Programs for Runaway and Homeless Youth Operate in Communities Statewide
 stimates of the number of homeless and runaway youth in California run as high as 128,000 annually. Many of these young people have histories of physical and/or sexual abuse and are at high risk for further victimization on the street. While large concentrations of such youth are located in cities like San Diego, San Francisco and the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, some are found in every county in the state.
 “These youth are at higher risk for physical and sexual assault, suicidal ideation and health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis than their nonhomeless peers,” said Gary L. Yates, president and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation. “They constitute one of the most vulnerable populations in our state and need a comprehensive system of care ranging from crises counseling to street outreach to emergency shelter to case management and transitional living services.”
TCWF funds a variety of organizations serving homeless and runaway young people. Many focus on the delivery of mental health services, street-based outreach, or operate drop-in centers. Others provide a combination of short- and long-term shelter with a comprehensive array of support services. A number of these agencies rely on federal funding through the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, but funding levels have remained flat for several years, resulting in tremendous strains on organizational capacity. In addition, state funding for these programs through the Youth Emergency Telephone Referral Network Program and the Homeless Youth and Exploitation Program was cut by two-thirds during California’s budget crisis, resulting in a reduction in services for runaway and homeless youth programs throughout the state.
The following examples demonstrate how organizations in different parts of the state are providing potentially life-saving services for homeless and runaway youth and helping them transition into safer and healthier situations.
Telephone Hotline Offers Vital Links
In 1984, the California Legislature mandated the creation of a crisis telephone line to link high-risk youth – including runaway and homeless youth and those at risk of becoming runaways – with local services to assist them and their families. The crisis line has been a central component of the services provided by the California Coalition for Youth (CCY) for more than two decades.
“Unfortunately, while the legislative mandate remains in place, the state has retreated from its funding commitment in recent years, leaving a significant fundraising challenge for the organization,” said TCWF Program Director Jeffrey Kim.
In December 2005, CCY received a two-year grant of $300,000 to operate the California Youth Crisis Line. The grant also strengthened its capacity to provide assistance by increasing the number of volunteers, improving its data collection system, and continually updating referral information on the 5,000 programs in its database.
“The top reason for calling [the crisis line] is a problem in or with family,” said Heather Dearing, CCY executive director. “They’ve had a fight or are upset and it’s up to our counselors to be an ally and to help keep the situation from spinning out of control.”
The telephone counselors try to normalize the situation and to validate the callers’ experiences. They ask them to describe what happened and help them think about their different options by asking such questions as: “What have you tried already?” “Have you thought about ‘x’ or ‘y’?” Responses help the counselors determine the best local resources for the callers. In many instances, the counselors can patch callers directly through to local agencies rather than just providing a referral phone number.
In 2006, the crisis line assisted more than 1,800 youth. Roughly one-fifth were homeless or living in a shelter when they contacted the crisis line. Adults call the crisis line too. Some are concerned parents. Others are teachers, school counselors, social workers or police officers who are looking for resources to help a young person or assistance with skills for talking with young people facing crisis situations. In all, the crisis line responds to more than 13,000 calls each year from every county in the state.
The crisis line is staffed around the clock by a mix of paid staff and volunteers. Some volunteers are youths themselves. All receive 40 hours of initial training and participate in ongoing skill-building sessions. Bilingual assistance is sometimes available for Spanish-speaking callers, and if they are comfortable with the option, a language translation line is available.
CCY also works hard to publicize the crisis line – 800-843-5200 – so that as many youth as possible are aware that this free, confidential resource is available to assist them.
Drop-In Center Is Safe Haven
Visalia, a city of 117,000 in the Central Valley, has had a population of homeless young people living in its downtown core – often on the roofs of buildings – for many years. Some left families in Visalia or neighboring communities. Others are foster youth who were emancipated from that system at the age of 18 but left with few resources to turn to other than a life on the streets. Many struggle with mental illness or face other serious developmental challenges.
“For many organizations serving runaway and homeless youth in smaller communities, raising awareness, educating key stakeholders about the critical need for services, and finding adequate funding are ongoing challenges,” said TCWF’s Kim.
 Partners for Youth Vision (PYV) was established in 2001 and represents the Visalia community’s first attempt to provide services specifically for homeless and runaway youth. PYV has found that with appropriate supportive services, these youth can stabilize their lives and make healthier choices. Key to success is devoting adequate time to build trusting relationships and only then try to move them into more formalized counseling or mental health services.
In December 2005, PYV received a three-year grant of $150,000 from TCWF to continue to provide outreach services, intensive case management and counseling, and to develop a resource development strategy to help sustain the organization’s operations.
PYV operates a Drop-In Center that is open six days a week and visited by as many as 150 youth each year. Consistent with its focus on building trusting relationships with youth, there is no formal in-take procedure at the center. A sign-in sheet at the door asks for name and age and whether it’s a youth’s first visit. Staff introduce themselves and offer a brief tour and a snack.
Over subsequent visits, case managers or other staff ask more questions and gradual conversations develop that ultimately blend into case management. On-site services include health education, basic mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and recreational activities that include a popular art program. More intensive mental health services are provided through outside referrals, as are medical care and dental services.
For PYV staff, a successful outcome is achieved when young people have the ability to accomplish goals they have set for themselves. Depending on their circumstances, these goals may be short-term, such as seeking shelter off the streets and a regular shower, or longer-term, such as finding and keeping a job, returning to school, or working on developing and maintaining healthy relationships.
“In a way, we’ve become victims of our success,” said Gail Johnson, PYV executive director. “Now that many of the area’s young people are spending time at the center instead of on the streets of downtown, it’s easy for the community to assume there’s no longer a problem even when service gaps loom large.”
Long-term housing remains an unmet need. Most youth are reluctant to stay at the local rescue mission. As a result, PYV is beginning to explore options for partnering with others in the community to operate a transitional living program.
Comprehensive Mental Health Services
 San Diego is a prime destination for runaway youth from across the country as well as from Mexico. Many faced family violence, sexual abuse or other personal crises that led them to leave home. These experiences of trauma and neglect often lead to depression and also to substance abuse. San Diego Youth & Community Services, Inc. (SDYCS), through its Project Sanctuary program, is a leading provider of comprehensive mental health services for these young people.
SDYCS received a three-year grant of $250,000 from TCWF in December 2005 to provide mental health screening, assessment, counseling and psychiatric services to homeless youth, many of whom were referred to the program from SDYCS’ emergency shelter program.
“Meeting immediate needs for food, shelter and safety help provide initial stability for runaway and homeless youth, but intensive mental health counseling or psychiatric services are frequently needed as next steps in moving these youth to longer-term self-sufficiency,” said TCWF’s Kim.
Project Sanctuary has developed a strategic therapy approach to treatment that acknowledges the challenging lives of its youth. It is problem-focused, task-oriented, and does not require youth to re-tell their life stories to therapists in the same manner as traditional therapies.
“We need to capture and engage them quickly and get some quick results or they will be back on the street,” said Laurie Chapman, associate director for clinical services.
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