University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 2020 Impacted Youth: Why School Psychologists Need to Consider Diverse Approaches of Support L. Morgan Beidleman Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Educational Psychology Commons Impacted Youth: Why School Psychologists Need to Consider Diverse Approaches of Support ______________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Morgridge College of Education University of Denver ____________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy ____________ by L. Morgan Beidleman August 2020 Advisor: Dr. Tara C. Raines Author: L. Morgan Beidleman Title: Impacted Youth: Why School Psychologists Need to Consider Diverse Approaches of Support Advisor: Dr. Tara C. Raines Degree Date: August 2020 Abstract This paper examines trends among youth who are highly impacted by multiple adverse experiences. It outlines potential patterns of risk and protective factors often experienced by this population and encourages school psychologists to recognize, consider, and advocate for the needs of these youth. It goes on to describe and interpret the cultural practices of Leadership Coffeehouse, a Denver-based social enterprise that seeks to support disconnected youth through professional development and hands-on learning. Finally, because of the unique training school psychologists receive, considerations for expanding the role into non-traditional educational settings are proposed. ii Acknowledgements Thank you to my parents, Tom Beidleman and Leslie Owen. This was possible because of your support. iii Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... iiii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv Manuscript One: Impacted Youth: Why School Psychologists Need to Consider Diverse Approaches of Support ....................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................... 3 Review of Literature ........................................................................................................... 4 The Role of Adverse Life Experiences, Trauma, and Toxic Stress .......................... 4 The intersection of Adversity, Education, & Attending v. Non-attending youth ............... 9 At-Risk for Underemployment ................................................................................. 9 Defining those At-Risk of Underemployment .................................................... 10 Marginal completers ....................................................................................... 11 Delayed Completers ........................................................................................ 12 Non-completers ............................................................................................... 13 Youth Perspective ................................................................................................... 13 Dropout Prevention Efforts ..................................................................................... 15 Risk Factors for Highly Impacted Youth ................................................................ 17 The Role of Poverty and Race in Education ....................................................... 17 Academic Competencies ..................................................................................... 19 Attendance .......................................................................................................... 21 Behavior & Discipline ........................................................................................ 22 Protective Factors for Highly Impacted Youth ....................................................... 23 Resilience ............................................................................................................ 24 Connection .......................................................................................................... 25 Promising Practices and Approaches ................................................................................ 26 Career Pathways ..................................................................................................... 26 Trauma-Sensitive Practices ..................................................................................... 27 Small Cohorts ......................................................................................................... 30 Case Study: Homeboy Industries ...................................................................................... 30 Implications for Research and Practice ............................................................................. 33 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 33 Manuscript Two: Meeting the Needs of Highly Impacted Youth: An Ethnographic Case Study ................................................................................................................................. 35 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 35 iv Current Study .................................................................................................................... 38 Site Selection and Background ......................................................................................... 39 Leadership Coffeehouse ......................................................................................... 39 Methods............................................................................................................................. 41 Positionality ............................................................................................................ 41 Ethnographic Case Study Approach ....................................................................... 42 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 43 Study Participants and Sampling ............................................................................ 44 Data Collection ....................................................................................................... 44 Observations and Field Notes ............................................................................. 45 Interviews ............................................................................................................ 46 Artifact Review ................................................................................................... 47 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 47 Description of Leadership Coffeehouse ............................................................................ 50 Participant Overview .............................................................................................. 50 Snapshot: The Staff ................................................................................................. 51 Snapshot: The Coffeehouse .................................................................................... 52 Snapshot: The Apprentices ..................................................................................... 53 Snapshot: A Boundary ............................................................................................ 55 Interpretations ................................................................................................................... 56 Attachment: “I Feel Seen, Safe, and Supported.” ................................................... 58 Building Blocks of Attachment - Attunement: “Our relationships are thick.” ... 58 Building Blocks of Attachment - Pleasureful Relationships: “I’m a person first.” ................................................................................................................................... 60 Building Blocks of Attachment - Effective Response: “I wasn’t judged; I was supported.” ................................................................................................................ 60 Competency Development ...................................................................................... 62 Building Blocks of Competency: Relational Connection - “I can be me here.” . 63 Competency Building Blocks - Relational Connection: “Leadership gave me resources and helped me use them.” ......................................................................... 64 Executive Function Development Thought Career and Technical Skills: “We work hard.” ............................................................................................................... 65 Competency Building Blocks - Self Development and Identity: “I learned more about myself.” ........................................................................................................... 66 Regulation 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