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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Meredith Silverstein, PhD¹, Ann Garrett, MSW², Nancy VanDeMark, MSW², Susan Boyle, MA³, and Jamie Vanleeuwen, MA, MPH, CAC III⁴. (1) Colorado Social Research Associates, 3530 W. Lehigh Avenue, Denver, CO 80236, 303-412-3988, msilverstein@ahinc.org, (2) Colorado Social Reserach Associates, 3530 West Lehigh Ave, Denver, CO 80236, (3) Urban Peak, 730 21st Street, Denver, CO 80205, (4) City of Denver, Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness, 1200 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80204

In 2004, the Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative counted 619 homeless youth reporting no permanently place to go; compared to the first homeless youth count in 1997, this population has tripled in less than ten years. A majority of these youth struggle with substance use and abuse. This poster presentation will present findings from a qualitative program evaluation of the Starting Transition and Recovery (STAR) Program at Urban Peak, a Denver-based nonprofit organization serving homeless and runaway youth. STAR is based on an abstinent-contingent housing model that transitions youth to independence by developing life skills and providing intensive substance abuse treatment. The evaluation's purpose was to determine what encourages clients to enroll and stay in STAR and what program elements clients find most and least helpful. Researchers conducted a total of 15 semi-structured interviews with youth who were currently in the program (n= 5), completed the program as expected (n= 4) or did not complete the program as expected (n = 6). A modified phenomenological methodology was used to develop a comprehensive description of the clients' experiences. Program characteristics that were most helpful included client-staff relationships, program structure, and access to a healthy, sober community; less helpful characteristics included inconsistency in rules and consequences and exposure to others' continued substance use.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize what works in an abstinent-contingent housing model for substance-using runaway and homeless youth.
• Discuss the challenges in implementing and maintaining this model.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered