HOMELESS FAMILIES INITIATIVE Women With Psychiatric/Substance Use/Co-Occurring Disorders (Homeless Families Initiative) AHP conducted a two-phase study on homeless families funded by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). Phase 1 focused on a descriptive study and Phase 2 focused on a quasi-experimental evaluation of an intervention for homeless families, most of whom received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In Phase I, AHP conducted a pilot study to describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of the population of women who were living with their dependent children, who had a mental health or substance abuse diagnosis or both, and who were admitted to a family/domestic violence shelter. The pilot study included individual, face-to-face interviews with these mothers. Through key informant interviews and document review, the pilot study also sought to describe the family shelters and domestic violence shelters that serve this population. Attributes described included the system of referrals, the treatment, rehabilitation, and support services provided through the shelter system, the program’s architectural features, and the community or environmental conditions affecting risk of homelessness. In Phase 2, AHP used a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the impact of receiving Family Critical Time Intervention (FCTI), a promising case manager program that provides support to families after they have left shelter. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in preventing future homelessness, increasing stability in housing, and improving mental health and social functioning. A total of 869 interviews were completed with homeless families over the project period, at baseline, three, nine, and fifteen months, and telephone interviews at six and twelve months. AHP maintained an overall follow-up rate of 84% across all of the client interviews by developing standardized procedures for tracking and retaining program participants. AHP also collected surveys from FCTI staff to examine services provided and client-staff relationships; conducted annual key informant interviews with shelter directors and key county agency staff; conducted semi-annual focus groups with FCTI case managers and mothers enrolled in the study; developed a training manual for FCTI and trained staff, and evaluated and revised the manual. The outcomes of individuals receiving the services in one county were compared with the usual post-shelter, outreach/resettlement programs available in two additional counties. AHP also examined the predictive value of a new measure of family risk of future homelessness and program fidelity. AHP prepared four presentations on this study for professional conferences and eight presentations to provider agencies and local organizations. Other products from the study included the FCTI case manager manual, the Phase I report which has been used by provider programs for grants and reports, and an article based on the study data, which was accepted for publication in a professional journal.
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