Perceived Need and Receipt of Behavioral Health Services at Drop‐In Centers among Homeless Youth

D’Amico

Journal of Adolescent Health

et al. 2020

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This study provides information on how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is affecting emerging adults currently or recently homeless in terms of engagement in protective behaviors, mental health, substance use, and access to services. Methods: Ninety participants in an ongoing clinical trial of a risk reduction program for homeless, aged 18e25 years, were administered items about COVID-19 between April 10 and July 9, 2020. Results: Most participants reported engaging in COVID-19 protective behaviors. Past week mental health symptoms were reported by 38%e48% of participants, depending on symptoms. Among those who used substances before the outbreak, 16%e28% reported increased use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. More than half of the participants reported increased difficulty meeting basic needs (e.g., food), and approximately 32%e44% reported more difficulty getting behavioral health services since the outbreak. Conclusions: Innovative strategies are needed to address the increased behavioral health needs of young people experiencing homelessness during events such as the COVID-19 outbreak.

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confidence: 99%

Behavioral Health and Service Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Emerging Adults Currently or Recently Experiencing Homelessness

D’Amico

Journal of Adolescent Health

et al. 2020

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“…For example, recent findings indicate that about one third of youth who screen positive for a behavioral health problem (e.g., depression, PTSD, substance use disorder) do not perceive a need for mental health or substance use services, and the same may be true for other types of higher-level services. 38 Results from the current study suggest that more may be done to increase awareness of available higher-level services, foster positive views of service use and the benefits of receiving care, strengthen motivation for positive behavior change, and screen and refer youth to needed services at drop-in centers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Utilization and Perceptions of Drop-in Center Services Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Parast

J Behav Health Serv Res

et al. 2018

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Drop-in centers offer a range of services to assist unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, but little is known about their perceptions of drop-in centers or use of different services. A random sample of 273 youth experiencing homelessness in the Los Angeles area who had ever used a drop-in center were surveyed. Most youth heard about local drop-in centers from peers (65.1%). They generally reported positive perceptions of the drop-in center environment, staff, and clients; overall, 57.8% were "very" or "extremely" satisfied with the services they had received. Nearly all youth cited basic services (e.g., food, showers, clothes) as a reason they went to drop-in centers; far fewer reported going to obtain higher-level services (e.g., case management). Perceptions and utilization did not differ by sexual orientation; however, non-white youth were more likely than Whites to use drop-in centers for certain higher-level services. Strategies for engaging youth in drop-in center services are discussed.

“…Specifically, young adults at three drop-in centers serving young people experiencing homelessness are either in the intervention condition (N = 200) or control condition (N = 200). Drop-in centers are typically a first stop resource for these youth to address their basic needs for food and hygiene, and a place where they can go during the day to receive services, or get connected with services outside the drop-in centers, to address their higher-level needs [41]. Drop-in centers typically try to break down barriers and take a "come as you are" approach to engaging youth in available services [42].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study protocol for a group-based motivational interviewing brief intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among young adults experiencing homelessness

D’Amico

et al. 2020

Addict Sci Clin Pract

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Background: Young people experiencing homelessness have alarmingly high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, which is associated with sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sex, trading sex, and sex with multiple casual partners. Few risk reduction programs for this population have been developed and rigorously evaluated, particularly those that address both of these interrelated behaviors, use a collaborative and non-judgmental approach, and are feasible to deliver in settings where homeless young people seek services. This paper describes the protocol of a study evaluating a four-session Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based group risk reduction intervention for this population. The protocol has been shown to be efficacious in pilot work over 3 months with 200 homeless young adults [1]. The current study seeks to refine the intervention protocol and evaluate the program on a larger scale. Methods/design: In a cluster-cross-over randomized controlled trial, 18-25 year olds will receive the AWARE risk reduction program (n = 200) or standard care (n = 200) at one of three drop-in centers serving homeless youth in the Los Angeles area. We will evaluate intervention effects on primary outcomes of AOD use and sexual risk behavior, as well as secondary outcomes of health-related quality of life and social stability, over a 12-month period. Discussion: This project has the potential to fill a significant gap in prevention services by demonstrating that a brief intervention, feasible to deliver within settings where young people experiencing homelessness typically seeks services, can significantly reduce the interrelated problems of AOD use and sexual risk behavior. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03735784. Registered November 18, 2018, https ://clini caltr ials.gov/ct2/ show/recor d/NCT03 73578 4 (retrospectively registered)