Youth StreetConnect - Helping homeless young women

An estimated 2.5 million youth, ages 16-24, experience homelessness in the US each year. These young individuals, particularly women, are considered high-risk for serious health problems, including HIV, STDs, teen pregnancy and teen dating violence. Healthcare providers can play a critical role in providing appropriate care to homeless youth and in linking them to other health services. Research suggests that linking healthcare with other services needed by homeless adolescents, such as shelter or food, may help improve their continuity of care. In this paper, we describe Youth StreetConnect, a tool formed by two mobile apps, which will connect young homeless women to local healthcare providers. Considering that cellular phones are common among homeless individuals, particularly teenagers, our tool has the potential to make an impact on these women's lives.