Susanna Curry - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Susanna Curry

Research paper thumbnail of The Influence of Policy Context on Transition Age Foster Youths' Views of Self-Sufficiency

Journal of Social Service Research, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Correlates of Homeless Youths’ Stability-Seeking Behaviors Online and In Person

Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Introducing Technology in Child Welfare Referrals: A Case Study

Journal of Technology in Human Services, 2015

Access to social services is important for the safety of children and ultimately for reunificatio... more Access to social services is important for the safety of children and ultimately for reunification of families involved in the child welfare system. The process of linking families to services however, varies by caseworker and can be cumbersome and time-consuming. The DCFS Needs Portal is an internet-based intervention to improve the timing and quality of social service referrals in Los Angeles County We used a case study approach including in-depth interviews, direct observations and user feedback obtained from the Needs Portal to 1) determine perceived benefits and barriers to adopting the Needs Portal and 2) report how the flow of information between users and developers was used to adapt to user needs. Our analyses revealed four major barriers: 1) caseworker apprehension regarding new technology, 2) variation in communication styles by user type, 3) lack of technological infrastructure and 4) competing workplace demands. Information sharing between developers and users has the potential to better meet the needs of users and ultimately maximize utilization of new technology. Although internet-based interventions are designed to inexpensively and effectively coordinate services, emerging interventions may require in-person assistance and modifications in order to succeed.

Research paper thumbnail of An Alternative to Residential Neighborhoods: An Exploratory Study of How Activity Spaces and Perception of Neighborhood Social Processes Relate to Maladaptive Parenting

Child & Youth Care Forum, 2015

Background The environments where parents spend time, such as at work, at their child's school, o... more Background The environments where parents spend time, such as at work, at their child's school, or with friends and family, may exert a greater influence on their parenting behaviors than the residential neighborhoods where they live. These environments, termed activity spaces, provide individualized information about the where parents go, offering a more detailed understanding of the environmental risks and resources to which parents are exposed.

Research paper thumbnail of Housing Stability among Transition Age Youth: Interim Report

This project is the first to thoroughly investigate the geographic availability of housing (i.e.,... more This project is the first to thoroughly investigate the geographic availability of housing (i.e., location of housing), where TAY clients most need to have available housing options, the types of environments in which these beds are located; and the types of programs in which these beds are located. The results of the study will be used to identify specific policies and community-based interventions that can promote safety, stability, and desistance among high risk youth. This interim report details our findings from the quantitative portion of the study where we attempt to answer the following research questions: 1. Are TAY beds located in areas with high populations of TAY youth? 2. What are the significant features of the environment that are related to the number and location of TAY beds?

Research paper thumbnail of Housing and Social Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: State of the Research Literature and Directions for Future Inquiry

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2014

Youth who age out of the foster care system often experience a difficult transition to adulthood ... more Youth who age out of the foster care system often experience a difficult transition to adulthood in several important domains, including housing. Although high rates of homelessness are well documented, scant research has examined how youth navigate housing and living arrangements in the immediate years following emancipation. In addition, little is known about the relationship between social support and housing stability for this population. In this paper, we argue that in policy and practice regarding emancipated foster youth there is a central tension between the goal of ''self-sufficiency'' and the practical need to maintain and create supportive social connections. We suggest that programs for emancipated youth could benefit from more research and policy attention on this tension and how it may play a role in housing outcomes. In building our argument, we first review the literature on housing and emancipated foster youth in the transition to adulthood period. Next, we discuss the body of research literature exploring the role and function of social support for youth who have aged out of care. We highlight how policies appear to favor the development of self-sufficiency for aged-out youth over the development of a social support network and suggest key directions for future research, policy and practice concerning emancipated foster youth and housing.

Research paper thumbnail of “They Lay Down the Foundation and Then They Leave Room for Us to Build the House”: A Visual Qualitative Exploration of Young Adults’ Experiences of Transitional Housing

Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Racial Disparities in Service Referrals for Families in the Child Welfare System

Among families in the child welfare system, family reunification depends largely upon the service... more Among families in the child welfare system, family reunification depends largely upon the services to which families are referred. This study examines whether race/ethnicity influences the number and types of services to which families are referred. Findings suggest that compared to African American families, Hispanic families were more often referred to psychosocial services (e.g., mental health) than basic needs (e.g., housing). These findings indicate a need to reduce service referral disparities between ethnic groups.

