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A Systems Approach to Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Latino Youth:

A Systems Approach to Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Latino Youth:. THE HARTFORD YOUTH PROJECT. Latino Caucus of the APHA Annual Meeting November 6, 2006. URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER HARTFORD, INC. The Hartford Youth Project (HYP).

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A Systems Approach to Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Latino Youth:

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  1. A Systems Approach to Improving Substance Abuse Treatment for Latino Youth: THE HARTFORD YOUTH PROJECT Latino Caucus of the APHA Annual Meeting November 6, 2006 URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER HARTFORD, INC.

  2. The Hartford Youth Project (HYP) • Funded through CSAT’s Strengthening Communities – Youth (SCY) initiative • A collaborative effort, headed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) • A system of care approach • Employment of evidence-based treatment models (MST, MDFT, FSN, MET/CBT) • Pilot for Connecticut’s adolescent substance abuse treatment system

  3. Juvenile Justice Referrals: Probation Juvenile Detention Committed Youth Community Referrals: Schools Community Agencies Treatment Providers DCF Families and Youth Outreach, Assessment, Engagement, Referral: Urban League of Greater Hartford Outreach, Assessment, Engagement, Referral: Hispanic Health Council Treatment Coordinator: ABH Hartford Youth Project System of Care The Village Wheeler Clinic Catholic Charities NAFI HBH CSI Follow-up: Hispanic Health Council Follow-up: Urban League of Greater Hartford

  4. The Hartford Youth Project offers: • Culturally competent outreach, engagement, and follow-up • Centralized assessment • Family-based treatment methodology • Network of treatment providers • Service to youth: -10-17 years old -Living in the city of Hartford -Substance dependent, addicted, or at-risk for AOD use

  5. HYP Referral Sources

  6. Family-Driven Outreach and Engagement Approach • Build trust with youth and families • Assess family needs • Prepare the family for transition to treatment • Help family access basic needs and services • Maintain contact with family to monitor client progress for up to 1 year

  7. Profile of HYP Youth • 75% male • 42% African American • 64% Hispanic • 87% Puerto Rican • Average age = 14.7 years old • 51% referred by juvenile justice system • 49% referred by community sources • 68% from single parent families

  8. HYP’s Latino Youth: Substance Use and Risk Behaviors

  9. Profile of HYP’s Latino Youth

  10. HYP’s Latino Youth: Mental Health and Substance Diagnosis

  11. What It Takes to be an HYP Outreach Agency • Cultural competency • Community-level base • Services visible in and by the community • Established reputation, trusted by community residents • Multi-service orientation • Child and family focus

  12. HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Issues and Challenges • Trust issues • Stigma of substance abuse, treatment, outside intervention (“keep it in the home”) • Youth and/or family denial of problem • Language (English vs. Spanish) • Limited resources to meet basic needs • Lack of appropriate educational resources • Youth/family treatment engagement and retention • Involvement in juvenile justice system

  13. Serving HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Strategies for Success • Engagement Specialists (ES) and agency staff share clients’ cultural values, language, and experience • Staff have first-hand-knowledge of family issues and challenges • Outreach agency have resources or connections to help families meet basic needs

  14. Serving HYP’s Latino Youth and Families: Strategies for Success • ES’s locate and access outside resources (community, state) to supplement agency resources for families • ES’s interface with key stakeholders (schools, Juvenile Justice, employers, etc.) • HYP matches families with culturally competent and/or bilingual treatment providers

  15. HYP Youth: 6-Month Treatment Outcomes

  16. HYP Youth: 6-Month Treatment Outcomes

  17. HYP: A Summary • HYP has been successful in engaging youth and families in Hartford and increasing the number served by evidence-based treatment models. • Overall 6-month treatment outcomes have been positive. • Community-based agencies and staff have been successful due to cultural competency, and ability to identify with families, build trust, and access needed resources. “INVESTING TIME IN OUR YOUTH IS INVESTING TIME IN OUR FUTURE”

  18. “Engagement Specialist…not just a job…a calling.” To be successful, an Engagement Specialist MUST: • Come from and feel comfortable in the community • Identify with youth and families • Build and maintain trust of those they serve • Be reliable and willing to work hard • Be resourceful, creative, and persistent • Have strong organizational and communication skills • Support the whole entire family (address needs beyond substance abuse) • Have access to crucial resources to help families meet basic needs

  19. For additional information on this presentation or the Hartford Youth Project contact: Jennifer E. Sussman, HYP Evaluation Project Director University of Connecticut Health Center Phone: (860) 679-5409 E-mail:sussman@nso2.uchc.edu Robyn Anderson, HYP Project Manager Advanced Behavioral Health Phone: (860) 638-5336 E-mail: randerson@abhct.com URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER HARTFORD, INC.

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