Past and Current Projects

2008 - Current
Comprehensive Practice Framework Development
YSAS is currently conducting a research project that will result in a rigorous and systematic articulation of a comprehensive, evidence-informed, practice framework that evolves from the current YSAS practice approach. The framework will incorporate a detailed set of performance indicators for measuring:

• effectiveness in terms of impacts and outcomes of services delivered for clients and their families
• delivery of high quality programmatic and clinical processes
• organisational and managerial performance in supporting effective practice.

Framework development will utilise formal organisational research processes, and will be conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics in the School of Population Health at the University of Melbourne. Dr Penny Mitchell, a specialist in the field of organisational development and performance measurement, has been responsible for the research design. Penny will act as chief investigator and primary project worker.

A number of stakeholders will participate in the development of the comprehensive practice framework including YSAS direct service delivery staff, program managers and organisational directors. The perspectives of YSAS clients and their families on work practices and indicators of successful service engagement will also have a strong bearing on the development of the framework.

Other key contributors throughout the project will be relevant State Government policy makers and representatives from collegiate organisations that participate with YSAS in the care and support of young people and their families. These include other Victorian youth AOD service providers, youth mental health services, statutory services, and multidimensional youth services.

A literature review identifying and examining current evidence for the effectiveness of treatment and other direct service approaches for the target group will be conducted. The findings of the literature review will be analysed together with the data collected through consultation and synthesised to formulate a draft practice framework. The draft framework will then be the subject of further consultation and review by the same stakeholders. This will result in a final articulation of the comprehensive practice framework capable of being utilised within YSAS, and potentially by other organisations working with similar clients.

YSAS will adopt the practice framework and use it to inform the development of a corresponding performance management system including an upgraded YSAS database and a process of continuous service improvement. It is envisaged that clients and key external stakeholders will be involved in this ongoing process.
A symposium will be conducted with all stakeholders to explore whether and how the completed practice framework could be applied in organisations that provide complementary services for young people with multiple and complex needs.

The project is anticipated to lay the foundations for a collaborative Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant application to:

• develop and test a set of outcome measures that recognise both the unique and shared contributions of collaborating services in securing positive health and psychosocial outcomes for young people with complex and multiple needs
• conduct a longitudinal outcomes study that will provide data on outcomes for this under-researched client group, and enhance understanding of the processes involved in the joint production of outcomes among collaborating services.

2008 - Current
RMIT ‘Improving housing outcomes for young people leaving state care’ Study
YSAS is assisting the research team from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT) with recruitment of young people for this study. The project is funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) and run in conjunction with Curtin University in Western Australia, the University of Tasmania, Monash University (Victoria) and Hanover Welfare Services (Victoria).

The project explores the effectiveness of current transitional support models in facilitating positive housing outcomes for young people leaving care. The project involves interviews with 100 young people aged between 18 and 25 who have left state care. Half of the interviews will be conducted in Victoria and half will be conducted in Western Australia

For more information go to: www.ahuri.edu.au/

2006-December 2008
Youth Illicit Drug Reporting System (YDRS)

The YDRS is a major research initiative funded by the Victorian State Government’s Premier's Drug Prevention Council. YSAS partnered Turning Point and the University of Melbourne, Key Centre for Women’s Health in conducting this project. The aim of the project was to inform social policy in relation to young people, aged 13 to 24 years, and known to be regular substance users.

The YDRS incorporated four interlinked studies which were conducted in Melbourne between November 2006 and September 2008. These include:

1. A review of relevant secondary data sets
2. A structured survey research involving 163 vulnerable young people aged 13-24 years (referred to as “YDRS survey”)
3. Semi-structured interviews involving 45 key experts (referred to as “KE study”)
4. Thematic qualitative interviews with 20 vulnerable young people aged 13-15 years (referred to as “YDRS qualitative study”).

The YDRS project was originally modelled on the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS), an early warning system for drug use patterns in Australian adult substance using populations. Significant modifications were made to the IDRS research design and measures to capture the experiences and needs of vulnerable young people aged 13 to 24 years.

