Paul Toro - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Uploads

Policy Briefs by Paul Toro

This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, home... more This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, homeless and former foster care youth attending post-secondary education, while also examining challenges that these populations currently face which contribute to the length of time till a degree is earned.

Papers by Paul Toro

Encyclopedia of Homelessness, Jan 15, 2014

American Psychologist, Feb 1, 2021

Memorializes Murray Levine (1928-2020), a pioneer in community psychology. In 1968 Levine became ... more Memorializes Murray Levine (1928-2020), a pioneer in community psychology. In 1968 Levine became professor of psychology and director of the clinical and community psychology program at State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), soon making it one of the top programs in the country. At Buffalo, he shaped community psychology through nu merous books and articles and by mentoring many doctoral-level students and junior faculty. His research at the intersection of law and psychology focused on mandated reporting, eye-witness testimony, the child welfare sys tem, and education reform. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Lynne Rienner Publishers eBooks, Apr 1, 2016

Encyclopedia of Homelessness, Jan 15, 2014

Journal of Social Distress and The Homeless, Jul 3, 2017

ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinate... more ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinated efforts to end it. Psychologists are well positioned to address homelessness through direct service, advocacy, research, and policy work. Results of a survey of psychologist members (n = 197) and student members (n = 209) of the American Psychological Association highlighted activities they engaged in related to helping people who experience housing instability and showed psychologists are more compassionate toward those who experience homelessness than is the general public. Respondents suggested a number of factors that would encourage their greater involvement with homelessness issues including receiving more focused training, increased funding for services, and simply being asked by someone to help. Given the continued problem of homelessness, psychologists can play an important role in supporting those who are in this situation. Suggestions for increasing training and engagement of psychologists are discussed.

Journal of Urban Affairs, Sep 3, 2019

Homelessness is a social problem that has been growing on the collective minds of people in many ... more Homelessness is a social problem that has been growing on the collective minds of people in many developed nations over the last 40 years. Community psychologists have conducted a range of research studies, provided summaries of relevant research on homelessness, and engaged in policy changes relevant to this social problem. Although homelessness exists in rural and suburban areas, it is largely seen as an urban problem and is most visible in urban areas. This review focuses specifically on contributions of people in the field of community psychology to methodological approaches to understanding homelessness and the most recent advances in these approaches. This will coincide with a look at how these have impacted policy in housing in the national government and beyond, and where future approaches may lead to further social and policy change.

This article reviews existing research on homelessness and presents some developing areas of new ... more This article reviews existing research on homelessness and presents some developing areas of new research. Prevalence estimates, as well as demographic, social, and diagnostic characteristics of homeless adults, youth, and family subgroups are presented. The article describes some preventive and other interventions for homeless people, including those with severe mental illness and substance use disorders.

Polish Journal of Applied Psychology, 2012

Journal of Community Psychology

Runaway youth may experience a myriad of challenges associated with significant risks to health a... more Runaway youth may experience a myriad of challenges associated with significant risks to health and well‐being. To examine the prevalence and correlates of running away from home among US youth. Annual US nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th graders between 2005 and 2017 from the Monitoring the Future study. Self‐reports of nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th graders in the US Annual survey data from 8th and 10th graders spanning 2005–2017, n = 116,520. The primary outcome of this study, running away from home in the past 12 months, was examined using multivariable weighted logistic regression. Predictor measures included: parent and peer relationships, school factors (e.g., grade point average [GPA]), internalizing symptoms, externalizing behavior, and substance use (alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes). Demographic measures in the model were grade level (8th or 10th), gender (boys or girls), parent education, and race/ethnicity. The annual prevalence of r...

Homelessness and Mental Health, 2021

This chapter reviews important methodological considerations relevant to comparing and contrastin... more This chapter reviews important methodological considerations relevant to comparing and contrasting estimated rates of mental illness among homeless populations in the US and nations in Europe. Existing research on international prevalence estimates is presented to highlight the impact of definitional and methodological differences on obtained rates of mental illness among the homeless. It is suggested that variation in estimates across nations observed in existing studies is due primarily to varying operationalizations of homelessness, sampling methodology, and mental health measures. The chapter also describes recommendations for future research on this topic.

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 2017

Health fairs are a cost-efficient platform for dissemination of preventive services to vulnerable... more Health fairs are a cost-efficient platform for dissemination of preventive services to vulnerable populations. Effectiveness of depression screenings and associated treatment linkage via community health fairs warrants investigation. METHODS: This study offers the first examination of a depression screening at a community health fair in 261 adult men (18-87 years). The PHQ-9 was administered via interview by graduate students and on-site psychiatric nurses were available for a brief consultation for those interested. RESULTS: Over a quarter of participants screened positive for at least moderate depressive symptomatology. Of those who screened positive, 35.8% met with an on-site psychiatric nurse for a consultation. At six-month follow-up, none of the participants given a referral made an appointment at the community mental health agency. CONCLUSION: This suggests the importance of providing on-site clinician consultations at health fairs and the need for a more coordinated system to schedule future appointments while at the event. IMPACT STATEMENT: Community health fairs reach vulnerable populations, such as those who are uninsured and who have not spoken with a professional about mental health concerns. By conducting depression screening and providing onsite access to a mental health consultation at community health fairs, participants are better able to identify their depressive symptoms and are introduced to ways to treat depression.

Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, 2003

Encyclopedia of Homelessness

This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, home... more This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, homeless and former foster care youth attending post-secondary education, while also examining challenges that these populations currently face which contribute to the length of time till a degree is earned.

Encyclopedia of Homelessness, Jan 15, 2014

American Psychologist, Feb 1, 2021

Memorializes Murray Levine (1928-2020), a pioneer in community psychology. In 1968 Levine became ... more Memorializes Murray Levine (1928-2020), a pioneer in community psychology. In 1968 Levine became professor of psychology and director of the clinical and community psychology program at State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo), soon making it one of the top programs in the country. At Buffalo, he shaped community psychology through nu merous books and articles and by mentoring many doctoral-level students and junior faculty. His research at the intersection of law and psychology focused on mandated reporting, eye-witness testimony, the child welfare sys tem, and education reform. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Lynne Rienner Publishers eBooks, Apr 1, 2016

Encyclopedia of Homelessness, Jan 15, 2014

Journal of Social Distress and The Homeless, Jul 3, 2017

ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinate... more ABSTRACT Homelessness in the U.S. remains a pernicious social problem despite national coordinated efforts to end it. Psychologists are well positioned to address homelessness through direct service, advocacy, research, and policy work. Results of a survey of psychologist members (n = 197) and student members (n = 209) of the American Psychological Association highlighted activities they engaged in related to helping people who experience housing instability and showed psychologists are more compassionate toward those who experience homelessness than is the general public. Respondents suggested a number of factors that would encourage their greater involvement with homelessness issues including receiving more focused training, increased funding for services, and simply being asked by someone to help. Given the continued problem of homelessness, psychologists can play an important role in supporting those who are in this situation. Suggestions for increasing training and engagement of psychologists are discussed.

Journal of Urban Affairs, Sep 3, 2019

Homelessness is a social problem that has been growing on the collective minds of people in many ... more Homelessness is a social problem that has been growing on the collective minds of people in many developed nations over the last 40 years. Community psychologists have conducted a range of research studies, provided summaries of relevant research on homelessness, and engaged in policy changes relevant to this social problem. Although homelessness exists in rural and suburban areas, it is largely seen as an urban problem and is most visible in urban areas. This review focuses specifically on contributions of people in the field of community psychology to methodological approaches to understanding homelessness and the most recent advances in these approaches. This will coincide with a look at how these have impacted policy in housing in the national government and beyond, and where future approaches may lead to further social and policy change.

This article reviews existing research on homelessness and presents some developing areas of new ... more This article reviews existing research on homelessness and presents some developing areas of new research. Prevalence estimates, as well as demographic, social, and diagnostic characteristics of homeless adults, youth, and family subgroups are presented. The article describes some preventive and other interventions for homeless people, including those with severe mental illness and substance use disorders.

Polish Journal of Applied Psychology, 2012

Journal of Community Psychology

Runaway youth may experience a myriad of challenges associated with significant risks to health a... more Runaway youth may experience a myriad of challenges associated with significant risks to health and well‐being. To examine the prevalence and correlates of running away from home among US youth. Annual US nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th graders between 2005 and 2017 from the Monitoring the Future study. Self‐reports of nationally representative samples of 8th and 10th graders in the US Annual survey data from 8th and 10th graders spanning 2005–2017, n = 116,520. The primary outcome of this study, running away from home in the past 12 months, was examined using multivariable weighted logistic regression. Predictor measures included: parent and peer relationships, school factors (e.g., grade point average [GPA]), internalizing symptoms, externalizing behavior, and substance use (alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes). Demographic measures in the model were grade level (8th or 10th), gender (boys or girls), parent education, and race/ethnicity. The annual prevalence of r...

Homelessness and Mental Health, 2021

This chapter reviews important methodological considerations relevant to comparing and contrastin... more This chapter reviews important methodological considerations relevant to comparing and contrasting estimated rates of mental illness among homeless populations in the US and nations in Europe. Existing research on international prevalence estimates is presented to highlight the impact of definitional and methodological differences on obtained rates of mental illness among the homeless. It is suggested that variation in estimates across nations observed in existing studies is due primarily to varying operationalizations of homelessness, sampling methodology, and mental health measures. The chapter also describes recommendations for future research on this topic.

Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 2017

Health fairs are a cost-efficient platform for dissemination of preventive services to vulnerable... more Health fairs are a cost-efficient platform for dissemination of preventive services to vulnerable populations. Effectiveness of depression screenings and associated treatment linkage via community health fairs warrants investigation. METHODS: This study offers the first examination of a depression screening at a community health fair in 261 adult men (18-87 years). The PHQ-9 was administered via interview by graduate students and on-site psychiatric nurses were available for a brief consultation for those interested. RESULTS: Over a quarter of participants screened positive for at least moderate depressive symptomatology. Of those who screened positive, 35.8% met with an on-site psychiatric nurse for a consultation. At six-month follow-up, none of the participants given a referral made an appointment at the community mental health agency. CONCLUSION: This suggests the importance of providing on-site clinician consultations at health fairs and the need for a more coordinated system to schedule future appointments while at the event. IMPACT STATEMENT: Community health fairs reach vulnerable populations, such as those who are uninsured and who have not spoken with a professional about mental health concerns. By conducting depression screening and providing onsite access to a mental health consultation at community health fairs, participants are better able to identify their depressive symptoms and are introduced to ways to treat depression.

Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion, 2003

Encyclopedia of Homelessness