DOCUMENT RESUME ED 364 617 UD 029 589 AUTHOR Able-Peterson, Trudee; Bucy, June TITLE The Streetwork Outreach Training Manual. INSTITUTION Georgetown Univ. Child Development Center, Washington, DC. CASSP Technical Assistance Center. SPONS AGENCY Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS), Rockville, MD. Center for Mental Health Services. PUB DATE 93 NOTE 158p. AVAILABLE FROM CASS? Technical Assistance Center, Georgetown University Child Development Center, 3800 Reservoir Road, N.W., CG-52 Bles, Pediatrics, Washington, DC 20007. PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Disadvantaged Youth; *Economically Disadvantaged; Guides; *Homeless People; *Outreach Programs; *Program Development; Program Implementation; Runaways; Social Services; Social Workers; Staff Development; Subcultures; Urban Problems; Volunteer Training; *Youth Programs IDENTIFIERS *Streetwork ABSTRACT This document is intended to be a guide for action for people concerned about the youths who live alone on the streets of America without the nurturing, protection, and supervision of caring adults. It describes the varied activities, knowledge, and skills and outreach program needs to provide services to these youth who are living on the streets. Specific topics include discussions about life on the streets and why youth become runaways, street subcultures and hierarchy, and the underlying principles of streetwork and two streetwork programs. The bulk of the document covers outreach program development; the creation of an outreach team, including staff development and training needs; program implementation and the rules to be followed to aid success; and the various services, both direct and ancillary, that are needed. The final chapters examine the cultural diversity that can be found among homeless persons, and Alaska's response to the homeless youth problem. Appendices, comprising 25 percent of the document, include guidelines for program development and for counseling gay youth, and a list of additional street outreach programs for homeless and runaway youth. (Contains 106 references.) (GLR) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Ofhco of Educohonol Research and imprza.smont EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS 4.-Trhs documont Ilas boon roproducod as MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY ,rocomod from In* porson or orpomzotron ontsnahne Gold man 5. K._ , 0 Mmor changes novo boon mode to morons roproduction quality Pornts of vtom or opmonsstatod m tn.sdocu- mont do not nCOSSanly roprosont offrciat OERI pasMon or pohcy TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." ERRATA Please add the following programs to the Resource List on p. 118 in Appendix 2 and delete them from pps. 147-149 in Appendix 6. p. 148 cont. p. 147 YWCA Runaway Alaska Youth Initiative Child and Adolescent Mental Health 17 Harriet Street Division of Mental Health/ Springfield, MA 01107 Developmental Disabilities 413-731-9737 Box H-04 Juneau. AL 99811 p. 149 p. 148 Covenant House Garfield Youth Services 14 Williams Street 902 Taughenbaugh. Suite 302 Newark, NJ 07102 Rifle, CO 81650 212-613-0300 303-625-3141 Crossroads Washington Institute For P.O. Box 321 Employment Training Lumberton, NJ 08048 3224 16th Street. N.W. 609-261-5400 Washington. DC 20010 The Children's Health Fund 202-265-2626 317 East 64th Street Wave, Inc. New York, NY 10021 501 School Street. S.W. 212-535-9400 Suite 600 Planned Parenthood of Washington, DC 20024 New York City 202-484-0103 Street Beat Program Youth Crisis Center 349 East 149th Street. Room 601 P.O. Box 16567 Bronx. NY 10451 Jacksonville, FL 32245 718-274-7223 904-725-6852 National Resource Center For Kaleidoscope Youth Services The Univesity of Oklahoma 1279 N. Milwaukee 202 West Eight Street Suite 250 Chicago, IL 60622 Tulsa. OK 74119-1419 918-592-1841 312-278-7200 BEST COPY AVAILABLE THE STREETWORK OUTREACH TRAINING MANUAL Trudee Able-Peterson June Bucy U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Mental Health Services Division of Demonstration Programs Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) 4 This report is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administra- tion (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services, Division of Demonstration Pro- grams, Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP). All material appearing in this volume is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission from SAMHSA, CASSP, or the authors. Citation of the source is appreciated. Copies are available from: CASSP Technical Assistance Center Georgetown University Child Development Center 3800 Reservoir Road, NW CG-52 Bles, Pediatrics Washington, DC 20007 202-687-8635 Printed 1993 FOREWORD The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) within the Center for Mental Health Services, has emphasized, in working with the States, the development of the infrastructure necessary for of services system improvement and for the development of an array in communities for children and youth with, or at risk of, serious emotional disturbance. The defmition of at risk of serious emotional, behavioral, or mental disorders include children and youth, but are family unit not limited to those who are homeless, either as part of a who are unable to provide adequate or alone; those living with parents drug-addicted parents; those who have care and nurturance, includirg been victims of violence; those who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs; those who are HIV infectech those with a family history of psychiatric illness; and those with multiple out-of-home placements. Children and youth who are living on th e streets, in abandoned buildings, and in parks are clearly members of that population CASSP is targeting. Streetwork is a critical component in a comprehensive service system which is, like a seamless garment, without gaps or holes. Jean Garrison-Athey, formerly of NIMH-CASSP, supported June Bucy, founder of the National Network of Runaway and Youth Serv- ices, in developing this training document on street work and outreach that to homeless and runaway youth. She shared June's conviction there was a technology that needed to be understood, documented, and then transferred to other communities. June diligently interviewed countless people in programs across the country, carefully document- ing all the information they shared with her and communicating it in Her life-long commitment to, a straightforward, nonthreatening way. and knowledge of, these children and youth shines through. Trudee Able-Peterson was asked to contribute the perspective of streetwork program in one of someone who developed and nurtured a the most intimidating cities in America, in a neighborhood deluged with hustlers preying on children, youth, and other vulnerable human beings. Trudee has walked the cold, threatening streets; rocked the raped, beaten, crying child to sleep; comforted the shocked, grieving streetworker over the suicide of one of the kids; educated a bewildered 12-year-old about HIV/AIDS; buried a