In recent years, the Family and Natural Supports (FNS) program has emerged as a promising practice for preventing youth homelessness, providing a lifeline for youth and their families.
Our Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey found that 77.5% of youth who experienced homelessness had left home because of problems and conflicts with their parents. A large number of them also reported experiencing abuse and having contact with child protection services. Family conflicts are often cited as a major factor putting young people at risk of leaving home.
FNS seeks to strengthen youth’s relationships with their family or other important people in their lives to prevent homelessness. It can be implemented in many different ways – as a standalone program, a guiding philosophy, or as part of broader interventions such as Housing First for Youth. It can be implemented in various settings, such as in the homeless-serving sector through shelters or through existing youth programs (Integrated Youth Services, school programming, etc.).
Through A Way Home Canada and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness’ Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, 10 FNS sites were established in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The services provided to youth differed at each location but included supports such as counseling, coaching, crisis intervention, financial assistance, parenting assistance, and social activities.
Data collected from 118 youth participants and their families or chosen support people, including step-parents, legal guardians, Elders, peers, coaches, teachers, and extended family members, identified by youth as key figures in their lives, evidence the FNS program’s effectiveness. Our outcomes evaluation results show that the program has significantly improved resilience, strengthened relationships, and provided a pathway to stability for youth.
In this blog, we examine the preliminary key findings of this research and highlight the voices of those whose lives have been transformed by the FNS intervention.
A Healthier Outlook: Mental Health and Physical Well-Being
One of the most striking findings of youth participating in the FNS program is the improvement in their mental health. The percentage of youth who felt satisfied or very satisfied with their mental health more than doubled, jumping from 18% at the program’s start to 37.8% after six months. Many youth participants highlighted the need for therapy, counseling, or support groups to manage anxiety or addiction. The program’s emphasis on emotional support and conflict management helped youth navigate personal challenges and reduce stress.
As one youth participant shared, “And just like having someone that actually listened for once was nice. And like, actually kind of made me feel like I wasn’t crazy and the worst person in the world?”
While the outcomes evaluation shows only minor changes in physical health satisfaction, the overall focus on mental well-being and resilience has set a strong foundation for long-term progress.
Strengthening Family Ties
The program has a significant impact on family relationships. By teaching communication and conflict resolution skills, both youth and their families can bridge divides and cultivate healthier dynamics. Using a cohesion scale of 7 to 35 and a conflict scale of 6 to 30, even small improvements in family cohesion and conflict management skills reflect a positive shift in family relationships. These changes can significantly enhance overall well-being and stability, especially in youth and family interactions. Key improvements include:
- The average number of supportive adults connected increased from 6.19 to 8.27*
- The average family cohesion scores improved from 21.2 to 22.3
- The average conflict resolution score improved from 16.6 to 18.9**
Youth highlighted the pivotal role of FNS workers in coaching, facilitating the conversations between them and their family and chosen natural supports and mediating family conflicts, turning tense moments into opportunities for growth. As one youth explained,
“Sometimes if my mom or dad is trying to explain something, we would just end up in argument. So sometimes when, like if something really important need to be explained, and they know like, some, were probably going to end up in an argument and stuff like that, they would tell like my worker, what they needed to say and why they needed to say it, and it would avoid that whole confrontation almost just from hearing it from someone else and having them explaining why they’re doing this.”
Families also expressed gratitude for the program’s tools, such as printed communication strategies they could refer to during disagreements. One family member reflected,
“I think it just helped us to kind of meet more in the middle instead of kind of this like tug of war that was going on between me and my son. A lot of the things just with going through like communication, and we actually have to have the printout still that he gave us, that are on the fridge, which we do kind of when we’re, you know, starting to not agree or disagree we always go to that, it’s been really helpful.”
A Safe Place to Call Home
Unstable housing exacerbates the challenges many young people face. The FNS program has made significant strides in addressing this issue. After six months, the number of participants living in shelters or emergency housing dropped from 11.9% to 4.1%. By providing essential resources like transportation, groceries, and housing support, the program has been instrumental in creating stable living environments.
One youth noted, “They help where it’s needed in the area that you need help in. Um, like groceries or um, a restaurant voucher, or to bring your family together, or um, a bus pass or um, like, any which way they can. Counselling if that’s what you’re needing.”
The Human Touch: Emotional Support and Trust
Central to the program’s success are the FNS case workers, whose deep commitment and empathy have built trust with youth and their families. Youth felt they could trust their workers’ advice and guidance, which was crucial in navigating their challenges. The workers’ ability to listen, coach, mediate, and provide practical resources has transformed lives.
One youth shared, “[The FNS worker]’s definitely helped me with just feeling like I can do things, I can survive. She’s showed me a lot of love, she’s been there for me when I’m upset or sad, she’s been there for me when I was really fucked up or in danger. She’s brought me to the hospital she’s sat there with me, she’s been there for me for quite a while. I consider myself to be really close to her.”
Youth underscored the importance of developing social and emotional learning skills to help people understand and manage their emotions, build healthier relationships, and handle social situations more effectively. One youth mentioned that:
“I’ve done a lot of like maturing, since I’ve been paired up with my caseworker. And I’ve just, like, she’s helped me learn with coping mechanisms and pointing out like toxic behaviours. And I’ve actually, like, it’s really useful because I don’t take things personally anymore with my family. And it’s really helped a lot. And my caseworker has taught me that. So it’s really for the better.”
Families echoed similar sentiments, with one natural support saying, “The workers listen, they listen to you, too. Like there’s two sides to every story. They listen to us too. They- I’ve cried. I’ve laughed. I’ve done it all with [FNS Worker]. So, I mean, it was nice to have somebody I can talk to as well.”
A Brighter Future for Youth and Their Families
The FNS program’s impact extends far beyond its participants. By fostering healthier family dynamics, improving communication, and providing crucial resources, the program has not only prevented youth homelessness but also set the stage for stronger, more supportive communities.
One youth said, “I definitely think it has made me a little bit more of a better person and self aware and aware of other people’s emotions too around me, because I get a sense of empathy more now than I did before.”
The FNS program emphasizes the importance of connection, understanding, and support, which are crucial for individuals to thrive. By investing in relationships and offering the necessary tools for success, FNS paves the way for brighter futures for youth, one family at a time.
Stay tuned for a detailed report on our findings to come.
Interested in bringing FNS to your organization or community? Contact Heidi Walter at A Way Home Canada for more information. Email: hwalter@awayhome.ca
Acknowledgements
We would like to acknowledge the invaluable contributions and research support provided by Heidi Walter, Sandra Wong, Emily Kellway and Katie Davies Jorgensen.
This research was funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and was conducted by the Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Social Innovation Lab, which is co-led by A Way Home Canada and the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness.
* p-value < 0.05
** p-value < 0.01