Process and Outcome in Outreach Programs for People Who Are Homeless Hope Plaza Columbia, SC July 23, 2014 Candice Morgan, LMSW

Main Topics Main topics include: Key components of successful outreach programs Outcome measures Implications for practice Limitations Potential for evaluations here

Outreach Program: Process Overview ❖ Intensive Case Management (ICM) ❖ Linked to Shelter for Men and Women ❖ Referrals to Outreach Case Management from Shelter ❖ Screen for and Identify ❖ Chronic Homelessness ❖ Severe Disability ❖ Psychiatric Symptoms

Intensive Case Managers Work 1 on 1 Meet Whenever is Necessary Serve as Advocates Refer and Link Continued and Unwavering Support

Relationship is Key ❖ Develop the relationship first ❖ Strengths Model of Case Management ❖ Direct Relationship between Program Elements and Program Outcomes

Elements = Outcome ❖ What We DO Matters ❖ Frequent contact over a long time ❖ Help with basic survival problems ❖ Attempting to get to know the client ❖ No requirements to get services

Outcome Measures ❖ How do we decide what to do and what to measure? ❖ Depends on the Philosophy of the Program ❖ Program Theory ❖ Availability of Valid and Reliable Measures

Outcome Measures (cont.) ❖ Social Functioning (Relationship Building) ❖ Linkage to Medical and Psychiatric Services ❖ A way to evaluate outreach ❖ Longitudinal Study ❖ To determine which elements of outreach = outcomes

Method: ❖ Baseline assessments ❖ Assessments repeated 9 and 18 months later ❖ 71 participants entered the study ❖ Lost 16 to attrition ❖ 55 participants completed study

Procedures and Instruments ❖ Uniform Client Data Instrument (Mulkern & Manderscheid) ❖ Service Utilization Form ❖ Working Alliance Inventory (Horvath & Greenburg)

Analysis ❖ Paired-samples t-test ❖ Change over 9 to 18 months ❖ Multivariate Analysis ❖ Program elements ❖ Outcomes

Results Social Functioning Alliance, relationship, connection Linkage to medical and psychiatry Reduction of symptoms

Discussion ❖ Implications for Practice ❖ Limitations ❖ Moving forward

Questions and Answers ❖ Thank you for listening ❖ Contact information: