Abstract
Transitional living programs (TLPs) for homeless youth deliver critically needed services for a vulnerable and disadvantaged population, offering a temporary home while providing participants with the skills and experience they need to become independent. This study utilized a mixed-method design, emphasizing a quantitative approach, to examine the perspectives of youth participants in TLPs through the lens of ecological systems theory. Participants in seven different TLPs in the Twin Cities, MN area were recruited for an anonymous, online survey which asked questions regarding their experiences and perceptions of the services, staff, duration, structure, and policies of their programs. The 27 respondents reported high satisfaction with program staff, placed great importance on their educational goals and accomplishments, and identified greater access to medical and mental health services, including substance abuse counseling, as among their most pressing needs. Foster care youth were more likely to have a connection with a supportive adult than their peers, more likely to have a positive view of TLP staff and more likely to see greater access to staff as helpful. The study concludes with a discussion of the reasons for the low response rate with suggestions for improved study design on this topic.