Research Day
The Influence Of Homelessness On Goal Setting Among Participants Of Kalamazoo's Fatherhood Case Management Program
Document Type
Abstract
Date
2019
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Kalamazoo's Fatherhood Case Management Program engages fathers from high-risk perinatal families via group discussions, support, and goal setting. Using Maslow's hierarchy of needs the goals of participants were analyzed. Housing security was considered an indicator for having the most basic level of need.
PURPOSE: Use Maslow's Hierarchy to examine the effect of homelessness on goal setting trends, particularly related to establishing health goals among Fatherhood Case Management Program participants.
METHODS: Forty-nine men in the Fatherhood Case Management Program were enrolled from May 2017 to May 2018. Twenty-one participants identified goals through the program. Their goals fell into five categories: Housing, Health, Financial, Socialization and Education. Housing security was dichotomized into homeless or not. Pearson Chi Square was conducted to examine the relationship of housing status and goal setting.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The 21 participants were split between homeless (8, 38.1%) and not (13, 61.9%). Thirty-eight goals were recorded for 21 of the 49 participants. Financial and Educational goals were most frequently reported (48%), followed by Housing (43%), Health (29%) and, finally Socialization (5%). A statistically significant difference in housing goals was observed, with homeless participants prioritizing the basic need for housing over other goals, including health goals (p=0.042).
CONCLUSION: Housing goals were more frequently reported by homeless participants. For clinicians, it is important to recognize patients living in disadvantaged circumstances have other, more pressing, goals that compete with healthcare priorities.