Andrea Ault, MPA¹, Judith Samuels, PhD¹, and Alan Felix, MD². (1) Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Center for the Study of Issues in Public Mental Health, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962, (917) 364-4487, aa825@nyu.edu, (2) Medical Director of the Westchester Families First Program, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY 10962

Although researchers have been able to demonstrate that there is a significant relationship between working alliance and clients’ mental health outcomes, little research has been conducted on the type of activities or factors that may contribute to/ or hinder the development of a strong working alliance between a therapist/caseworker and client, particularly those working with homeless families.

Analysis of this topic will be based on recent data collected from a randomized clinical trial entitled Westchester Families First (WFF). WFF provides a time-limited intervention called “Family Critical Time Intervention” (FCTI) to homeless families in Westchester County, New York. FCTI couples the rapid placement of homeless families into transitional housing with intensive short-term (9 months) case management.

This qualitative sub-study examines how system level regulations and organizational factors (i.e., organizational climate and culture) may affect the working alliance between caseworkers and clients participating in the study. The sub-study also examines the role FCTI plays in mediating these system and organizational factors and the subsequent affect on working alliance. Analysis of qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with FCTI caseworkers and ethnographic fieldnotes from clinical case meetings will be presented. Policy implications and directions for future research will also be discussed in the presentation.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how system level regulations and organizational factors may affect the working alliance between caseworkers and clients in homeless families populations.
• Discuss policy implications and directions for future research as they relate to the development of new services, polices, and procedures for systems and organizations serving homeless families.

Keywords: Mental Health, Homelessness

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.