Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112373

Jody M. Greene, MS, Behavioral Health Research Division, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-485-7708, jmg@rti.org, Larry Crum, PhD, Substance Abuse Treatment, Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, and Pamela J. Fischer, PhD, Center for Mental Health Services - Homeless Programs Branch, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, One Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1022, Rockville, MD 20857.

Homeless, Runaway, and Throwaway Youth (HRTY) are widely recognized as having dramatically higher rates of mental health problems than other adolescents. However, relatively little research has been conducted to identify the range of mental health services available to these youth, to examine service utilization and satisfaction, or to identify innovative or promising programs. To address the need for information in this area, SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services funded the “Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Homeless, Runaway, and Throwaway Youth” study.

Data collection for this nationally representative, multi-site study was completed in the fall of 2004. As part of this study, site visits were conducted to 64 randomly selected HRTY programs across the U.S. During the visits, three data gathering efforts were conducted: structured interviews with site administrators (N=64), qualitative interviews with site staff and staff of referral organizations (approximate N=200), and CAPI interviews with youth receiving services from the sites (N=531).

This study offers the unique opportunity to understand service delivery from the perspective of both providers and clients. In this presentation, we will provide detailed findings on the availability of mental health services, service provision models utilized, and the perceived effectiveness of services. Data will also be presented on estimated need for services and history of service utilization as reported by youth. Data will be presented by program type (i.e., residential vs. nonresidential, urban vs. rural). Innovative practices and implications of findings for improving service provision to HRTY will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• • Understand the range of mental health services available to HRY.
• • Understand how mental health services for HRY differ by organization size, location, and religious affiliation.
• • Discuss policy implications for improving services to HRY.

Keywords: Homelessness, Mental Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.