The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #57294

Sherril B. Gelmon, DrPH, Hatfield School of Governement, Portland State University, Public Administration Division, URBN 650; 506 SW Mill, Portland, OR 97207, 503-725-3044, gelmons@pdx.edu, Eric Einspruch, PhD, RMC Research Corporation, 522 SW Fifth Ave., Suite 1407, Portland, OR 97204-2131, Kevin Donegan, Willamette Bridge, Janus Youth Programs, Inc., 707 NE Couch St., Portland, OR 97232-2922, and Anna Foucek, Division of Public Administration, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751.

Project Metamorphosis is a community-wide continuum of agencies that provide alcohol, drug, mental health and other social services to homeless youth in Portland, OR. The project has completed its first year of activity, and is working towards achieving goals related to increased service provision to youth, development of a seamless continuum of services among the participating agencies, and accomplishment of a continuum-wide organizational culture distinguished by use of common language, supportive treatment philosophies, and collaborative management practices. The project is one of a group funded by the Robert Wood Johnson in the national "Local Initiative Funding Partners" program, with additional support from local foundations.

The continuum of Project Metamorphosis is accomplished through the use of several cross-organizational groups including a senior-level management and oversight team, a service-level treatment team, a group of outreach workers who are formerly homeless youth now in recovery, and an evaluation team that is a public/private sector collaboration. These groups have worked together during the first year to create knowledge and practices that support the continuum of services. In this presentation, representatives will present findings from the evaluation, observations and lessons learned; articulate facilitators and barriers to the accomplishment of project goals; discuss insights into best practices; and offer suggestions for strategies for replication in other communities. The presenters are members of both the evaluation and service provision teams.

Learning Objectives:

• To describe the creation of a community-based consortium of providers of alcohol, drug and mental health services for homeless youth, including identification of facilitators and barriers.
• To articulate findings from the first year of the Consortium's operations to demonstrate approaches, development activities, and evaluation methods.
• To identify replicable strategies for collaboration, communication, service integration, evaluation, and improvement of the consortium and its work.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Homeless Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.