Youth and Allies Against Homelessness: Mixed method evaluation research regarding youth homelessness. (PI: Prof. Colette (Coco) Auerswald, MD, MS, UC Berkeley School of Public Health) - YEDI Affiliated Project
Colette (Coco) Auerswald, Professor
Public Health
Applications for Spring 2024 are closed for this project.
Youth and Allies Against Homelessness (YAAH) is a research team based in i4Y (Innovations for Youth), a Berkeley School of Public Health research center. YAAH is made up of youth community members with lived experience of homelessness, undergraduate and graduate students who have experienced homelessness and/or who have demonstrated a commitment to ending homelessness, and Coco Auerswald as the faculty lead.
Our Lab has the goal of addressing and ending youth homelessness in the United States. To reach this goal, we conduct research and evaluation studies with the aim of generating a body of evidence that can be used to impact the implementation of programs for youth experiencing homelessness, as well as policies related to addressing and ending youth homelessness.
For instance, the lab is currently working on a mixed-methods evaluation of the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) youth set-aside funds in California to understand if additional state funds make a difference for youth experiencing homelessness in California. The evaluation has the goal of developing guidelines with best practices for the implementation of youth-set aside funds, assess the impact of youth set-aside funds on youth wellbeing, and calculate the evidence-based recommended proportion of the HHAP that should be allocated to the youth set-aside funds using an innovative methodological approach.
The lab is also collaborating with Covenant House International to better understand the best approaches to preventing youth homelessness in the United States, with the input of youth with lived experience. To achieve this goal, the project will conduct a literature review on youth homelessness prevention strategies, as well as interview youth with lived experience around the country to get their input on best practices to prevent youth homelessness.
In our projects we employ a variety of research methods and tools, including literature reviews, qualitative methods (e.g., interviews and focus groups), and quantitative methods (e.g., primary and secondary data analysis). We generally also have the input of a broad range of stakeholders, including youth experiencing homelessness (YEH), Continuums of Care (CoCs) and other jurisdiction staff, providers, policymakers, advocates, and subject matter experts.
Role: We are looking for undergraduate students who are interested in committing to the lab for at least one year (Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters), and who would be potentially interested in being part of the Lab for a longer period if the opportunity arises.
During their time in the lab, students will: 1) learn more about youth homelessness in California and the United States and the systems that address services for youth experiencing homelessness; 2) get training on different research methods and tools, including literature reviews, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and secondary data analysis, as well as training on other topics of interest to the students; 3) develop data gathering tools (e.g., interviews, focus groups, and surveys); 4) conduct literature reviews, interviews, and surveys; and, 5) be part of a great team of undergraduate and graduate students who share the goal of addressing and ending youth homelessness.
Specific tasks:
-- Learn and teach fellow team members about homelessness in California
-- Work with the team on conducting a literature review on youth homelessness prevention
-- Assist project leads in the design of research instruments: interview and focus group guidelines and survey.
-- Identify organizations that work with youth experiencing homelessness in selected counties
-- Outreach to organizations that work with youth experiencing homelessness (YEH)
-- Collect and organize raw data on YEH from a variety of different sources
-- Assist project leads in the implementation of the survey
-- Assist project leads in conducting interviews with stakeholders
-- Collaborate in the organization and cleaning of administrative data
-- Collaborate in the organization and cleaning of survey data
-- Collaborate in the organization of qualitative data
-- Collaborate with the project leads on a data analysis plan for the qualitative and/or the quantitative analysis plan
-- Assist project leads in the analysis of the administrative, survey, and qualitative data
-- Perform administrative responsibilities, including: meeting scheduling, note taking, meeting logistical support, data entry, etc.
-- Other duties as assigned
If you are selected for this research project, you will be given the opportunity to join the Youth Equity Discovery Initiative (YEDI) program. YEDI is a research apprenticeship and mentorship program that supplements your URAP research work with weekly workshops in both Fall and Spring semesters. YEDI creates a cohort of undergraduate scholars (usually around 20-30, many from underrepresented backgrounds) that are working on youth equity research projects, such as this one. The year-long program utilizes cascading mentorship, skill-building workshops, and professional development to provide supportive pathways into research careers, service, and leadership addressing adolescent inequities and well-being. Scholars greatly benefit from (and enjoy!) the extra training and support, as well as the professional development opportunities (including faculty guest speakers, graduate student and practitioner panels). The program culminates in a research symposium presentation at the end of the program.
The 2023-2024 YEDI cohort will meet on Tuesdays from 11am - 12:30pm beginning September 19th. In order to take part in the YEDI program, you MUST be able to attend the workshops at this time. As a YEDI scholar, you will sign up for a PH198 class and receive 1 unit. This is in addition to the units you receive for your URAP research project. For any questions about YEDI, please contact Marieka Schotland at mschotland@berkeley.edu or visit our website here (https://i4y.berkeley.edu/initiatives-projects-partnerships/student-training).
Qualifications: Equity and inclusion are core values of this project. We highly encourage students from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to apply. We are looking for undergraduate students who have expertise in EITHER quantitative, qualitative, and/or policy research and methods. We expect applicants to have experience in ONLY one of these three areas. We are also looking for a range of qualifications, but we are NOT expecting students to have experience with all of the qualifications we are listing below.
A) GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:
ESSENTIAL:
1) We are particularly interested in engaging students from marginalized backgrounds who have lived experience with homelessness OR have worked with people who have experienced homelessness OR with marginalized youth populations.
2) Be at least a second-year undergraduate student.
3) Interest in working in research and/or data analysis.
4) Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member.
5) Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and strong initiative.
6) Open to accepting, acting on, and providing feedback.
7) Excellent oral and written communication skills.
PREFERRED:
1) Experience working with or in community-based organizations for youth and/or for people experiencing homelessness.
2) Passionate about working with adolescents and young adults.
3) Experience working on policy-related research projects.
AND/OR
4) Knowledge of policy analysis, theoretical frameworks and methodologies.
B) QUANTITATIVE SKILLS (for students who want to work on the quantitative aspects of the project):
ESSENTIAL:
1) Experience using R or STATA for statistical analysis (basic to intermediate skills).
2) Some knowledge and experience in data management.
3) Knowledge of statistical methods, such as experience calculating basic statistics(e.g., percentages or mean/median/mode).
PREFERRED:
1) Strong biostatistics skills.
2) Ability to prepare tables, charts, and other visual aids.
3) Skills in quantitative data analysis planning and execution.
5) Skills regarding survey development.
6) Experience conducting literature reviews and summarizing the evidence found.
C) QUALITATIVE SKILLS (for students who want to work on the qualitative aspects of the project):
ESSENTIAL:
1) Excellent oral and written communication skills.
2) Passion for learning qualitative methods.
3) Experience suggesting qualitative research potential (interpersonal skills, prior interview experience in other settings, service or volunteer experience, or the like).
PREFERRED:
1) Previous experience conducting interviews and/or focus groups.
2) Knowledge of how to create codebooks for qualitative analysis.
3) Knowledge of qualitative research designs and theoretical frameworks.
4) Previous experience using qualitative analysis software (e.g., Dedoose, Atlas.ti, MAXQDA)
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Claire Genese (MCP/MPH Candidate), Graduate Student
Hours: 6-8 hrs
Related website: https://sites.google.com/view/yaah/about-us/publications?authuser=0
Related website: https://sph.berkeley.edu/colette-auerswald