Meeting the Needs of Homeless Youth:

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Meeting the Needs of Homeless Youth Integrating
Behavioral Health, Housing and Harm Reduction
Eliza Gibson, LCSW, Chief of Programs
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Spectrum of Support
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Point of Entry Services
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Housing Programs
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Health Services
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Education and Employment Services
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LSYS Youth Profile
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LSYS Youth Profile
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LSYS Youth Profile
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LSYS Transitional Youth Profile

• History of Unstable Homes
• 39 concerned about conflict in homes
• including domestic violence
• 67 impacted by abuse and/or neglect

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Substance Use Trends
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Client Mental Health Profile
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Larkin Street Philosophy

• Housing first as a treatment modality
• Continuum of care
• Harm reduction principles
• Individualized, youth centered services
• Life skills focus
• Real life consequences
• Youth voice
• Integrated service delivery

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History of Behavioral Health Services

• FY 01/02 Substance abuse and mental health
  initiatives
• ACT and Substance Abuse teams
• Consulting psychiatrist
• FY 05/06 Integrated service delivery
• Organizational restructure
• Re-design of consultation teams
• Increased community partners

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History of Behavioral Health Services

• FY 06/07 Housing and enhanced peer-based
  services
• 18 new units of housing targeting youth with
  significant behavioral health needs
• Peer vocational counseling and peer-based drop-in
  services
• On-site therapist

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Behavioral Health Program Components

• Integration into continuum
• ACT, SA, HIV prevention teams
• Counselors, Peer Counselors and Case Managers
  specialists
• Cross-training and cross-representation
• Consulting psychiatrist
• Licensing supervision

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Behavioral Health Program Components

• Multi-tiered assessment in context of life
  circumstances
• Individual and group counseling
• On-site psychiatric assessment and brief therapy
• Linkage to community treatment providers
• Staff training and consultation

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Progress to Date

• Increased and improved ability to identify youth
  with emerging mental health and/or substance
  abuse issues
• Improved retention in services for youth
• Expanded capacity to link youth who fall outside
  the scope of LSYS services to inpatient treatment
  programs
• Better able to support youth to develop positive
  coping skills

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Case Study

• Juan 19 year old Latino MSM sex worker
• Foster care since age 6. Physical abuse and
  neglect. Runaway since age 16. IDU speed user.
  Survival sex.
• For 2 years periodic outreach and drop in center
  contacts.
• Street Outreach Peer Advocate linked Juan at age
  18 from Golden Gate Park to the Lark Inn.
• Stayed at Lark Inn for 6 weeks. Engaged in case
  management and substance abuse services.
• Relapsed and returned to the streets. Periodic
  street outreach contact.
• One year later, tested HIV positive at LSYS
  Medical Clinic.
• Linked to Assisted Care/After Care - currently
  resides in program, receives wraparound case
  management, behavioral health and medical
  services.

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Questions or Comments?
Eliza Gibson, LCSW Chief of Programs
egibson_at_larkinstreetyouth.org www.larkinstreetyou
th.org