street are minimally discussed. Children and their families are enduring a variety of consequences of foreclosures. The consequences can be hugely disruptive to the approximately 2 million voiceless victims. For the youngest citizens of the USA — its children — the subprime mortgage crisis, particularly home foreclosures, is impacting school attendance, academic performance and achievement, social development and emotional well-being. The authors argue that media and political attention should also include the unintended and often unnoticed repercussions of foreclosures on young children and their education. It is also argued that educators and policy makers should create policies and develop concerted efforts to alleviate the negative impacts on young children.

Teaching and Learning Guide for: Racial Residential Segregation in Urban America

Teaching and Learning Guide for: Racial Residential Segregation in Urban America