Promising Outcomes of Earlier Intervention in Response to Threatened Homelessness and Youth Offending.

2. Promising Outcomes of Earlier Intervention in Response to Threatened Homelessness and Youth Offending. Time for Youth, Inc Geelong, Victoria Presenters: Lloyd Owen & David Jefferson

3. Geary on Gilligan I was recently at a session with the renowned Irish academic in this field, Robbie Gilligan, who talked of the “therapeutic power of ordinariness”, “the healing power of normality” and giving disconnected children chances to have experience of the “ordinary plenty”.

4. There is a paper-authors are: Lloyd OWEN1,2, David JEFFERSON2, Mike KELLY2, Carol WLODARCZYK2, Chantal CHAUVET-ALLEN2, David MACKENZIE3, Monica THIELKING3. • 1 La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria Australia • 2 Time for Youth Inc, Geelong, Victoria, Australia • 3 Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia

5. Victorian Homeless Action Plan 2011New Service Approach to break the cycle of Homelessness(Victorian Government 2011)

6. 3 Strands in our presentation • Time for Youth SAAP agency Geelong expanding role to be more inclusive of families and extend early intervention programs • Specific efforts to develop successful early intervention in Youth Homelessness • Specific efforts to develop successful early intervention in Youth Offending

7. City of Greater Geelong as a context • Population of Geelong about 230,000 • Youth population about 30,000 • Vulnerable Youth a more complicated story with a few unknowns

8. Strand 1 Time for Youth expanding role • Background in SAAP – extending to families, schools and communities • Geelong as a context - encapsulated site • Menu of Services – everyday business • Modus Operandi – principles and tools

9. Age breakdown of Australians counted as homeless on census night 2006 In Victoria (2010): Approximately 6,408 young Victorians between 12 and 25 have nowhere to call home

10. Young people in Geelong • In 2010 total population of Geelong was: 219,156 • Total young people overall (10-19): 29,293 (13.37) • Total young people (10-14): 14,176 (6.47%) • Total young people (15-19): 15,117 (6.9%)

11. Menu of Services 3 strands of diversion • Diversion from youth homelessness • Diversion from Statutory Child Protection • Diversion from Criminal Justice involvement

12. Modus Operandi (bag of tricks) • Philosophy –youth focussed and family centred – committed to assertive outreach • Case Work and Case Management • Youth and Family Mediation • Parent Education and Training • Group Work • Use of Brokerage funds • Practical Support

13. Strand 2 AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP AN EARLY INTERVENTION MODEL TO AVOID YOUTH HOMELESSNESS • PARLIAMENTARY, GOVERNMENT, HREOC REPORTS POINTING TO EARLY INTERVENTION • SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN COMMONWEALTH STATE HOUSING AGREEMENTS-FaCSHIA (Reconnect) • VICTORIAN YOUTH ACTION PLAN > DHS CREATING CONNECTIONS STEERING GROUP> • EARLY INTERVENTION WORKING GROUP

14. The Barwon South West EIWG • Chaired by Mike Kelly CEO Time for Youth • Huge representation from across the region • All levels of government and government agencies. • Wide representation of NGOs with a stake in youth affairs, housing and welfare • Loads of players with interests in youth, families, health, education and training etc.

15. More about EIWG • Formed in late 2009 • Ran 9 Workshops with an aim to explore and develop a model of Early Intervention • Took on board the variety of research particularly around youth pathways in and out of homelessness • Powerfully linked key players and significant regional networks.

16. Homelessness - the research Homelessness is broadly defined as not having the minimum community standard = self contained flat • Primary homelessness: no conventional accommodation e.g., sleeping rough, squatting, makeshift shelters • Secondary homelessness: temporary accommodation e.g. accommodation services, ‘couch surfing’ & short-term stays (e.g., 12 weeks) at boarding houses • Tertiary homelessness: ongoing accommodation but below minimum standard e.g. boarding houses (Chamberlain & MacKenzie, 2003)

17. Early intervention and “Effective policies require the support of good data to track progress and inform future service delivery and planning” AIHW (2009) p.21 …early intervention and prevention, reducing disadvantage and delivering effective support to children at greatest risk of long-term disadvantage are fundamental to promoting the health and wellbeing of all children and young people in Australia, and promoting stronger families and safer and more connected communities”

19. Even more about the EIWG • Fortuitous connections and timing • Research grants at Swinburne University • Better Youth Services Initiative and partnerships • Interest by G21 – coalition of Local Government CEOs and key regional players for forward planning. Health & wellbeing pillar • Partnership T4Y,Barwon Youth & Swinburne

20. The Partnership • Successful bid for a Victorian Government Innovation Action pilot research and development project. • Gave birth to THE GEELONG PROJECT • Strengthened with a further partnerships with education and training sectors. DEECD and BSW Smart LLEN

22. The Products • A major research and development project developing screening, monitoring and evaluation tools based at Swinburne • An Early Intervention Team based at Time for Youth – co-located, place-based, integrated and cross sector.

23. Research and development tools • Student Needs Survey • e Wellbeing toolbox • School contact recording • Screening for at risk of homelessness • Electronic referral for schools and agencies • Real time student

25. The Early Intervention Team • 9 Staff altogether project manager, team leader, 6 caseworkers and a research officer • Has access to key disciplines • For 15 months will work with schools in two of the 8 Barwon Education Catchments • A major step toward achieving action through a community framework of services and schools.

28. Strand 3 The Youth Support ServiceEarly Intervention in Youth Offending • Background to the State Initiative – “knives scar lives” • Partnership between DHS funded agencies and Victoria Police • Early Intervention starts with 10 year olds • Criteria for referral

29. Criteria for referral • Offence committed if 14 years or under • High level risk taking behaviour • In public when absent school or at inappropriate hours (esp. If aged 14 or under) • History as victim of serious crime or violence (victimisation) • Offence committed or problematic behaviour while substance affected • Recently reported as missing • Offence involving use or carriage of weapon • Offence involving serious violence

30. Young people in Victoria • Total population (10 – 18 year olds) in 2009: 618, 542 • Young people in contact with Police: 35,865 (5.8%) • Young people guilty of an offence: 6,174 (1%) • Daily average of young people under community based supervision: 1,377 (0.22%) • Daily average of young people in detention: 177 (0.03%)

31. 618,542 10-18 year olds in Victoria (2009) 35,865 (5.8%) of young people in contact with Police 6,174 (1%) of young people found guilty of an offence 1,377 (0.22%) young people under community based youth justice supervision (daily average) 177 (0.03%) young people in detention (daily average)

32. Geelong YSS: Referrals by age and gender April 2011 to June 2012

33. Outcomes • Of 178 referrals over 15 months • 9 became statutory youth justice clients • 13 involved with statutory child protection (mostly pre-existing contact) • Anecdotal expressions of satisfaction • Much to gain from further research and evaluation about outcomes

34. Deliverables expected (research needed) • Decreased involvement with offending • Connection of young person to a positive community network • Engagement in education • Stable accommodation • Having undergone a holistic assessment

35. Where to from here? • DHS Statewide evaluation will be tendered later this year. • There will be much to gain from cross fertilisation between the EI and YSS teams • Paper available at www.timeforyouth.com.au • And www.lloydowen.com.au