The Forgotten Ones

Information Literacy and

Homeless Youth in Portland:

A Research Proposal

LI810XO Summer 2012

Cheryl BemissMike HendersonBrianna HoffmanHaley Songchild

Background of Research Overview of Research Topic

• Who are Homeless Youth?• “Individuals no more than 21 years of age

for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative or legal guardian, who has no other safe alternative living arrangement,” (Jackson, 2011, p.5)

• Where Are They?• Highly Fluid and Mobile Population• Difficult to Assign Precise Numbers• Estimates 1,500-2,000 (Outside In, 2011)

to as high as 3,000 (Janus Youth Programs, 2012)

Background of Research Overview of Research Topic

• What are their Information Needs?• Survival Skills• Health Issues• Communication • Entertainment/Distraction • Karabanow & Naylor (2010) n=20, 40% Primary use of Internet - playing games

Background of Research What Has Already Been Done?

• Higher Level Needs

Background of Research What Has Already Been Done?

• Woelfer & Hendry, University of Washington, The Information School

• “New Tech for Youth Sessions” Program • Four Week Class for Homeless Youth aged

13-25• Eight Classes Total – Including • Creating a Resume • Web Searching• Managing an Online Identity

• Ancillary Benefits• Developing Trusting Relationship with Adult

Staff

Background of Research What REMAINS to be Done?

• Homeless Youth and LIBRARIES

• Losing the “Problem Patrons” Moniker

• Achieving a Contextual Understanding

Background of Research Theoretical Basis Behind Our Research Topic

• The Unique Position of Libraries• How can Libraries Improve Staff Attitudes

Toward Homeless Youth?• What Kinds of Partnerships with Outside

Agencies can be Forged?• What Type and Structure of Information

Literacy Programming Produces the Best Results for this Population?

Determinations Could Yield Significant Positive Results

Research Aim & Questions

Research Aim and Questions

Is information literacy a necessary component young people must achieve before obtaining a permanent residence?

What are the most common information needs of homeless youth and in what ways do they use this information?

How can library environments and library staff attitudes be changed to better serve homeless youth?

What kinds of information literacy programming should shelters and service centers be providing to homeless youth?

Methodological Considerations

• Philosophical Assumptions

• Sampling • Data

Collection Methods & Analysis Procedures

• Ethical Considerations

• Limitations of the Research

Philosophical Assumptions

• A Qualitative Study

• Interpretivism • Understanding

Behavior • Constructionism

• “Social Actors”

Methodological Considerations

Homeless youth in our study will not be treated as numbers,

but as individuals with rich narratives to explore.

• Sampling

How do you Sample a Shadowy, Transient

Population?

Methodological Considerations

Methodological ConsiderationsSampling

• We know a couple downtown hangouts & some teen shelters/day centers

• Scads of limitations - non-probability sampling

• Snowball method- Becker (1963) study on “deviants”- marijuana users

• Approaching youth at O'Bryant Square & Pioneer Courthouse Square

• n = 50. Pilot study = 10. • Flyer in Service Centers

Flyer Advertisement in Service Centers

Methodological Considerations

Sampling

• Flyer Advertisement• Outside In• New Avenues

for Youth• Janus Youth

Programs • Multi-lingual • English/

Spanish

Data Collection Methods & Analysis Procedures • The Semi-

Structured Interview

• One on One Interview Schedule

• Audio Records

Methodological Considerations

Ethical Considerations• Harm to

Participants• Confidentiality • Data Storage

• Informed Consent• Participants

Over 18• Participants

Under 18

Methodological Considerations

• Limitations of the Research • Transferability• Thick

Description • Credibility• Respondent

Validation • Confirmability • Dependability

Methodological Considerations

Significance of the Research

Significance of the Research

• For Researchers: focus attention on this underserved, under-investigated population. Springboard for additional research

• For Librarians: staff attitudes, programming (classes, scheduling), targeting, outreach, coordinate with social service agencies

• For Social service agencies: partner with libraries - referrals, in-house programming, share info & findings

• For Youth: Better match of programming to what's needed. More respect in libraries. Learning lifelong info literacy skills

• For Society: reduction of human suffering, better use of public funds, creating responsible citizens

Concluding Remarks • Organization• Adobe

Connect• Google Docs • Strengths and

Weaknesses• Work Division • Team Member

Roles• Knowing Our

Path

“A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

- attributed to Mahatma Ghandi

ReferencesBryman, A. (2012). Social Research Methods (4th

ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.Becker, H. S. (1963). Outsiders: Studies in the

sociology of deviance. New York: Free Press.Jackson, K. (2011). Toolkit for meeting the

educational needs of runaway and homeless youth. Washington, D.C.: National Network for Youth. Retrieved from http://www.nn4youth.org/main/pdf/TOOLKIT.2.pdf

Janus Youth Programs (2012). Retrieved from http://www.janusyouth.org/what-we-do/homeless-youth-services.php

Karabanow, J. & Naylor, T. (2010). “Being hooked up”: Exploring the experiences of street youth and information technologies. In E. Looker & T. Naylor (Eds.), Digital diversity: Youth, equity, and information technology (pp. 161-178). Retrieved from http://pathprogram.samhsa.gov/ResourceFiles/infotech.pdf

Outside In (2011). 2010-2011 Annual Report. Retrieved from http://www.outsidein.org/docs/Outside%20In%20Annual%20Report.pdf

Hendry, D. G., Woelfer, J. P., Harper, R., Bauer, T., Fitzer, B., & Champagne, M. (2011). How to integrate digital media into a drop-in for homeless young people for deepening relationships between youth and adults. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(5), 774-782. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2010.11.024

ImagesBorgerding, T. (2012, May 11). State increases

efforts to fight youth homelessness. WOSU News. Retrieved from http://beta.wosu.org/

Dinner & a Movie (2012). About us. Retrieved from http://www.dinnerandamoviepdx.com/about-us/

EIFL- Electronic Information for Libraries (2012, February 29). Good advocacy comes from the heart. Retrieved fromhttp://www.eifl.net/

Friedman, T. (2012, June 1). Ashland street tramps brace for latest crackdown. The Berkeley Daily Planet. Retrieved from http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com

Healing the abused. CA Homeless Youth Project Blog (2012, May 31). Retrieved from http://www.cahomelessyouth.tumblr.com/

Homeless youth pushed out during games. CBC News (2011, February 13). Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/community

Koenig, S. (2012, March 13). Portland teen homeless shelter gets national attention. Maine Sun Journal. Retrieved from www.sunjournal.com

Konstsntarus, J. (2011, November 1). City plans new youth shelter. Chicago News Co-op. Retrieved from www.chicagonewscoop.org

Lundebrek, M. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mnartists.org/work.do?rid=275799

Making library home creates conflict for homeless youth. The Oregonian (2011, June 25). Retrieved from http://www.photos.oregonlive.com/

Noble. C. (n.d.). Queer homeless youth. Retrieved from http://s570.photobucket.com/albums/ss142/chloenoble/Queer%20Homeless%20Youth/

Renna, C. (2011, October 23). LGBT rally for homeless youth. Gothamist. Retrieved from http://www.gothamist.com

Steagull, L. (2010, November 4). Coffee Oasis secures grants for homeless youth in Bremerton. The Kitsap Sun. Retrieved fromwww.kitsapsun.com

Stone, Z. (2011, November 21). Pledge drive gone wild. Good News. Retrieved from http://www.good.is/

Waldroupe, A. (2010, May 12). Groups converge in advance of summer’s street youth activity. Street Roots. Retrieved from streetroots.wordpress.com/