Collaborating With and For Homeless Youth in Hamilton

43rd Annual Addictions Ontario ConferenceAY-Alternatives for Youth, Sue Kennedy, Lori Claxton Social Planning and Research Council, Erika Morton

on behalf of the Street Youth

Planning Collaborative

Monday May 30st, 2011

This presentation will share: The innovative work happening within Hamilton

on street-involved and homeless youth issues How we are conducting systems planning and

community development work The model of collaboration led by the Street

Youth Planning Collaborative (SYPC)

History Directors from street-involved youth agencies have a

long history of ad-hoc communication Ten years ago a group of service providers began

meeting formally in order to address community gaps

Separated the directors and front line staff to enhance communication

The directors table partnered with the SPRC in 2004

History continued… In October 2005, the Addressing the Needs

document was released The subsequent recommendation

implementation phase helped us understand how the three stakeholder groups would work together

Three Stakeholder Groups

The Street Youth Planning Collaborative

The Street

Involved Youth Network

The Street Youth

Involvement Committee

Who Is Involved?Street Youth Planning Collaborative

The Street Youth Planning CollaborativeThe SYPC strives to advocate for, support

and facilitate an enhanced, seamless system of services for street-involved and homeless youth.

Who is Involved?Street Involved Youth Network This community network boasts a

membership of 31 individuals from 20 community agencies (Includes SYPC agencies, YMCA, OW, Public Health, Child Welfare agencies, Mental Health services…

This group meets monthly to discuss on the ground, street youth issues – partly to provide information and education to front line staff and partly to document the trends and realities on the front line

Who is Involved?Street Youth Involvement Committee

Comprised of youth who have been homeless, are homeless or who have an interest in homelessness

They have been meeting for 4 years – once per month

They provide input to an adult ally on homeless youth issues, consult the community and do project work

SYPC Planning Processes and Mechanisms Addressing the Needs of Street-Involved and

Homeless Youth in Hamilton (October 2005) Annual Strategic Planning Sessions Monthly Planning Meetings Dedicated Community Development Support

Communication, Planning and Decision Making The CD support is the conduit between all

stakeholder meetings All decision making rests with the SYPC We are working toward more integrated and

collaborative planning with the three stakeholder groups

Status, Implementation Strategies and Initiatives The SYPC is building it’s profile as a decision

making, planning body on street-involved youth issues

We completed and evaluated a three-year recommendation implementation strategy in August 2009

The current focus is around housing and increased collaboration development

We are being recognized provincially and nationally on the work we are doing

Successes The collaboration model-3 stakeholder groups Commitment to systems planning Documentation of community conversations and

use of research in work Community development support Action oriented and gets work done Increase of the profile and community awareness

around street-involved youth issues

Successes continued 7 member Youth Housing Support Team Youth Outreach Workers of Hamilton project Angela’s Place and Wesley Youth Housing transitional

housing projects Weekend Open Access Support The Addressing the Needs report and subsequent

Interim Project Check-In Increased capacity and training for front-line staff Increased mental health services, including clinical

services

Challenges Time Balancing inclusiveness and getting work done Working with diverse agencies A funding climate that expects collaboration but

does not foster it Meaningfully valuing the perspective of front line

staff and youth

Next Steps for the SYPC Committed and dedicated to their work Profile building Sustainable funding

Alternatives for YouthMission Statement: Alternatives for Youth

empower youth to make positive choices that minimize the harm of substance use or addiction and to be engaged in positive ways with their community.

Vision Statement: We envision a future where youth are not harmed by substance use or addiction, and are engaged in positive ways within their community.

Vision Values

AY Values

Accessibility Inclusion Openness Empowerment Flexibility

AY Core Service: AY Opened its doors in 1969 Community treatment for children and youth

ages 12-23 who are substance involved Provide assessment, treatment planning,

evidence informed interventions, referral and follow-up in a harm reduction framework

Comprehensive psychiatric assessment, consultation, and treatment for youth with concurrent disorders.

Risk Factors for Street Involved Youth Family History:

Parental drug use Quality of family relationships, organization and

communication Ineffective parenting or absence of Intimacy and

stability(disengagement/enmeshment)

Risk Factors Cont’d Early Anti-social Behaviour

the greater the variety, frequency and seriousness: the greater the likelihood of drug abuse

e.g. rebelliousness, temperament, social isolation, impulsivity, early learning related difficulties, early onset on drug use

Risk Factors cont’d Peers

Association with street drug users, couch-surfing peers

Perceived street-involvement by other adolescents

Gang involvement

Risk Factors cont’d

Attitudes, Beliefs, Personality Traits Alienation from “main-stream” society Rebelliousness Risk-taking Non-conformity Resistance to traditional authority

Street Drugs: Risks and Harms drug interactions especially for poly-drug users routes of administration financing drug abuse disease transmission psycho-social impact and consequences legal risks and hazards limitations of the treatment and social services

AY’s Response - A Triage Model of Integrated Care Focus on crisis Street drug use and street-involved lifestyle

cannot be separated out Crisis intervention as a component of clinical

case management Distinguish between crisis events and other

traumatic events

Assessment Complete alcohol/drug history: Identify negative and social and physical

consequences of use(physical abuse, needle use, safe sex, pregnancy)

Determine if withdrawal symptoms are present

Screen for mental health status(depression, anxiety, panic ,suicide, psychosis)***Referral to mental health clinician/psychiatrist

Early Intervention Triage and assessment for youth who are

accessing street-involved services for the first time. Youth shelter may not be bet entry point to services. what brought you here? do you have any other options of places to go?

(extended family, friends, etc.) goal of early intervention is to assist youth to

access community services before engaging in street involved youth culture and services

Intensive Intervention Triage and assessment for youth who are

entrenched in street-drug use and street-involved lifestyle ensure basic needs are met: food, shelter,

clothing, identification, legal explore primary presenting concerns that youth is

identifying i.e.: physical health, mental health, current pattern of substance use

Goal is to explore risks, vulnerabilities and strengths and reduce barriers to treatment

Exiting Street Involved Youth Stabilization and move toward independence

and support network is community based. housing education employment substance use mental health family/peer relationships