Paper
Thursday, 20 July 2006
This presentation is part of : Issues in Child and Adolescent Health
Facilitating Risk-Reduction Among Homeless Youth
Nancy Busen, RN, PhD, FNP, BC, School of Nursing, University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Learning Objective #1: describe risk factors associated with homelessness among a group of youth seeking mental and health care services in a medical mobile unit
Learning Objective #2: describe risk reduction outcomes among a group of youth seeking mental and health care services in a medical mobile unit
Introduction: Although the exact number of homeless adolescents is unknown, it is estimated that approximately two million youth experience homelessness, living in shelters, crash pads, the streets, or other transient unstable situations. Providing mental and medical health care services for homeless youth remains elusive despite intervention programs that have been developed to meet their needs. The purpose of this study is to (1) describe a group of homeless adolescents who utilize a mobile health care unit that provides medical and mental health care services and (2) examine data based on a qualitative framework to examine risk-reduction in this sample. Methods: The first phase of the study was a retrospective chart audit conducted on 100 records of homeless youth. In addition to demographics, data were examined for psychiatric and medical diagnoses, reasons for homelessness, sexual identity, substance abuse, history of past physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, number of visits and overall outcome at termination of services. The second phase of the study is currently on going. Results: Data were obtained from 95 records of mostly heterosexual youth between the ages of 15 to 25 years. Most were unemployed without health insurance. Approximately half the sample were high school graduates/GED living in shelters, crash pads or the streets. Multiple abuses accounted for the greater majority leaving home. Females suffered greater physical and sexual abuse than males but males were more frequently abandoned than females. Multiple psychiatric conditions and substance abuse were common denominators and medical diagnoses related to transient living situations, substance abuse and sexual activity. Success of the program was associated with stabilizing youth on psychotropic medications, decreasing substance use, providing birth control and immunizations, and treating medical conditions. Discussion: When evaluating programs that provide services for homeless youth, investigators need to examine risk-reduction outcomes in the context of the environment.

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