NCJ Number
184111
Date Published
1999
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The Raven Project expands and enhances a 3-year-old youth-led street outreach to homeless and runaway youth in Humboldt County, California.
Abstract
The project provides health education, risk reduction information, alternatives to substance use and abuse, resource referral, and access to needed services for vulnerable youth. Project youth educators are recruited from the streets, receive substance abuse prevention education and training, and work on a peer-to-peer basis with transient youth. Project goals include increasing the physical health and well-being of young people between 10 and 20 years old; increasing leadership and employment opportunities for homeless youth; and increasing alcohol and drug education, prevention, and risk reduction services to youth. The project has a full-time coordinator, 3 part-time outreach workers, 8 to 10 part-time youth educators, and 4 to 5 volunteers. An evaluation of the project for the period from October 1997 to October 1998 showed the project responded to 1,631 youths, with a total of 3,878 contacts through youth educators and outreach workers. The drop-in services project component handled 571 youths: 51 percent male and 69 percent Caucasian. Sixty percent were between 18 and 21 years of age and 22 percent were between 15 and 17 years of age. Homeless or disenfranchised youths comprised approximately 70 percent of the target population, while about 30 percent of the youths considered themselves in transition or traveling. About 81 percent were referred for medical care, shelter, and counseling; 50 percent were involved in project activities; and 69 percent were involved in education and employment-related activities. The project contacted 1,265 homeless and street youths in the towns of Eureka, Arcata, and Garberville. Homeless and runaway youths and those in transition were 63 percent female and 76 percent Caucasian. Services included medical care, temporary shelter, and counseling. About 3,069 health and education, HIV/AIDS, and local resources prevention materials were disseminated to drop-in and street outreach youth. Youth educators and volunteers involved with the project were enthusiastic and committed to providing holistic prevention services. The recruitment and training of youth leaders from the target population, however, proved challenging and provided an opportunity for improving the self-image of vulnerable youth. Peer outreach to street youth for substance use prevention services proved to be a positive concept, one that requires long-term commitment from the community and funding sources. 9 tables