Permanent Housing Placement and Reentry to Services Among Family Recipients of Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) Assistance.

The Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) provided individuals and families who were either at-risk or currently experiencing homelessness with time-limited financial and housing support services. Evaluations of HPRP showed a high rate of family placement into permanent housing. However, little research has explored immediate and longitudinal outcomes for families enrolled in HPRP. Using Homeless Management Information System data from Indianapolis, Indiana, we examined demographic and program-related predictors of families entering permanent housing and their risk of reentry into homeless services following HPRP participation. The sample included 511 families who enrolled in the program from 2009 to 2012, with an average follow-up period of 4.5 years. We conducted analyses separately for Homelessness Prevention (HP) recipients (n = 357) and Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) recipients (n = 154). Results revealed that HP families were more likely to enter permanent housing if they: included adults who were older in age, were enrolled longer in the program, were provided rental arrear services and utility payments, and did not receive legal services. RRH families receiving rental assistance services had significantly greater odds of entering permanent housing. Among permanently housed families, at least one family member in 10.9% of HP recipients and 18.8% of RRH recipients reentered homeless services. HP families with younger children and one veteran family member were at increased risk of reentry to homelessness services. RRH recipients who did not receive moving cost services and had more children were at greater risk of reentry. Study findings suggest a need for future research on HP and RRH interventions that identify unique service needs among families who are experiencing housing instability or homelessness.

Telehealth and Autism Prior to and in the Age of COVID-19: A Systematic and Critical Review of the Last Decade.

There has been growing interest in the use of telehealth; however, the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent isolation and restrictions placed on in-person services have fast-tracked implementation needs for these services. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been particularly affected due to the often-intensive service needs required by this population. As a result, the aim of this review was to examine the evidence base, methodology, and outcomes of studies that have used telehealth for assessment and/or intervention with children and adolescents with ASD as well as their families over the last decade. Further, the goal is to highlight the advances in telehealth and its use with this special population. A systematic search of the literature was undertaken, with 55 studies meeting inclusion criteria and quality analysis. Specified details were extracted from each article, including participant characteristics, technology, measures, methodology/study design, and clinical and implementation outcomes. Services provided via telehealth included diagnostic assessments, preference assessments, early intervention, applied behavior analysis (ABA), functional assessment and functional communication training, and parent training. Findings, although still emerging, encouragingly suggested that services via telehealth were equivalent or better to services face-to-face. Results support the benefits to using telehealth with individuals with ASD. Future research should continue to explore the feasibility of both assessments and interventions via telehealth with those having ASD to make access to assessment services and interventions more feasible for families, while acknowledging the digital divide it could create.