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

Abstract #68986

Elena D. Quintana, PhD¹, Cody D. Stephens, MA², Tim Metzger, MUPP², Rita Gondocs², Norman L. Kerr³, Francisco Perez⁴, and Gary Slutkin, MD². (1) University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago Project for Violence Prevention, 2121 West Taylor (M/C 922), Chicago, IL 60612, 312/355-3495, elenaq@uic.edu, (2) University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago Project for Violence Prevention/CeaseFire, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612, (3) University of Illinios at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago Project for Violence Prevention/CeaseFire, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612, (4) University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago Project for Violence Prevention/ CeaseFire, 1603 W. Taylor, Chicago, IL 60612

Young people, 15-24 years old, are at the highest risk of both committing and becoming victims of shootings. High-risk youth, who are exposed to violence and display risks such as gang involvement or chronic truancy, are at highest risk. Those who live in economically depressed, socially disorganized communities have limited access to services that can potentially minimize their risk – such as mental health, employment, and alternative schools. A study was conducted examining factors to reduce risk for high-risk youth, including: service gaps, numbers in need, and value of youth outreach. This study of 46 service agencies in West Garfield Park, a high-risk Chicago community, found many service providers had waiting lists (30%), acceptance criteria (43%), were located outside of the community (83%) and/or would not accept youth without referrals (26%). This data suggests accessibility of service levels is inadequate for highest risk youth. Documentation from the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention, a multi-component community-based project focused on reducing shootings, shows how trained youth outreach workers maximize existing service use and help high-risk youth develop positive pathways. Between 2000 and 2001, seven outreach personnel worked with 300 high-risk youth in West Garfield (16% of estimated 1,833 high-risk). The outreach workers bridged gaps by assisting with 117 job referrals and 102 school referrals for their clients. Forty-eight percent of these clients experienced decreased risk levels as indicated by a tracking system. By connecting and assisting youth with service accessibility and use, outreach can reduce youth’s risk.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Examine the inaccessibility and paucity of services for high-risk youth.
• 2. Demonstrate how outreach workers help youth access service agencies and reduce their risk level.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employed by organization