Predicting Response to Services for Homeless Adolescents and Transition Age Youth (TAY) with Substance Use And/Or Mental Health Disorders: Implications for Youth Treatment and Recovery

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This paper examines patterns of response to a multi-disciplinary wrap-around program for homeless adolescents and transition-aged youth with substance use and/or mental health disorders.

Method

A cluster analysis of outcome data from 148 youth was conducted.

Results

Cluster 1 (n = 67) demonstrated significant decreases in risky behavior (e.g., engaging in unprotected sex, crime, and substance use) and poor interpersonal relationships (e.g. more interaction with family and friends and lower rates of violence) but experienced relatively fewer interactions with family and friends. Cluster 2 (n = 57) demonstrated a significant decrease in poor life functioning (e.g., lower rates of employment/education, better quality of life, and less symptoms of internalizing disorders). Cluster 3 (n = 24) experienced significant increases in risky behavior, poor life functioning, and poor interpersonal relationships.

Discussion

Clusters 1 and 2 improved over six months of care. Cluster 3 deteriorated despite receiving similar services and used more opioids and stimulants.

Conclusions

Peer engagement in programs for this population are important. Recommendations for cluster 3 include targeted outreach, medication assisted treatment, and additional research-supported treatments. Further research is needed to test these interventions over longer periods of time.

KEYWORDS:

• Homeless
• adolescent
• transition age youth
• substance use
• mental health
• wrap-around

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Cooperative Agreements to Benefit Homeless Individuals Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration funding (1H79SM063313-01).