YDRS research findings are informed by a review of the available research evidence about young people’s substance use in developed countries, including Australia. Our review of the literature demonstrated that little evidence is available about the meaning and context of alcohol and other drug use among vulnerable 13 to 15 year olds. This report addresses this gap in the literature by focusing our qualitative research findings on the needs and experiences of those young people in this age  group who are using substances.

The availability of the final YDRS report is subject to approval from the Victorian State Government.
 
2006 - January 2009
Residential Withdrawal Pathways Project

This study has evaluated the therapeutic impact of the Youth Drug Withdrawal Program being run at the Barwon Youth Residential Withdrawal Unit. The Residential Withdrawal Pathways Project supported a psycho-educational, therapeutic and recreational approach to youth residential withdrawal that is client-centred, client-focused and client-driven. Feedback from service-users and a review of the evidence regarding effective practice was incorporated to identify and implement strategies and interventions that reduce the risk of harm from problematic substance use and enhance general health and wellbeing.

This project arose from the recognition of the need for young people accessing this service to be involved in program conception, development and evaluation and, by doing so, to empower young people and foster a sense of value and active participation as a service user. Between January 2006 and October 2007, 65 young people participated in the project and it is anticipated that up too 100 young people will participate by its completion in January 2009.

Feedback from young people using surveys, questionnaires, suggestion boxes, focus groups and in-depth interviews has been and will continue to be translated into practice using the social model of health framework.  In addition, an ex-resident/peer leader has been engaged as a consultant to assist with program development in the areas of peer education and life skills.

As a result of this project, it has become obvious that:

• youth engagement in our service is vital if we are to remain “cutting edge” and focused on young people’s needs
• young people have so much to offer – they themselves advocate for the social model of health without having any concept of the framework
• we need to constantly look at new ways of integrating young people into service evaluation, program development and service delivery.

Final report available soon.

2000
100% Dependant
This study examined the characteristics and circumstances of young people who are seeking residential withdrawal support to address problems arising from their drug use. It provides a picture of the first 100 heroin dependent young people who accessed the YSAS Residential Service to assist their withdrawal.

View 100% Dependant Report [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 273.87 KB]
 
2003 - 2005
DYADS Project
YSAS partnered with Orygen Youth Health and Drug and Alcohol Services Western (DAS West) to assess the prevalence of mental health conditions in young drug users presenting for assistance. High rates of co-morbid affective and substance use problems are established in adults; however less research had been completed in younger populations. The project was funded by beyondblue.

View beyondblue Research Publication [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 18.93 KB]
View DYADS 2 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 175.25 KB]
View DYADS 3 [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 244.5 KB]
View beyondblue Final Report [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 66.63 KB]

2005-2008
From custody to community: Individualised interventions for young people at risk of HCV infection
Young people who are in contact with the criminal justice system have been identified as a group at high risk of HCV infection. DHS funded the Burnet Institute, Centre for Population Health to extend the intensive, individualised, psychosocial-focused service provided to these young people by their support workers to include support and education for young injectors to reduce the spread of HCV and other blood borne viruses (BBVs). YSAS participated on the reference group and assisted the research team with recruitment. YSAS also assisted with a second component of the study that involved the design and delivery of up-to-date HCV education and follow-up consultation to enhance the capacity of services to respond effectively to the needs of young people in the target group.

For more information:
http://www.burnet.edu.au/home/cph/recent/fromcustodytocommunity

2008
A pilot study to examine the effectiveness of clinical case management for alcohol and drug clients
YSAS partnered Turning Point in conducting a trial to assess the efficacy of a clinical case management model for improving mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, and quality of life outcomes in an AOD setting. A Turning point research team worked with the YSAS senior project officer responsible for staff supervision and service development initiatives.

The study was a control design (two sites):
•    matched on client, clinician and team leader characteristics and program philosophy
•    separated by distance to avoid contamination
•    Site 1 – training in enhanced case management model versus Site 2 case management as usual
•    interviews at baseline and three months after first contact.

The two treatment groups were compared for their drug use and dependence, access, participation and retention in treatment, as well as quality of life and mental health measures. Clinician outcomes were measured and clinicians were interviewed regarding their use of the clinical case management model. The project was funded by Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.