Health services for homeless adolescents.
This prospective review was designed to determine the effectiveness of a broad-spectrum health intervention program for homeless and runaway youth. Diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for drug use, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and other health issues were provided to all new admissions to a residential care facility during a 7(1/2)-year enrollment. Education was continued during a minimum follow-up period of 9 months based on the program entitled Bright Futures, previously developed and published by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. Fifty-four percent of the study residents had STDs on admission, and 9% developed new STDs after completing therapy and undergoing counseling. Drug dependence was reduced from 47% to 4%, and 46% achieved full-time or part-time employment. Sixty-three percent completed hepatitis B immunization with the 3-dose series. This experience suggests that an organized program of interventions in a residential care facility for homeless teenagers can significantly reduce drug dependence and STDs.
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, LSU School of Medicine and Children's Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. RWSteele@aol.com
Russell W
RW
Steele
Andres
A
Ramgoolam
James
J
Evans
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection