PI, Dr. Irene Hatsu, OSU, Human Nutrition – An important challenge of homelessness is access to food, which mediates nutritional and other health outcomes. Optimal nutrition is fundamental to the biological, biochemical and physiological functioning of the human body. As such, nutritional vulnerabilities can cause disruptions in such processes, contributing to the initiation and/or exacerbation of disease conditions. In fact, poor diet quality and nutrient consumption pattern

PI, Dr. Jodi Ford, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University – As homeless youth experience a greater number of stressful events, and with higher levels of severity on a daily basis and across their lifetime, than youth in the general population, our lack of understanding of the biological impact that these exposures have on homeless youths’ physical and mental health in the short-term, as well as across their life span, limits understanding of which youth are most vulner

PI, Dr. Natasha Slesnick, OSU College of Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University – Prior studies focused on youth experiencing homelessness have focused on service-connected youth – those in drop-in centers or shelters, but research suggests that most street living homeless youth (90%) do not access services meant to assist them. This study overcame prior gaps in research through the testing of a comprehensive intervention for non-service connected youth that co

PI, Dr. Natasha Slesnick, OSU College of Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University – Housing First/Pathways to Housing is a newer approach to ending homelessness that accepts shelter/housing as a basic right and the first step towards successful interventions of any type. Housing First proposes that: i) individuals be placed into longer term housing as soon as possible, ii) client strengths and choices direct initial supportive services offered, iii) shared accoun

PI, Dr. Lynn Rew, University of Texas-Austin, College of Nursing/ Co-I Natasha Slesnick, The Ohio State University – Although youth experiencing homelessness often have unpredictable lives, they also have inherent strengths such as optimism, hope, self-efficacy, and gratitude that represent psychological capital. Psychological capital has been shown to be a strong motivator of behavior. In collaboration with the University of Texas-Austin, OSU and STAR House are testing “The

PI, Dr. Natasha Slesnick, OSU College of Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University – Dr. Natasha Slesnick and the STAR House continue to seek effective interventions for those who are in danger of hurting themselves and who have suicidal ideation. Therapists at the STAR house were trained in, “The Cognitive Therapy Intervention for Suicide Attempters” and provided the intervention to STAR House clients. Data collection for this study was completed in June 2018 and

PI, Dr. Natasha Slesnick, OSU College of Education and Human Ecology The Ohio State University – Homeless Youths are more likely to have high rates of mental health problems, substance use, and HIV risk. Unfortunately, there was little guidance to providers on how to best to serve these youth. In an effort to better serve homeless youth, Dr. Slesnick collaborated with STAR House and recruited 270 participants who were randomly assigned one of three interventions: the Communit

PI, Dr. Julianna Nemeth, OSU College of Public Health The Ohio State University – One million homeless youth aged 24 years and younger smoke, representing a smoking prevalence of 70% ― 2.5 times higher than in other youth populations. Homeless youth typically smoke half of a pack daily, report high nicotine dependence, and engage in risky smoking practices including sharing cigarettes or smoking discarded butts, which raises risk of communicable disease in addition to tobacc

PI, Dr. Brittany Brakenhoff, OSU Education and Human Ecology – Interviews with 30 youth and 100 quantitative assessments were administered in order to better understand homeless youths’ perceptions of their sexual risk behaviors and the perceived benefits and consequences of sexual risk behaviors, as well as attitudes about pregnancy. Findings suggested that the high stress context of homelessness was the biggest factor in homeless youth’s decision making in terms of risky s

3/15/15 – 3/30/18 National Institute for Drug Abuse R34DA037845 (Slesnick, PI) This study tests the feasibility and acceptability of a cognitive therapy suicide prevention intervention for homeless youth. Recruitment criteria:Homeless youth, ages 18 to 24 For more information:> Email Samuel Masters #StarHouseResearch #CurrentProjects #SuicidePrevention #SubstanceAbuse

2/1/15 - 11/30/19 National Institute for Drug Abuse 2 R01DA036589 (Slesnick, PI) This study examines the differential effectiveness of a housing first intervention for young homeless moms with a biological child under the age of 7 years in their care. Recruitment criteria:Homeless, 18-24 mothers with a biological child under the age of 7 years old. For more information:> Email Aaron Murnan (614)-260-8784 #StarHouseResearch #CurrentProjects #EBT #SubstanceAbuse