48 Hours After Intake
What Happens In The First 48 Hours After Intake?
Every young person who has walked through our doors and opted into services has completed an intake with us. At SPY we try to keep the intake process as quick as possible. We know this process can be long, overwhelming, and potentially re-traumatizing.
The intake process is a critical step for our youth’s journey to housing stability. When our youth first walk into the space, our staff greets them warmly, offers them a hot meal and a space to rest as well as access to amenities like our laundry machines, showers, and clothing closet. From here, our youth are able to catch their breath, regulate their emotions, and prepare to receive services from another provider.
“We try to ease them in by giving them a tour of the space, making sure that they eat, and then we'll go to the clothing closet”, says Michelle, Director of Access & Engagement. “When the youth come to the space, it’s new and can be overwhelming, so we do our best to make sure they're feeling comfortable.”
Once they’re settled, our intake coordinator welcomes our youth into a private office where they will be able to share information about their journey and status confidentially.
For many of our youth, this is not their first time doing an intake. 35% of our youth are former foster-youth, and most have been to at least one other agency or shelter for support, meaning they’re no stranger to paperwork and lots of it. Each intake lasts about 45 minutes and during these sessions, youth are asked questions about themselves, their living situation, what support they need, and what they hope to achieve. From there, our case managers can help direct our youth to programs at our Drop-In Center.
When our case managers and intake coordinators are working through the intake with our members, they’re actively listening to their history to see where we can provide necessary support.
“I like to hear their story to understand how to support them. As I'm listening, my mind is running with ideas for program connection. If I hear they work part-time or if they’re in school, I make a note to connect them to Education and Employment. If they are having trouble with documentation, I know to send them to Problem-Solving.”
Helping Youth Find Their Way Home
Sometimes it’s about finding their way back home. Meet Crow. One day, Crow was outside the doors, waiting for us to open. Her main goal was to get back to her parents in the Pacific Northwest. She didn’t have any documentation on her, no ID or birth certificate.
Our team went straight to work. Between the problem-solving team, case management, and the clinical department, they were able to support her journey back to safety and to her parents. Since she was not from California there were more bureaucratic hurdles. Our team worked expeditiously to get documentation notarized, acquire a copy of her birth certificate, then supported her with an ID voucher for the DMV. Once she had the documentation she needed, our team purchased a one-way Amtrak ticket to get her back home.
Crow was afraid of traveling alone. To make sure she got to where she needed to go safely, one of our staff members met up with her at 6am at Union Station and waited by her side until she boarded the train.
Crow walked into our space hoping for support, and within 48 hours, she was given the resources and care needed to get her back to her family.
From Street-Based to Sheltered
One day, Michelle, Director of Access & Engagement was walking through the space, checking in on our youth in the dining room, doing her rounds making sure everyone was doing alright and had everything they needed. She met George, who was new to the space, having just completed his intake with us that same afternoon. She approached him, asked him how he was, and inquired about his housing situation. George was street-based in Venice Beach, and said he was open to any housing opportunities available.
That morning Michelle was alerted that there was an opening at one of our emergency housing programs. She immediately made the call and worked with housing staff to prepare the open space for George. By the late afternoon, George made it to the housing site and was greeted by staff. They led him to his room that had a comfortable bed, clean and warm blankets, and all the other necessities too many youth go without when they’re street-based.
George loved the space. He said it was amazing, had everything he needed, and he felt right at home. He still comes by the Drop-In Center frequently to speak with staff, work with his case manager, and attend workshops.
“He’s such a lovely kid, It’s exciting to see him flourish.” - Michelle
It All Starts With An Intake
Every journey toward stability looks different. Some youth may be at risk of homelessness due to a backpay on rent, or they’re couch surfing and need somewhere stable to live. Some youth have been street-based and without the necessary resources to apply for housing or employment. Some youth are navigating parenthood for the first time, and need assistance with housing and parenting supplies. Each youth is unique in their experiences and that’s why we have comprehensive, wrap-around services, to ensure no youth fall through the cracks.