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YouthReach South

YouthReach South. Collaborative practice in youth homelessness Presentation to YACWA Conference 2008 Geoff Wright and Anthony Collier. Objectives. Outline the mental health needs of homeless young people Describe SAAP and efforts to have YSAAPs and mental health services work in partnership.

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YouthReach South

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  1. YouthReach South Collaborative practice in youth homelessness Presentation to YACWA Conference 2008 Geoff Wright and Anthony Collier

  2. Objectives • Outline the mental health needs of homeless young people • Describe SAAP and efforts to have YSAAPs and mental health services work in partnership

  3. Incidence/Prevalence • 75% of people with adult psychiatric disorders have experienced onset by age 24 (Kessler et al, 2005) • Prevalence ; 19% (13-17) / 27% (18-24) • Some evidence that youth m.h. prevalence is rising. (Rutter, 1995) • 55% burden of disease for 15-24 is due to mh problems (Mathis et al, 1999)

  4. Incidence/ prevalence -2 • Much of the disability associated with mental disorders develops in the early years following illness onset • Less than 30% youth with m.h. problems have contact with professional services (Andrews et al, 2001) • Services are poorly coordinated (service silos)

  5. Barriers • Help negation • Prior negative experiences • Belief that effective help not available • Fears; confidentiality, stigma, shame etc • Lack of emotional competence to recognise feelings • Lack of established relationships with professional help

  6. Homelessness • Burdekin report 1989 highlighted issue of youth homelessness in Australia • Homeless youth have extremely high rates of psychological distress and psychiatric disorders ( at least twice the rate of domiciled youth) • Homeless youth are at risk of developing mental health disorders the longer they are homeless; early intervention is required.

  7. Housing impacts on mental health • Housing structure linked to psychological wellbeing • “Home” as safe refuge to develop sense of identity and attachment. Family breakdown and exclusion from home is strongly associated with homelessness • Housing environment can facilitate or be a barrier to social interaction • Insecure housing impedes emotional growth, degrades self-esteem and increases dependency.

  8. Complexities of Working with Homeless Youth • Accessing mainstream services • Tracking whereabouts – time consuming • Establishing appropriate support links • Increase in psychosocial stressors – Maslow’s Hierarchy • Engagement – building a trust relationship • Adolescent developmental tasks

  9. What is SAAP & State Protocol • SAAP is a joint Commonwealth/State (DCP) program • Overall aim is to provide supported accommodation and related support services to assist homeless people • It is recognised that people with a mental illness can find themselves homeless • DCP and MHD established joint protocols in 2000. • Aim of protocol; interagency co-operation, service coordination for seamless care and support , shared training, development of local working agreements (MOUs)

  10. SAAP/ mental health agreed practice • Access to mental health assessment (+ feedback, including consultation & advise) • Planned coordination of clinical support in conjunction with client • Use of agreed protocols for confidentiality and consent • Information exchange on clients being transferred/discharged/ exited • Evaluation of local MOU’s.

  11. Current Partnership“What's it look like?” • 7 YSAAP Service providers in Perth metro area. Youth Link/YouthReach South have a collaborative relationship with each SAAP service • Providing client centred care as the primary focus of working relationship • Signed consent to release information during initial assessment • Patch worker attendance at review meetings to provide consultation liaison

  12. “What's it look like?”Shared SAAP & Mental Health Clients: • Onsite service delivery to individual clients • Regular liaison re: client and information updates • Joint case management – shared care agreement

  13. “What's it look like?”SAAP residents not active with youth mental health services • Mental Health consultation & support • Training – (calendar & bespoke training) • Shared knowledge of youth sector updates

  14. What is a Partnership? • Continuum of partnerships ( exchange of information +altering activities + sharing resources + willingness to increase capacity of other partners) Networking/coordinating/cooperating/collaborating • collaboration is “sharing of turf” for a common purpose • Requires high levels of trust, high level of commitment, acceptance of change, sharing risks, developing shared paradigm and shared language.

  15. Partnership • Determine the need • Choose partners • Making the partnership work • Collaborative planning • Collaborative action • Minimising barriers • Reflection/ evaluation.

  16. Where to from here? • Status of SAAP being reviewed and will be replaced by the National Affordable Housing Agreement ( NAHA) • Continue current cooperation • Continue drafting outline of MOU • Develop formal MOU once NAHA review completed in conjunction with DCP and MHD.

  17. Contacts Triage: 1300 362 569 YouthReach South Free Call: 1800 288 139 25 Wentworth Ave, Success PO Box 636 Gosnells WA 6990

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