Variations in Full Service Partnerships and Fidelity to the Housing First Model

Abstract

In California, the Mental Health Services Act allocated substantial funding to Full Service Partnerships (FSPs): programs that do whatever it takes to improve residential stability and mental health outcomes. The state-guided, but stakeholder-driven, approach to FSPs resulted in a set of programs that share core similarities but vary in their specific approaches. This qualitative study examines FSP variations within the framework of fidelity to the Housing First model. Semistructured interviews with 21 FSP program managers identified through purposeful sampling were coded and analyzed to identify variations across programs in their approaches to housing and services. Through the process of constant comparison, FSP characteristics were condensed into a set of broad themes related to fidelity to the Housing First model. We identified three broad themes: (a) FSPs varied in the degree to which key elements of Housing First were present; (b) program recovery orientation and staff experience were associated wit...