Over the years, San Felipe Humanitarian Alliance has conducted critical research which has influenced child care practice throughout the world. This research has also helped build a strong foundation for the development of effective outreach programs for at-risk youth.
For example, through our work in the late 1980s with the Greenhouse shelter in Portland, Oregon, San Felipe recognized the urgent need for case management on homeless children.
To address this problem, we came up with the then-novel approach of surveying homeless youth nationwide. Through this research, we found that the vast majority of homeless children were, in fact, products of an inadequate foster care system.
Our findings, which were published in USA Today and other media channels, helped focus national attention on the growing problem of homeless children in America and served as a call for action to improve our nation’s social services.