Continuous Treatment Team (as compared to Drop-In Center)

Continuous Treatment Team provided participants with an unlimited amount of community-based services and an individualized plan to address their specific needs. Clinical case managers worked closely with clients to create their individualized plan; address their health needs; and help them access housing, transportation, and money management services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder; no history of violent behavior; and an intention to stay in the St. Louis, MO, area for the duration of the study.

Outpatient Treatment (as compared to Drop-In Center)

A mental health clinic in St. Louis, MO, provided the traditional outpatient treatment, which included psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and assistance in obtaining social services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder, no history of violent behavior, and an intention to stay in the St. Louis area for the duration of the study. The intervention lasted 12 months.

Drop-In Center (as compared to Outpatient Treatment)

Adults without housing were assigned to one of two drop-in centers (one exclusive to women, one for both genders). Drop-in centers provided daytime shelter, food, clothing, showers, recreational activities, and referrals to social services from on-site social workers.  The service population included adults with a mental illness who were also experiencing homelessness. This intervention was implemented in St. Louis, Missouri. The intervention lasted 12 months.

Outpatient Treatment (as compared to Continuous Treatment Team)

A mental health clinic in St. Louis, MO, provided the traditional outpatient treatment, which included psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, and assistance in obtaining social services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder, no history of violent behavior, and an intention to stay in the St. Louis area for the duration of the study. The intervention lasted 12 months.

Continuous Treatment Team (as compared to Outpatient Treatment)

Continuous Treatment Team provided participants with an unlimited amount of community-based services and an individualized plan to address their specific needs. Clinical case managers worked closely with clients to create their individualized plan; address their health needs; and help them access housing, transportation, and money management services. The service population included adults without housing who had a severe psychiatric disorder; no history of violent behavior; and an intention to stay in the St. Louis, MO, area for the duration of the study.

Building Health and Wealth Network – Full Intervention (as compared with Building Health and Wealth Network – Partial Intervention)

The Building Health and Wealth Network – Full Intervention used a 28-week curriculum that included a weekly 4-hour peer support group and 3-hour financial empowerment class. The peer support group, which was unique to the Full Intervention, used a trauma-informed approach to guide participants toward a more financially stable foundation. Financial empowerment classes covered topics such as saving for education, housing, entrepreneurial activities, retirement, improving credit, and reducing debt.

Building Health and Wealth Network – Full Intervention

The Building Health and Wealth Network – Full Intervention used a 28-week curriculum that included a weekly 4-hour peer support group and 3-hour financial empowerment class. The peer support group used a trauma-informed approach to guide participants toward a more financially stable foundation. Financial empowerment classes covered topics such as saving for education, housing, entrepreneurial activities, retirement, improving credit, and reducing debt.

Building Health and Wealth Network – Partial Intervention

The Building Health and Wealth Network – Partial Intervention used a 28-week curriculum that included weekly 3-hour financial empowerment classes. Topics covered in the classes included saving for education, housing, entrepreneurial activities, retirement, improving credit, and reducing debt. The program also helped participants open a credit union savings account, and matched any contributions the participant made during the program.

About Face

Intervention (standard name)

The intervention provided access to supplemental resources in the Veterans Employment Resource Center (VERC). The standard VERC services included internet and phone access for job search activities, resume writing supports, video training for applying to and interviewing for jobs, and two video-recorded practice interviews. In addition, the program provided intervention participants with the About Face vocational manual and in-person classes during the week following study enrollment.

About Face—Self Study

Intervention (standard name)

The About Face—Self Study intervention provided participants with a vocational manual titled About Face in addition to standard services from the Veterans Employment Resource Center (VERC). The standard VERC services included internet and phone access for job search activities, resume writing supports, video training for applying to and interviewing for jobs, and two video-recorded practice interviews.