Homelessness Among Youth and Young Adults
for professionals in behavioral health, peer support, and psychology
Presented by Brittany Brakenhoff, Angela Gebhardt, and Sarah Cruz
Videos
The following videos are recordings of the training on “Homelessness Among Youth and Young Adults.”
Homelessness Among Youth
and Young Adults – Part 1
(Brittany Brakenhoff, Angela Gebhardt, & Sarah Cruz)
Homelessness Among Youth
and Young Adults – Part 2
(Brittany Brakenhoff, Angela Gebhardt, & Sarah Cruz)
Description:
This training session provides a foundational understanding of youth homelessness in Nebraska. The training focuses on prevalence, common risk factors, treatment challenges, and evidence-based clinical approaches. The training provides professionals with practical skills for identifying and responding to youth and young adults at risk of homelessness. The training session was developed in partnership with youth who have experienced homelessness.
Date Presented: Tues., February 24, 2026 9:00am – 12:00pm (Central)
Date Training Expires: February 24, 2028
Objectives:
- Define youth homelessness and identify risk factors that contribute to youth homelessness.
- Describe at least two trauma-informed and youth-centered engagement strategies to build safety and increase trust.
- Identify evidence-based approaches for addressing youth homelessness.
- Describe how to coordinate care and referrals with education, housing, and community-based systems.
Supporting Material
About the Speaker
Brittany Brakenhoff
PhD
Brittany Brakenhoff is a Research Assistant Professor at University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Center on Children, Families, and the Law (CCFL). She received her PhD in Couple and Family Therapy from Ohio State University in 2018. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters related to her research focused on young adults experiencing homelessness. Currently, at CCFL, a primary area of her focus is providing evaluation and research support to the homeless service systems in Lincoln and rural Nebraska.
Angela Gebhardt
MFS, MSW
Angela Gebhardt works for CCFL as a Youth Lived Experience Coordinator on the Youth Homeless Systems Improvement (YHSI) project establishing Youth Action Boards across Nebraska. Angela is the Training Coordinator for the Safe and Healthy Families Initiative (SAHFI) grant to build the capacities of community professionals who work with the intersection of domestic violence and child welfare. Angela also trains Family Support Workers at Jenda and third year law students at the Children’s Justice Clinic at UNL on domestic violence.
Sarah Cruz
CSW
Sarah Cruz is the Youth Program and Prevention Coordinator at UNL’s CCFL and a Certified Social Worker in the State of Nebraska. Sarah obtained her bachelor of science degree in social work from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2020. Sarah joined CCFL in November 2023. Sarah’s current work focuses on the youth Coordinated Entry System and Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) programming in both the Balance of State Continuum of Care and Lincoln Continuum of Care as well as management and implementation of the City of Lincoln’s rental assistance program, Lincoln Prevention Assistance Common (LPAC) Fund.
These trainings were funded in whole or in part by funds from the SAMHSA Community Mental Health Block Grant, SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant and state funds sub-granted from the Nebraska Department of Health and Services, Division of Behavioral Health.