Research paper thumbnail of Where Are the Beds? Housing Locations for Transition Age Youth Exiting Public Systems

Transition age youth (TAY) from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience high ra... more Transition age youth (TAY) from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience high rates of homelessness, but little is known about the neighborhoods to which they return after they exit these systems. This exploratory study investigates whether housing options are located in areas where TAY exit public systems and if the characteristics of areas surrounding these facilities support their transition to adulthood. Results show that housing is not related to areas where TAY exit public systems. Further, supportive housing and shelter density is related to low-income areas. Implications for practice and policy on housing locations for TAY are discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Influence of Policy Context on Transition Age Foster Youths' Views of Self-Sufficiency

Journal of Social Service Research, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Correlates of Homeless Youths’ Stability-Seeking Behaviors Online and In Person

Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Introducing Technology in Child Welfare Referrals: A Case Study

Journal of Technology in Human Services, 2015

Access to social services is important for the safety of children and ultimately for reunificatio... more Access to social services is important for the safety of children and ultimately for reunification of families involved in the child welfare system. The process of linking families to services however, varies by caseworker and can be cumbersome and time-consuming. The DCFS Needs Portal is an internet-based intervention to improve the timing and quality of social service referrals in Los Angeles County We used a case study approach including in-depth interviews, direct observations and user feedback obtained from the Needs Portal to 1) determine perceived benefits and barriers to adopting the Needs Portal and 2) report how the flow of information between users and developers was used to adapt to user needs. Our analyses revealed four major barriers: 1) caseworker apprehension regarding new technology, 2) variation in communication styles by user type, 3) lack of technological infrastructure and 4) competing workplace demands. Information sharing between developers and users has the potential to better meet the needs of users and ultimately maximize utilization of new technology. Although internet-based interventions are designed to inexpensively and effectively coordinate services, emerging interventions may require in-person assistance and modifications in order to succeed.

Research paper thumbnail of An Alternative to Residential Neighborhoods: An Exploratory Study of How Activity Spaces and Perception of Neighborhood Social Processes Relate to Maladaptive Parenting

Child & Youth Care Forum, 2015

Background The environments where parents spend time, such as at work, at their child's school, o... more Background The environments where parents spend time, such as at work, at their child's school, or with friends and family, may exert a greater influence on their parenting behaviors than the residential neighborhoods where they live. These environments, termed activity spaces, provide individualized information about the where parents go, offering a more detailed understanding of the environmental risks and resources to which parents are exposed.

Research paper thumbnail of Housing Stability among Transition Age Youth: Interim Report

This project is the first to thoroughly investigate the geographic availability of housing (i.e.,... more This project is the first to thoroughly investigate the geographic availability of housing (i.e., location of housing), where TAY clients most need to have available housing options, the types of environments in which these beds are located; and the types of programs in which these beds are located. The results of the study will be used to identify specific policies and community-based interventions that can promote safety, stability, and desistance among high risk youth. This interim report details our findings from the quantitative portion of the study where we attempt to answer the following research questions: 1. Are TAY beds located in areas with high populations of TAY youth? 2. What are the significant features of the environment that are related to the number and location of TAY beds?

Research paper thumbnail of Housing and Social Support for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care: State of the Research Literature and Directions for Future Inquiry

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 2014

Youth who age out of the foster care system often experience a difficult transition to adulthood ... more Youth who age out of the foster care system often experience a difficult transition to adulthood in several important domains, including housing. Although high rates of homelessness are well documented, scant research has examined how youth navigate housing and living arrangements in the immediate years following emancipation. In addition, little is known about the relationship between social support and housing stability for this population. In this paper, we argue that in policy and practice regarding emancipated foster youth there is a central tension between the goal of ''self-sufficiency'' and the practical need to maintain and create supportive social connections. We suggest that programs for emancipated youth could benefit from more research and policy attention on this tension and how it may play a role in housing outcomes. In building our argument, we first review the literature on housing and emancipated foster youth in the transition to adulthood period. Next, we discuss the body of research literature exploring the role and function of social support for youth who have aged out of care. We highlight how policies appear to favor the development of self-sufficiency for aged-out youth over the development of a social support network and suggest key directions for future research, policy and practice concerning emancipated foster youth and housing.

Research paper thumbnail of “They Lay Down the Foundation and Then They Leave Room for Us to Build the House”: A Visual Qualitative Exploration of Young Adults’ Experiences of Transitional Housing

Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Racial Disparities in Service Referrals for Families in the Child Welfare System

Among families in the child welfare system, family reunification depends largely upon the service... more Among families in the child welfare system, family reunification depends largely upon the services to which families are referred. This study examines whether race/ethnicity influences the number and types of services to which families are referred. Findings suggest that compared to African American families, Hispanic families were more often referred to psychosocial services (e.g., mental health) than basic needs (e.g., housing). These findings indicate a need to reduce service referral disparities between ethnic groups.

Research paper thumbnail of Where Are the Beds? Housing Locations for Transition Age Youth Exiting Public Systems

Transition age youth (TAY) from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience high ra... more Transition age youth (TAY) from the child welfare and juvenile justice systems experience high rates of homelessness, but little is known about the neighborhoods to which they return after they exit these systems. This exploratory study investigates whether housing options are located in areas where TAY exit public systems and if the characteristics of areas surrounding these facilities support their transition to adulthood. Results show that housing is not related to areas where TAY exit public systems. Further, supportive housing and shelter density is related to low-income areas. Implications for practice and policy on housing locations for TAY are discussed.