This study, funded as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Systems for Action research program, tests the feasibility of an integrated system of medical, social and public health programming designed to improve outcomes for youth experiencing homelessness in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The study applies a youth participatory action research (YPAR) framework approach to scale and evaluate a multi-component systems alignment intervention, which was developed and pilot-tested in collaboration with youth, community, and multi-sector partners over the past two years through prior grants. The study team organizes community-engaged consensus building sessions with stakeholders from medical, social, and public health systems alongside youth experiencing homelessness in order to co-create strategies for system alignment, including multi-sector data integration, shared clinical practice guidelines, and co-location of health and social services for youth experiencing homelessness. Surveys, focus groups, and interviews with key stakeholders are used to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the proposed system alignment strategies. University of Minnesota's Youth Health and Housing Lab is conducting this study in collaboration with the Hennepin County Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, the Minnesota Department of Health, the Hennepin Healthcare system, Minnesota Community Care, and local youth serving agencies.

This study is currently funded by an impact award after previously being supported by a developmental award in 2023-2024.

Principal Investigator: 
Janna Gewirtz O'Brien, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School

Co-Investigators: 
Meghan Ford, MPH
Youth Health and Housing Lab Program Manager

Barbara McMorris, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing
Associate Director of Training, Leadership in Adolescent Education and Health (LEAH) Fellowship Program
Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Medical School

Camille Brown, PhD, RN, PHN
Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Zeinab Mohamud
Research Assistant

Lynn Bretl
Project Manager

Jayne Adole
Project Manager

Project Details:

Year: 2024
Funding Amount: $500,000
Status: Active