SPIN 4 YA HEALTH!

Tools for engaging Homeless Young People

Workshop Brief

• Young people’s experience at BYS.• Engagement and intervention strategies. • Spin 4 Ya Health! – an example and a tool.

Who is BYS?

• BYS works with homeless and at-risk young people and young families (across all levels of homelessness) and has done so for over 30 years.

• BYS see’s itself as a community hub model; offering various types and various levels of support/service;

• Types of Support: – We are split across 6 teams with key targeted services offered

by each of these; – Young Families Team – Health Team – Youth Development Team – Homelessness and Housing Team – Employment and Training – Management/Admin

CRISIS/IMMEDIATE NEED SUPPORT (LEVEL 2)Immediate assistance, Basic order needs including meals, laundry; storage; showers; personal hygiene; clothing; mail collection; computersFinancial Assistance – Emergency Relief and Brokerage Information and ReferralMedical servicesCrisis counsellingReferral & advocacy for to emergency accommodation, legal assistance etc

PLANNED SUPPORT (LEVEL 4)Holistic needs assessment, collaborative goal setting & planned individual support provided by a Key WorkerInternal co-case management across teams – regular case conferencing Joint casework with other agenciesSpecialised Group work Therapeutic Intervention Referral and advocacyEmployment and Training

GOAL – Stabilization to

self-determinationBRIEF INTERVENTION (LEVEL 3)

Medical and health services Harm Minimisation and Reduction intervention Drug and alcohol servicesLife skills program; Health promotion and educational workshops Parenting group programsAccommodation and support servicesOnsite clinics – Centrelink, Legal, Mental Health, others Referral and advocacy

ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES/ENTRY POINTS (LEVEL 1)

Fixed site centre – drop-in, activities, arts and cultural processesOutreach strategies e.g. mobile workers; specific activities, community events. Key goal relationship building

LEVELS OF SERVICE - BYS MODEL OF SERVICE DELIVERY

Some statistics! • Each year we see approx 1000 different young people with about

11,000 contacts. • About 85% of the young people we see we see 12 times or less • About 15% - 150 or so young people we see over 12 times within

one year – these are the young people we could “case manage”. (planned support)

• We have 29 staff • Last year ATSI young people made up 28% of our clients• 19 distinct cultural groups • Largest group are 22-25 (45%), followed by, 18-21 (34%) then 14-

17 (14%) • The majority of the young people we see have “complex trauma”

with histories of abuse and neglect by family, community and the system and are engaging in drug use, mental health, behavioral issues, self-harm etc.

Some recent findings

• ACU research, Heather Stewart and Helen Rodd.

- Relationship as primary focus and robust outcome in itself, though not often formally valued.

- Importance of multi-dimensional relationships.

• AHURI case management report, Dr Hellene Gronda.

- A persistent and comprehensive relationship based on intimacy and respect.

Recent Findings Cont.

• QCOSS report – Identifying population health interventions that effectively target disadvantaged Queenslanders.

• Spin is effective because:-Flexible structure to meet yp circumstances-Participants determine content-Clear pathways for individual follow up- Empowerment approach

Spin in Action

Engagement

• Focus on relationships- building connection and community

• Icebreaker

• Client directed where possible- planning and implementation.

Engagement Cont.

• Content- responsive and relevant

• Diverse mediums

• Where is the audience?

History of Spin

• In 2003 BYS Indigenous Youth Health Vulcana Women's Circus and Brisbane City Council ran weekly evening art workshops in King George Square.

• At the time high numbers of young people were congregating and sleeping rough in the city

• All agencies involved including QPS agreed that an arts based diversionary program should be implemented.

Spin History

• In early 2004 BYS Nurse and Art’s Health Educator developed a formula for a health focused workshops to be run at BYS.

• SPIN 4 YA HEALTH• The idea originating from the success of facilitating a arts

based workshop in an outreach setting and its effectiveness as a tool of engagement.

• Since this time BYS has being successfully running Spin’s.

• In 2008, Spin was formally recognised by QCOSS as an example of best practice in engaging ‘disadvantaged young people’.

Engagement cont.

• Give People Something Real

• Example of Auction

• Keep working at it.- Challenges - Building a culture.

Any Questions?