Childhood Risk Factors in Dually Diagnosed Homeless Adults

Laura E. Blankertz, Matrix Research Institute
Ram A. Cnaan, University of Pennsylvania
Erica Freedman, University of Pennsylvania

Article comments

Reprinted from Social Work, Volume 38, Issue 5, 1993, pages 587-596.
The authors assert their right to include this material in the ScholarlyCommons@Penn.

Abstract

Although the negative long term effects of specific childhood risk factors - sexual and physical abuse, parental mental illness and substance abuse, and out of home placement - have been recognized, most studies have focused on just one of these risks. This article examines the prevalence of these five childhood risk factors among dually diagnosed (mental illness and substance abusing) homeless adults in rehabilitation programs. It further assesses the impact of each risk factor individually and in combinations of two on the social functioning skills and rehabilitation progress of these multiply disadvantaged clients.