25th Annual ConferenceNovember 2013

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“Youth Voices”Videos available on-line at

www.youtube.com/user/naehcy Youth leaders/advisors, youth

coordinators, and young people involved at every level.

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

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. 3

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

TX, San Diego and Sacramento CA, Southeast 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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Michigan and CT just starting CT state level meeting next week Michigan youth and adult surveys pouring in

SE Wyoming Held a Halloween event to raise awareness and get input

from young people. Housing authority vouchers for youth Deposit/first month rent; gas and Target vouchers

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San Antonio State legislative initiative: Unaccompanied youth 16 and

over now can enter transitional living programs without parental consent

Truancy and attendance officer training: Creating a set of recommendations for city-wide commission

Goodwill Careers Academy scholarships Food bank collaboration Wallet-size resource card

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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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FoodSafe, stable housingTransportationMedical and dental careClothes and hygiene suppliesJob

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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.12

East TennesseeSacramentoSan Diego

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New youth housing program: 5 units supportive housing with case management provided in-kind by ETSU and school districts; just won a “TN’s Best Rising Star” award

New CPS referral/service process called NEUCYLockers and showers for young peopleTeenTalkTransportation project underway: car loans and repairsTargeting a legal clinic and nursing clinic

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Active Task ForceSocial Work Student Interns Very involved McKinney Vento LiaisonsWillingness of the Community to Learn and Help

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NAEHCYCollaboration between East Tennessee State University

and Department of Children’s ServicesNEUCYJohnson City Housing AuthorityMcKinney Vento Liaisons from Johnson City Schools and

Kingsport City SchoolsContact MinistriesARCH

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AttorneysMedicalEmergency Housing for Youth Under Age 18Local Legislative Officials

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Finding the kids Advertise

Flyers, Billboard on ETSU Campus

Word of Mouth

Nay-sayers Prove it

Law/Policy regarding kids under age 18 Lots of research

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Getting More Youth InvolvedMotivationNew ProjectsGrowth

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Active Youth CouncilA2B Bike Giveaway: gave 50 bikes to youthWork with Regional TransitYear round “sanctuary” for young people

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

results

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Local Continuum of Care McKinney-Vento liaisonsPatricia!Statewide youth advocacy organization (CCY)Youth partners at Wind

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Law EnforcementLocal BusinessesFaith Community

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Youth inputYouth Council: Your Voices Matter!

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In terms of structure:Enlisting youth as partners in actionKeeping the momentum

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

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Food project: SNAP guidance, resource list, engaging community food partners

Youth Panel on cultural competencyDental DayDisseminating information on youths’ rights

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San Diego County Dept. of Health and Human Services-CalFresh officials

Unaccompanied Youth! Their voice is integral.Toussaint AcademyLocal pro bono attorneys, Homeless Coordinator SD

DHHS, Social Workers, and more Youth!

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San Diego Regional Task Force on the HomelessRegional Continuum of Care CouncilSan Diego Schools-County and CityDept. Health and Human ServicesSocial Workers, Pregnant and Parenting Teen TeachersHome StartService Providers-Youth Shelters, Drop-in Facilities,

Family Resource Centers, etc.Hunger Advocacy Network and Feeding America SDYouth: one particular young woman kicked us into gear

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MediCal division of Dept. of Health and Human Resources

Legislative StaffersTeachersCA Dept. of Social Services administrator

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Many providers, not many who knew each other Resource list Email lists

Finding a home for the Youth Consultants Panel Thomas Jefferson School of Law Providing food! Youth’s Cultural Competency Presentation

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MediCal enrollmentHousing: gearing up for the new regulationsTeen Pregnancy issuesSpreading the (legal rights) wordDental DayConsistency on the Youth Consultants’ Panel

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6 successful legislative initiatives in CA Streamlined access to SNAP (AB 309) Access to school records for unaccompanied youth

(AB 1068) Immediate athletic participation, state interagency

working group (SB 177) Juvenile record expungement (AB 1006) Clarification that CPS reporting is not required (AB

652) New licensing rules for youth shelters (AB 346)

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Broad, engaged membershipTangible progress ASAPPartner with CoC, local universitiesFaith communityDevelop and implement mid- and long-term

initiatives once you have some immediate achievements, no matter how small

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