a systems approach to improving substance abuse treatment for latino youth: latino caucus of the...
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A Systems Approach to Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Latino Youth:
Latino Caucus of the APHA Annual MeetingNovember 6, 2006
URBAN LEAGUE OFGREATER HARTFORD, INC.
The Hartford Youth Project (HYP)
• Funded through CSAT’s Strengthening Communities – Youth (SCY) initiative
• A collaborative effort, headed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF)
• A system of care approach
• Employment of evidence-based treatment models (MST, MDFT, FSN, MET/CBT)
• Pilot for Connecticut’s adolescent substance abuse treatment system
Hartford Youth Project System of Care
Outreach, Assessment, Engagement,
Referral:
Urban League of Greater Hartford
Outreach, Assessment, Engagement,
Referral:
Hispanic Health Council
Treatment Coordinator
:ABH
Community Referrals:
SchoolsCommunity AgenciesTreatment Providers
DCFFamilies and Youth
Wheeler
Clinic
HBH
The Villag
e
CSI NAFI
Follow-up:Hispanic Health Council
Follow-up:Urban League of Greater
Hartford
Juvenile Justice Referrals:Probation
Juvenile DetentionCommitted Youth
Catholic Charities
The Hartford Youth Project offers:
• Culturally competent outreach, engagement, and follow-up
• Centralized assessment• Family-based treatment methodology• Network of treatment providers• Service to youth:
-10-17 years old
-Living in the city of Hartford
-Substance dependent, addicted, or at-risk
for AOD use
HYP Referral Sources
5%5%
Community,
14%School, 15%
J uvenile
J ustice, 51%
3% 7%
J uvenile J ustice SchoolCommunity Treatment ProvidersDCF Law EnforcementOther
Family-Driven Outreach and Engagement Approach
• Build trust with youth and families• Assess family needs• Prepare the family for transition to
treatment• Help family access basic needs and
services• Maintain contact with family to
monitor client progress for up to 1 year
Profile of HYP Youth
75% male 42% African American 64% Hispanic
– 87% Puerto Rican Average age = 14.7 years old 51% referred by juvenile justice system 49% referred by community sources 68% from single parent families
10
65
80
44
28
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80P
e
r
c
e
n
t
R
e
p
o
r
t
i
n
g
WeeklyAlcohol Use
Weekly DrugUse
SexuallyActive
Multiple SexPartners
Drug-RelatedCrime
HYP’s Latino Youth: Substance Use and Risk Behaviors
68
87 83
46
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
R
e
p
o
r
t
i
n
g
Single parentfamily
In school, past90 days
CriminalJ ustice
Involvement
EverVictimized
Profile of HYP’s Latino Youth
HYP’s Latino Youth: Mental Health and Substance Diagnosis
50
30
37
43
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50P
e
r
c
e
n
t
R
e
p
o
r
t
i
n
g
ConductDisorder
ADD/ADHD SubstanceAbuse Dx
SubstanceDependence Dx
What It Takes to be an HYP Outreach Agency
• Cultural competency
• Community-level base
• Services visible in and by the community
• Established reputation, trusted by community residents
• Multi-service orientation
• Child and family focus
HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Issues and Challenges
• Trust issues• Stigma of substance abuse, treatment,
outside intervention (“keep it in the home”)• Youth and/or family denial of problem• Language (English vs. Spanish)• Limited resources to meet basic needs• Lack of appropriate educational resources• Youth/family treatment engagement and
retention • Involvement in juvenile justice system
Serving HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Strategies for Success
• Engagement Specialists (ES) and agency staff share clients’ cultural values, language, and experience
• Staff have first-hand-knowledge of family issues and challenges
• Outreach agency have resources or connections to help families meet basic needs
Serving HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Strategies for Success
• ES’s locate and access outside resources (community, state) to supplement agency resources for families
• ES’s interface with key stakeholders (schools, Juvenile Justice, employers, etc.)
• HYP matches families with culturally competent and/or bilingual treatment providers
HYP Youth: 6-Month Treatment Outcomes
116
65
38
11
5
37
17
93
68
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
R
e
p
o
r
t
i
n
g
Weekly Alcohol
Use
Weekly Drug Use Arrest in Past
Month
Illegal Activity Sexually Active
Intake 6-Months
HYP Youth: 6-Month Treatment Outcomes
33
19
49
30
61 64
18
4
9489
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
P
e
r
c
e
n
t
R
e
p
o
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t
i
n
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Weekly Alcohol
Use at Home
Peer Weekly
Alcohol Use
Peer Drug Use Victimized in Past
90 days
In School
Intake 6-Months
HYP: A Summary
• HYP has been successful in engaging youth and families in Hartford and increasing the number served by evidence-based treatment models.
• Overall 6-month treatment outcomes have been positive.
• Community-based agencies and staff have been successful due to cultural competency, and ability to identify with families, build trust, and access needed resources.
“INVESTING TIME IN OUR YOUTH IS INVESTING TIME IN OUR FUTURE”
“Engagement Specialist…not just a job…a calling.”
To be successful, an Engagement Specialist MUST:
• Come from and feel comfortable in the community• Identify with youth and families• Build and maintain trust of those they serve• Be reliable and willing to work hard • Be resourceful, creative, and persistent• Have strong organizational and communication
skills• Support the whole entire family (address needs
beyond substance abuse)• Have access to crucial resources to help families
meet basic needs
For additional information on this presentation or the Hartford Youth Project contact:
Jennifer E. Sussman, HYP Evaluation Project DirectorUniversity of Connecticut Health CenterPhone: (860) 679-5409E-mail: [email protected]
Robyn Anderson, HYP Project ManagerAdvanced Behavioral HealthPhone: (860) 638-5336E-mail: [email protected]
URBAN LEAGUE OF
GREATER HARTFORD, INC.