In this study, Network members Mary Waters and Jean Rhodes are studying how a group of nearly 500 low-income, community college students from New Orleans are coping with Hurricane Katrina. In particular, we are looking at how the resources and capacities of these individuals--broadly defined to include their mental and physical health, prior involvement with drugs and risky behaviors, social networks (including mentors), and economic resources--influence adaptive functioning in the aftermath of the disaster. The study is making use of pre-hurricane data that were collected prior to the storm, combined with new quantitative and qualitative data that are currently being collected.

The study is in its early stages as of January 2007, with researchers in the field contacting the women while also fine-tuning the survey. Results are expected in 2008.