teenager who died of AIDS; knocked on doors to ask for money to keep the program alive; pleaded STREETWORK OUTREACH TRAINING MANUAL with politicians to develop laws to protect children; shared her vision with hospital workers, police officers, lawyers, and church groups, of a society that does not exploit and harm children but one that embraces them, halts the injustices against them, recognizes their talents and their dreams, and builds on them. Finally, we used the youths own words whenever possible. However, with more time and greater resources we would have included them in the creation and production of this manual. They will be so involved next time. Diane M. Doherty Director Children and Youth At-Risk Program Georgetown University Child Development Center CASSP Technical Assistance Center Diane L. Sondheimer Chief Child and Adolescent Studies Program Child, Adolescent and Family Branch Division of Demonstration Programs Center for Mental Heath Services iv PREFACE This manual, developed under a contract with the Center on Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin- istration, is intended as a guide for action for people concerned about the youths who live alone on the streets of America without the nurture, protection, and supervision of caring adults. The number of these youth is unknown, but conservative estimates indicate that each year 100,000 to 300,000 adolescents become separated from their families and their homes. However, the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services1 estimates that each year, 1 million to 1.3 million youth run away from their homes as the result of abuse, violence, and family conflict. In a small number of communities, individuals, religious or civic groups, or public or private agencies have reached out to help. One response has been to go where the kids areout into the streetsto listen and learn. Having listened, creative and committed people have devised strategies and programs that offer respect to the young people and support for positive changes the youth can make. Most of the material in this manual is derived from the experience of such providers. Streetworkers respect for young people and their enthusiasm for empowering youth to make changes in their lives are tempered by their acquaintance with the pain and isolation experienced by many of the youth on the street. Their innovative techniques are firmly rooted in sociological and psychological theory and sophisticated strategies that are often obscured by the ease with which they wear their 'street clothes" and hang out in unobtrusive ways. Their language shifts easily between pithy street vernacular and professional jargon. One characteristic they seem to share is an openness, almost an eagerness, for questions, critiques, and thoughtful dialog about their work. They know they are inventing a technology that is a powerful force in bringing hope, health, and safety, not only to youth forced to 1 The National Network of Runaway and Youth Services. To Whom Do They Belong? Runaway, Homeless, and Other Youth in High-Risk Situations in the 1990s. Washing- ton, DC: the Network, 1991. STREETWORK OUTREACH TRAINING MANUAL of American youth who are a homeless street existence, but to millions at risk of becoming homeless. We have talked with most ot the people mentioned in this manual and visited many of the programs. We have thereby become inheritors of the oral tradition that has built this new service model. Some 25 (appendix I) program providers struggled with a survey instrument shared to describe their work and their learning. Many of them have with us, and thus with you, their own documents, data. training materials, reports, and stories of young lives with an unselfishness that we find amazing. We owe each of them a debt of gratitude. Participating programs are listed in appendix 2. All of the people who shared their learning expressed concern about the not-yet developed techniques and unanswered questions. Each stressed the uniqueness of each community and the necessity of staying attuned to changes. These youth service pioneers know that they are a knowledge bridge over which informatior and experiences with homeless youth will come into the consciousness of people who They believe that even- can create a climate of public understanding. tually this understanding will lead to public forums and policy deci- sions that will address not only the individual suffering of young people but the costs to our national strength of throwing youth away. This manual attempts to describe the varied activities, knowledge, and skills an outreach program needs to provide services to these youth who are living on our streeets. It is not a complete guide, particularly in the areas of counseling techniques, substance abuse prevention, and fundraising, where more indepth information is readily available. We have become increasingly concerned that homeless youth are falling through the cracks, not only of public agencies and traditional services, but of agencies that once prided themselves on responding to the needs of children most at risk. Americans have become aware of the large population of people who are homeless. Some citizens and policymakers even recognize that families, most often mothers and their young children, are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population. As a Nation we have not yet, however, managed to realize that thousands of adolescents roam our streets, disconnected from families, from health and mental health care, education, employment, housing, and a sense of belonging to our society. This manual is dedicated to those youth in the hope that they will soon be welcomed back into our communities of concern. vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Marsha Day and Victims' Services Agency for their vision and creation of The Streetwork Project of N.Y.C.; Beatriz Ruiz, because you are the young person who took a chance to believe in yourself and you taught me that the program could succeed; Ilene Freund-Ford. my first partner in streetworkI am so grateful you were there with me. I would also like to thank Diane Doherty, Diane Sondheimer, Helene Lauffer, Margo Hirsch, Lutz Kratzschmer, Jerry Fest, the Center for Mental Health Services, and Hamburger Stiftung Zur Forderung Von Wissenschaft Und Kultur for their assistance and support throughout the writing of this manual and the streetwork programs that contributed to the manual. Trudee Able-Peterson Most of the material in this manual is derived from the experiences of providers. I would like to thank all of the people who shared their learning with me and expressed concern about the not-yet developed techniques for working with homeless youth and the unanswered questions about streetwork. All stressed the uniqueness of their com- munities and the necessity of staying attuned to changes. To me, however, the most remarkable insight is that every respondent and program emphasized the same messagethe young people mat- ter, they must not be forgotten, and we can make a difference. June Bucy vii i 0