Electronic case management with homeless youth

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Work
• Mental Health Services

Background:

• Case management improves outcomes for homeless youth but faces logistical barriers to in-person attendance.
• Electronic Case Management (ECM) offers a potential solution to overcome these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility and youth engagement with electronic case management (ECM) for homeless youth.
• To identify preferred technology methods for service delivery among this population.

Main Methods:

• A 3-month study involving homeless youth receiving four ECM sessions via cell phones, texts, email, and Facebook.
• Contact logs tracked engagement, attempts needed, and preferred communication methods.

Main Results:

• 87.5% of youth engaged in at least one ECM session, with most responding by the third contact attempt.
• Texting was the preferred method for youth to return calls, and 80% reported positive experiences with ECM.
• Convenience, connection, and accountability were key themes reported by youth.

Conclusions:

• Electronic Case Management (ECM), especially via texting, is a promising approach to delivering services to homeless youth.
• ECM effectively overcomes logistical barriers, enhancing accessibility and engagement for this vulnerable population.