Webinar, October 27, 20151

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.

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Rural, suburban, urbanNRS and school district dataPolitical significanceRequestNortheast TN; Guilford County NC; Rio

Grande Valley and San Antonio TX; San Diego, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo CA; Laramie County WY; Detroit MI; Southern CT; Whidbey Island WA

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Identify what young people need to reach their goals.

Identify creative strategies to meet those needs through interagency cooperation.

Identify new partners to energize efforts and contribute new resources.

Engage young people as leaders.

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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.

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New independent living program for homeless youth in TN; has won state and national awards.

Host home program in WY; exploring this in RGV.CPS diversion program for homeless youth in TN.$200,000 in new local funding for housing and drop-in

services in WY and CA.Increases in identification of homeless youth in

schools in TN by 39%Bike distributions in MI and CA.Legal and dental clinics in NC and CA.

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Young people are leading efforts in MI, TX, CA, CT.Information on services available to youth via

electronic means and dog tags in TX, MI, CA.Youth-produced awareness videos

(youtube.com/naehcy).

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Task Forces have been instrumental in:Passing 11 state laws in CA.Passing 1 state laws in TX; adding housing

questions to TX YRBS.Getting bipartisan support for the Homeless

Children and Youth Act.Securing new national guidance from USDA

facilitating SNAP access for unaccompanied youth.

Sustainability Take time to assess and refocus. Seek a home in an organization with capacity to

sustain efforts and obtain results. Engage diverse partners. Young leadership.

Check out NAEHCY’s Task Force Start-Up Kit:

http://naehcy.org/educational-resources/local-task-force-start-up-kit

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POLLS

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Sacramento, CaliforniaDetroit, MichiganMiami, Florida

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

homelessness PIT Count Youth-led media narratives

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

community Clothing: Partnership with Goods360 underway

Transportation project : Pedal for A Purpose Bike- A –Thon Go Fund Me Fundraiser Bike Giveaway – underway Community Awareness Event

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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 Perseverance

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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 LeadersLaw Enforcement Youth Serving Organizations

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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!27

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 29

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Leadership and Backbone supportSteering Committees7 SubcommitteesPartnerships with over 40 community and

government agencies

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Did a “Scan” to determine greatest barriers and needs.

Committees will prioritize and develop action plans.Youth leadership through high schools.

January 2016During CoC PIT Count

2 weeks long

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Patricia Julianellepjulianelle@naehcy.org

Shahera HyattShahera.Hyatt@library.ca.gov

Courtney Smithcsmith@naehcy.org

Debra Albodebalbo@dadeschools.net