A center at UNM has helped more than 400 homeless youth since the program began four years ago.
The center offers counseling, case management, medical assistance, housing opportunities, GED training and employment assistance to homeless youth ages 14 to 24 who voluntarily participate in the center's ongoing research.
Outreach Clinic Coordinator Michael Archuleta said the facility provides the homeless youth with basic needs.
"They can eat as much as they want, shower, do laundry and get clothes if they need them," he said.
He said the program accepts drop-ins, but they are not allowed the same services as people who participate in the study.
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"They don't get therapy or case management," Archuleta said.
He said case management helps the kids acquire birth certificates and identification cards. The program also helps them get into school and establish rÇsumÇs.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Program aids participants in making responsible choices in their daily lifestyles. The Center on Alcoholism Substance Abuse and Addiction developed the community reinforcement approach to help participants learn positive social skills.
Jason Blankenship, research scientist, said the research monitors the participant's reaction to community reinforcement. He said the program is designed to get the kids back into mainstream society.
"The therapy helps them to set their own goals," Blankenship said.
He said the study measures the affects the community reinforcement approach has on risk behavior and drug use.
"We want to know if what we're doing is effective," said Isela Roeder, senior program manager at CASAA.
She said people who choose to participate undergo a pre-treatment assessment. They regularly meet with research analysts and therapists to monitor the program's progress.
"We accept clients at any stage, as long as they are respectful," Roeder said.
She said each participant has a certificate of confidentiality. Participants are identified by number, she said.
"The cops can't come in unless they are invited," Roeder said.
She said clients must give authorization in order for their names to be released, even to their parole officer or parents.
Roeder said the program is operated strictly on a professional basis.
Jillian Prestopnik, research assistant professor, said the program creates a therapeutic environment.
"The therapists do as much as they can within boundaries," she said.
Prestopnik said they give the youth blankets and sleeping bags, because they are not allowed to sleep there.
CASAA Research Analyst Kim Montgomery said many of the people in the program are runaways or in the foster care system.
"They choose to be homeless," Montgomery said.
Montgomery said some of the homeless youth opted to be out of the system.
"They went from foster home to foster home and just chose to be on the streets," she said.
She said many of her clients were neglected or sexually and physically abused.
She said the program helps homeless youth significantly.
"Some have gone from living on the streets to college," she said.
Roeder said the program is funded by research treatment grants from the government. She said the study will be completed in September.
