Service Outcomes of Peer Consumer Advocacy for Soup Kitchen Guests

Abstract

This study determined client outcomes for two “linkage and coordination” models of case management-an individual case manager model and a team model consisting of a case manager and a peer helper-in an inner-city meal program. Soup kitchen guests seeking social services were voluntarily randomly assigned to one of two conditions-Linkage and Coordination (L/C) plus Peer Consumer Advocacy (PCA) [N = 57] or Linkage and Coordination (L/C) only [N = 53]. The PCAs provided guests with social and instrumental support to help them implement their case plans. Almost all study participants were unemployed and reported drug or alcohol misuse. Participants who received L/C plus PCA, compared with those receiving L/C only, met more often with the case manager, kept more service referral appointments, and received more entitlements and community services. Other significant predictors of appointments kept were older age and limitations in activities of daily living. The L/C plus PCA participants also showed better outcomes for cocaine/crack use, but not for heavy alcohol or other drug use.

Key Words:

• Case management
• peer helping
• substance abuse
• soup kitchens
• service outcomes