Programming Needs for

Homeless Youth: Research-Based Recommendatio

ns

Eric Rice, Ph.D.February 9, 2012

•Negative outcomes for extended street stays

•Family reunification for runaways

•Internet & cell phones as tools for connection

•Housing programs for chronic homeless youth

Overview of Talk

•Chronic homeless youth report far worse outcomes relative to newly homeless (recent runaway) youth.

•Increased substance use•Increased exchange/survival sex•Increased STI infection•Increased suicide attempts•Increased jail/incarceration

Source: Milburn et al., 2006

Negative Outcomes of Street Life

Over a 30 month follow up:

•71% of newly homeless youth returned home

•But, only 16% remained home

•Cycling in and out is big problem and increased the chances of becoming chronically homeless!

Milburn et al., 2007

Most newly homeless return home

•Youth who report social support from parents (especially mothers)

•Youth who report positive, home-based peers

•Connections are key!

Milburn et al., 2009

Who returns home and stays?

•STRIVE is a 5 session intervention for families of newly homeless youth•Based on Cognitive Behavioral Theory•Designed to improve families’ problem solving and conflict resolution skills

Randomized Control Trial showed it to be effective in reducing many problem behaviors.

Go to Session 4.5 at 9AM tomorrow!!!

Milburn et al., in press

Family Reunification: Evidence Based

•85% of homeless youth get online at least once/week.

•Libraries, youth service agencies•60% of youth have cell phones.

Sources: Rice et al., 2010, 2011

Internet, cell phones & connections

•Using these technologies for accessing resources:

•Jobs, housing, case management, health information

•Using these technologies to connect to family & home-based peers

•Reduces exchange sex•Increases HIV testing•Reduces alcohol use•Reduces depression

Sources: Rice et al., 2010, 2011

Social media and positive connections

Expand the availability of internet access.

Programs teaching typing, word processing, email writing, and/or how to conduct internet searches should be considered.

Incorporate soft job skills into the computer and internet literacy educational programs. Teach homeless youth to create appropriate email addresses (i.e., professional) and to create appropriate online identities.

Create pre-bookmarked, credible links on the agency’s computers to health information resources (e.g., signs and symptoms of HIV and other STIs, types of contraception), job and employment resources (e.g., steps to building a resume, interviewing skills, local job search websites), and social benefits resources (e.g., general relief, food stamps, free access to local services).

Provide cell phones?

Technology as structural intervention!

•29% of new runaways never returned home over 30 months.

•Some youth are disconnected from home or home is abusive and reunification is not sensible

•What kind of housing?

Chronic homeless youth need housing!

•No Randomized Control Trial evidence for housing models for youth.

•We need to community-based solutions with strong outcomes as a guide.•Homeless youth are heterogeneous group with many needs – different models for youth with different issues.

•Housing First Style models?•Adults with mental illness and substance use are given housing first with support services•Try this for youth!•Reduce involuntary exits from housing for youth!

Creative and flexible housing

Contact: ericr@usc.edu(213) 743 - 4766

Supported by: R01-MH49958 K01-MH80605R01-MH070322R01-MH093336

Thanks the youth of Los Angeles!

Milburn, N. G., Rice, E., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Mallett, S., Rosenthal, D., Batterham, P., . . . Duan, N. (2009). Adolescents exiting homelessness over two years: The risk amplification and abatement model. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 19(4), 762-785. doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2009.00610.x

Milburn, N. G., Rosenthal, D., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Mallett, S., Batterham, P., Rice, E., & Solorio, R. (2007). Newly homeless youth typically return home. Journal of Adolescent Health, 40(6), 574-576. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.12.017.

Milburn, N. G., Rotheram-Borus, M. J., Rice, E., Mallet, S., & Rosenthal, D. (2006). Cross-national variations in behavioral profiles among homeless youth. American Journal of Community Psychology, 37(1), 63-76. doi:10.1007/s10464-005-9005-4

Rice, E., Kurzban, S., & Ray, D. (2011). Homeless but connected: The role of heterogeneous social network ties and social networking technology in the mental health outcomes of street-living adolescents. Community Mental Health Journal, online first.

Rice, E., Lee, A., & Taitt, S. (2011). Cell phone use among homeless youth: Potential for new health interventions and research. Journal of Urban Health,88 (6) , 1175-1182.

Rice, E., Milburn, N. G., & Monro, W. (2011). Social networking technology, social network composition, and reductions in substance use among homeless adolescents. Prevention Science, 12 (1), 80-88.

Rice, E., Monro, W., Barman-Adhikari, A., & Young, S. D. (2010). Internet use, social networking, and HIV/AIDS risk for homeless adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 47(6), 610-613. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2010.04.016

References