Feasibility Study Of The Individual Placement And Support Program With Homeless Youth In Los Angeles

PI: Kristin M. Ferguson, Ph.D.
School of Social Work
University of Southern California

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT PROGRAM WITH HOMELESS YOUTH IN LOS ANGELES

The goal of this pilot study is to test the feasibility of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment with homeless youth (ages 16-24) with mental illness at two drop-in centers. The IPS is an evidence-based employment program integrated with clinical services that facilitates entry into competitive employment for persons with mental illness by providing individualized and long-term support. We propose two specific aims: 1) to adapt the existing evidence-based IPS intervention for use in two drop-in centers with homeless youth with mental illness; and 2) to assess the impact of the IPS over a 10-month period using a pre-post, self-comparison feasibility study with 40 homeless youth with mental illness (20 per agency). We will examine the impact of the IPS on the youths' a) employment, b) mental health status, c) high-risk behaviors, d) substance abuse, and e) service utilization.