Street Youth on their own in Indianapolis
A 1995 study identified 521 "unattached" young people in one six-week period, who essentially lived on the streets of Indianapolis without adult supervision. Of these, 431 participated in in-depth interviews about their lives.
Age of respondents:
8 – 14 = 25%
15 = 15%
16-17 = 60%
Only 19% had lived in just one place for the six months prior to the study; 24% had stayed in four or more places.
A fourth of the young people claimed to be totally without adult supervision. Only 28% had lived primarily with a parent or legal guardian during the previous year.
Nearly a third (31%) had dropped out of school, and another 13% had been expelled or suspended. Only a fourth (25%) reported regular school attendance, and an additional fourth (24%) reported irregular attendance;3% were high-school graduated or had completed GED programs.
More than a fourth (27%) reported sexual abuse. More than seven in ten (73%) had been struck with a hand; 44% reported being beaten; 12% tied up: 17% locked in a small place: 13% burned; 37% other physical abuse such as kicking or shoving down stairs. More than a fourth (27%) reported sexual abuse.
Some of these children were runaways, but more likely they had been pushed out or abandoned by their families. Among the many problems face by these young people are access to education and health services. Half of the youth surveyed had no health insurance and 70% said they relied on hospital emergency rooms for health care.
The study concludes with a series of recommendations for policy changes that include the establishing supportive services for entire families, the "decoupling" of some youth services from the justice system, more flexibility in education systems and providing access to medical care.