High-Risk Youth

Overview

The High-Risk Youth Program (HRYP) provides integrated services for runaway and homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 24. In 2010, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles provided medical care to 1,634 homeless youth and more than 700 youth at high risk for homelessness.

Free comprehensive care, counseling and case management services are offered through the High-Risk Youth Clinic at The Saban Free Clinic. The HRYP also has a Mobile Health Team, which provides basic medical screening at drop-in centers and shelters to maximize access to care.

Services

Youth in need of evaluation and treatment can be linked directly to care via street outreach, shelters or drop-in centers. Services offered include trauma-informed crisis intervention, mental health assessment and testing, individual and group counseling, and professional training. A limited amount of psychiatric services also are available to those in need.

Youth receive psychological services at the Clinic and other community agency sites. In 2010, more than 400 homeless youth received mental health services via the program. 

Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership

The HRYP is co-chair of the Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership (HHYP), a collaborative of eight homeless youth-serving agencies in the community. Through the HHYP, the program works to provide shelter, meals, showers, laundry service, groups, drop-in socialization, advocacy and benefits assistance. Participating agencies meet monthly to develop referral procedures, identify service gaps, design programs to address unmet needs, direct public policy and advocacy efforts, and advance appropriate research and evaluation activities.