First, thank you for thinking of the THRIVE! Host Home Network and supporting young people as they explore housing options. Below are some expectations we have about the referral process, as well as some guidelines for sharing relevant information. We encourage you to read this form with the young person.
Guidelines for Disclosing Sensitive Information and Case Manager Expectations
Disclosing sensitive information during the referral process
Before referring a young person, please take some time to think about and talk with the young person about his/her/their readiness for the THRIVE! Host Home Network. Here are some examples of issues that should be disclosed to the THRIVE! team throughout the referral process.
History of:
- Chemical Dependency
- Involvement in prostitution/survival sex/sex work/the sex trades
- Drug dealing
- Stealing
- Violence (physical, sexual, emotional)
- Severe mental Health issues
- Medical concerns (i.e. diabetes, asthma, allergies)
Because the THRIVE! Host Home Network is meant to be a transition between homelessness and greater housing stability, it is crucial to assess the youth’s readiness and willingness to break away from – or at least not bring into the host home – activities/behaviors often associated with homelessness. The issues mentioned above can be present in the population of youth experiencing homelessness – the THRIVE! Host Home Network does NOT expect an absence of such issues. The THRIVE! Host Home Network does, however, expect the youth to have already done some work around those issues. For example, a host home is very appropriate for someone who is needing/wanting a supportive environment around staying sober as one of his/her/their goals. It is NOT appropriate for someone who needs a place to get sober.
When talking with a youth who is applying for the THRIVE! Host Home Network, please discuss the fact that the youth application has a release of information statement with their application, which needs to be signed by that young person. Talk about what he/she/they think should be shared, what he/she/they is comfortable disclosing themselves to the THRIVE! team, and what they would like you, as the referring case manager to disclose about their history. Also indicate the issues you think need to be talked about – issues that the youth may not have thought of or feels reluctant about sharing. These conversations will help you, the youth, and the THRIVE! team figure out if the THRIVE! Host Home Network is indeed the appropriate choice for your client. If THRIVE! is a good option for the youth, then these conversations will help us in matching your client to a host home and developing an effective goal plan.
Please be clear with the youth that the above information will be disclosed.
Disclosing sensitive information after the referral process:
The THRIVE! Host Home Network will provide case management for your client while they are in a host home. However, in situations where the referring case manager has a well-established relationship with the young person or has been providing intensive case management for the referred youth, the THRIVE! Host Home Network requests the referring case manager offer follow through and after-care through at least the first home visit, which is usually one to two weeks after the young person moves into a host home. After-care includes following up with a young person after they have moved into a host home. During your client’s transitions into host home, you may learn information that needs to be shared with the THRIVE! team and hosts. The issues we listed are examples of what MUST be discussed. Some behaviors associated with homelessness (such as dealing/using drugs) are not acceptable or viable in a host home. This does not mean that a youth is automatically out of the THRIVE! Host Home Network if, for example, they are involved in sex work outside of the host home. If the youth is willing to address legitimate concerns that come up for us and/or the host(s), they could potentially remain in the host home. In order to assess your client’s willingness and readiness to stay, you must inform the THRIVE! Program Administrator and set up a meeting for further discussion.
A lot of the behaviors associated with homelessness are, of course, survival skills. They have helped keep many young people alive. We are very aware that many of these ‘behaviors’ are reactions to systemic barriers that young people experience, especially LGTBQ+ youth of color. Hopefully, the THRIVE! Host Home Network can provide some youth with an opportunity to work on other skills and figure out what it means to live in a safer and caring environment, as defined by them.