The Impact Poverty Has on Adolescents' Experiences at School According to School Social Workers

Poverty is prevalent throughout the United States and can impact an individuals childhood following them into adolescence. The purpose of this project is to look at the impact poverty has on adolescents' experiences at school according to school social workers. Using a qualitative design, seven school social workers were interviewed regarding poverty in relation to their adolescent student's experiences at school. The interviews were transcribed and coded into themes and sub-themes. The emerging themes correlated with the literature. The findings showed themes of adolescents' living in poverty, academic, social and emotional experiences, to be key experiences school social workers see with poverty-stricken adolescents.