A Human-Centered Design Approach to Interdisciplinary Training on Homelessness

ABSTRACT This study examines whether human-centered design may be a useful approach for training interdisciplinary teams to innovatively address homelessness. This case study examines the implementation of a 10-week graduate seminar in which students worked with youths experiencing homelessness to develop solutions to building social connections. The study explored benefits to students and to the community partner using pre- and postcourse surveys, focus groups, journals, and field observations. Findings reveal changes in student knowledge and attitudes related to homelessness, interdisciplinary work, and personal citizenship. Community members indicated the course created opportunities for their voices to be heard in developing human-centered solutions. The article concludes with a description of the challenges experienced during the course and approaches for overcoming these challenges.

[1]  Kimberly A. Bender,et al.  Beyond the Classroom: The Impact of a University-Based Civic Hackathon Addressing Homelessness , 2019, Journal of Social Work Education.

[2]  Kristin M. Ferguson,et al.  My Own Best Friend: Homeless Youths’ Hesitance to Seek Help and Strategies for Coping Independently after Distressing and Traumatic Experiences , 2018, Social work in public health.

[3]  João Paulo Bittencourt,et al.  Collaborative learning by way of human-centered design in design classes , 2018 .

[4]  Anne F. Farrell,et al.  Prevalence and Correlates of Youth Homelessness in the United States , 2017, The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

[5]  E. Rice,et al.  Gender Differences in the Path From Sexual Victimization to HIV Risk Behavior Among Homeless Youth , 2017, Journal of child sexual abuse.

[6]  Mirams Ruth,et al.  Human-Centred Design , 2014 .

[7]  J. J. Cutuli,et al.  Youth Homelessness: Prevalence and Mental Health Correlates , 2014, Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research.

[8]  K. Steinbeck,et al.  The health diagnoses of homeless adolescents: a systematic review of the literature. , 2014, Journal of adolescence.

[9]  T. Aubry,et al.  The Relationship Between Victimization and Mental Health Functioning in Homeless Youth and Adults , 2014, Journal of interpersonal violence.

[10]  Patrick L. Yorio,et al.  A Meta-Analysis on the Effects of Service-Learning on the Social, Personal, and Cognitive Outcomes of Learning , 2012 .

[11]  Susan R. Komives,et al.  Influences on College Students' Capacities for Socially Responsible Leadership , 2010 .

[12]  A. Nyamathi,et al.  Health-Seeking Challenges Among Homeless Youth , 2010, Nursing research.

[13]  M. Polgar.  Student Perspectives on Homelessness: Contact Is Related to Helpful Attitudes , 2009 .

[14]  C. Barker,et al.  Psychological Help-Seeking in Homeless Adolescents , 2009, The International journal of social psychiatry.

[15]  Kim Goodwin,et al.  Designing for the Digital Age: How to Create Human-Centered Products and Services , 2009 .

[16]  Amy L. Kenworthy-U’Ren,et al.  A Decade of Service-learning: A Review of the Field Ten Years after JOBE’s Seminal Special Issue , 2008 .

[17]  R. Hunt.  Service-learning: an eye-opening experience that provokes emotion and challenges stereotypes. , 2007, The Journal of nursing education.

[18]  Michele A. Govekar,et al.  Service Learning: Bringing Real-World Education Into the B-School Classroom , 2007 .

[19]  M. Fetters,et al.  Lessons learned in developing family medicine residency training programs in Japan , 2005, BMC medical education.

[20]  H. Rittel,et al.  Dilemmas in a general theory of planning , 1973 .

[21]  E. Rice,et al.  The Grand Challenge of Ending Homelessness , 2015 .

[22]  Guy André Broy.  Orchestrating Human-Centered Design , 2013, Springer London.

[23]  David B. Knight,et al.  AC 2012-3116: DEVELOPING A MEASURE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY COMPETENCE FOR ENGINEERS , 2012 .

[24]  Lori Pompa.  Service-Learning as Crucible: Reflections on Immersion, Context, Power, and Transformation , 2002 .

[25]  J. Forte.  Calling Students To Serve the Homeless: A Project To Promote Altruism and Community Service. , 1997 .

[26]  B. Levine,et al.  Please Scroll down for Article Journal of Personality Assessment the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire: Scale Development and Initial Validation of a Factor-analytic Solution to Multiple Empathy Measures , 2022 .

[27]  John R. Savery.  Overview of Problem-Based Learning: Definitions and Distinctions. , 2006 .