26th Annual ConferenceOctober 2014

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Working with youth, service providers and community members to develop creative strategies to support unaccompanied youth.

Started as a 3-year project, 9 communitiesStudies show that coordination among youth

services can greatly improve outcomes. 339 at-risk youth programs spread across 12 different

federal agencies No one agency or organization can meet all the needs. Yet no one has the time to organize a community-wide

effort for youth or work on the strategies generated. 2

Rural, suburban, urbanNRS and school district dataCommunity infrastructurePolitical significanceNortheast TN, Guilford County NC, San

Antonio TX, San Diego and Sacramento CA, Laramie County WY, Detroit and Oakland County MI, Southern CT

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Identify what youth need to reach their goalsIdentify creative strategies to meet those needs

through interagency cooperationIdentify new partners to energize efforts and

contribute new resources.

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NAEHCY is working with youth, schools, service providers, city and county government, faith community, legal services, and community members to develop creative strategies to support unaccompanied youth.

Leadership and active participation of youth and young people are critical! This requires deliberate focus: Where and when do

you meet? How do you initially engage youth? What projects will they choose to invest in?

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We surveyed adults. Service providers and community members

We surveyed youth Unaccompanied homeless youth ages 14-25

Through service providers and schools

Gave us guidance and legitimacy

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FoodTransportationClothes and hygiene suppliesEmploymentMedical and dental careSafe, stable housing

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Fear of referral to police, parents, foster care

TransportationParental consent / Paperwork reqs.Lack of services

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Tangible: You’ll know when you’ve achieved it.Short-term: You can achieve it within a few months.Reasonable: It should be doable with little to no

funding and with a small core team.Meaningful: It should make a difference to young

people and other task force members.Leadership: Know that at first, you will need to have

a major role, but enlist partners from day one.9

Sacramento, CaliforniaLaramie County, WyomingDetroit, Michigan

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Active Youth CouncilA2B Bike Giveaway: gave 50 bikes to youthIncluding homeless youth in local efforts to end

homelessnessNew County funding for 6-bed TAY shelter

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Youth InclusionWe provide snacks!Regular meeting scheduleEfficient discussions that lead to actionable

resultsFocus on sustainability, diffusion of labor

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Local Continuum of Care McKinney-Vento liaisonsStatewide youth advocacy organization (CCY)EDs from youth-serving orgs (Wind, Tubman

House)Local electeds

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Law EnforcementLocal BusinessesChild welfare

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Sustainability Encouraging others to take ownership & leadership

Youth input Youth Council: Your Voices Matter!

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In terms of structure: Consistently enlisting youth as partners in action Keeping the momentum

In terms of the issues: Increasing housing capacity along a continuum Reversing the trend of criminalizing homelessness

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What are some of your most exciting achievements?July 2013 – Facilitated a retreat with 25 representatives from non-profit, school, and State government – Retreat ended with three main goals:

Outreach and communication to homeless youth regarding resources and to the community educating the need

Safe stable housing – possibly using Host Home Program Access to medical and behavioral health care

October 2014 Halloween Youth Resource Fair 2013-2014 School Year Youth Task Force September 2014 - Implemented Host Home Program – partnership with Catholic Charities of WyomingBroke down silos with our broad coalition 17

What are some of your most exciting achievements?

New Initiative Boarding/Rooming House

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What or who are keys to those successes?Youth willing to express their opinionsCollaboration and the support of the Laramie County Community Partnership Community Donations:

Meeting Rooms – City of Cheyenne & Wyoming Department of Health Incentives for Youth Resource Fair Employees time to attend coalition meetings

Funders United Way Wyoming Business Council Wyoming Institute of Population Health Catholic Charities of Wyoming NAEHCY

Strength and determination of the Strong Families Action Team 19

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What are some key people/agencies missing from the group?

Laramie County Department of Family Services

Juvenile justice

Residential centers

Local law enforcement

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At this stage, what are your biggest challenges? Strategies to address those challenges?

Funding Working with the Realtor Association Bank representative on committee Securing grants Partners that have sustainable funding i.e. Catholic

Charities of Wyoming Wyoming Business Council opened another source of

public funding due to Strong Families request for a technical grant

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Challenges (cont.)Liability

Creatively designing program Meet with DFS to clarify roles Support from NAEHCY

Location of property Collaboration with Realtors and Banks

Staffing Partnering with University of Wyoming for a graduate

intern from the Social Work program Volunteers from the faith-based communities

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Jobs Skills Training Pop-Up Workshops Underway Adopting a Soft Skills Training Curriculum to present in the

community In the process of applying for a local community grant to

support this project Location Underway: Osborn High school, Alternatives for

Girls and Community and SchoolsClothing: Partnership with Goods360 underway

Clothing drive project underwayTransportation project underway: Carpooling

Solicited letters to providers of drivers training to see if youth could receive discounts 24

Social Media Presence Facebook Page Live Website with job updates and resources coming soon Links to clothing banks and housing resources for homeless

youth on live websiteYouth Council Initiative

Tigers GameAdvocacy

Task Force advocated on behalf of citizens amid Detroit’s Water Crisis

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Youth Voice Strategic Relationship Building Youth Advocates Core group of task force members Not giving up!

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NAEHCYMatrix Human ServicesDetroit Public LibraryVista Maria Osborn High SchoolMcKinney Vento Liaisons from Detroit Public Schools and EAA

and Community and SchoolsOakland County Public School’s staffSouth Oakland Shelter Youth Advocates YOUTH VOICE!!

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Business Leaders Community Members Transportation Authority Homeless Liaisons DHS Workers Faith Community Colleges and Universities College Students Policy Makers Youth Serving Agencies

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Weather Rescheduling meetings

Securing Meeting Locations Scheduling meetings at rotating locations in advance

Community Participation Local visits and pop ups

Youth Council: Your Voices Matter!29

Recruiting Youth Assistance with transportation Incentives: Food, Outings Youth Council Initiatives

Attendance on Conference Calls • More frequent reminders • In-person meetings

Consistent Meeting Attendance Schedule meetings ahead of time Share task so members will feel involved

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• Sustainability Apply for grants Research Assigning internal leadership Obtaining match funding for projects from

partners Key Leaders at the tableBring Awareness : Increase Social Media Presence

and Marketing Material 31

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Task Forces have been instrumental in:Passing 8 state laws in CAPassing 1 state law in TX (so far)Getting bipartisan support for the Homeless

Children and Youth Act

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Patricia Julianellepjulianelle@naehcy.org (202) 436-9087