Young children experiencing homelessness are at considerable risk for developing physical and cognitive impairments, yet federal and state programs often overlook their needs. Although early intervention programs should serve as family-centered, health-promoting resources for families experiencing homelessness, many do not locate and comprehensively screen eligible children ages ≤3 yr in their communities. Occupational therapy practitioners have a role in advocating for improved access to high-quality, federally mandated programming for this population. They should be aware of the barriers faced by homeless families in accessing equitable early developmental services and of strategies to support individual families and communities experiencing homelessness.

AOTA Taxonomy:
age 0-5, community mental and behavioral health setting, diversity, equity, and inclusion, early Intervention, early intervention setting, environmental factors, group, outcomes, policy issues, policymaker, population
Keywords:
child, occupational therapists
Copyright © 2022 by the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
2022
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