1. Team Leader Training
[Community and Location]
[Date and Time]

2. Agenda Detail the process for conducting the youth count
Outline roles and responsibilities of Guides, Team Leaders, Team Captains and others on the day of the youth count
Review data collection forms, protocols and safety
Discuss next steps

3. Introductions
Name
Organization

4. Who will we count?
UNACCOMPANIED youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability ages 13 through 25
Youth who are living on the street, in shelters, or in transitional housing programs
Youth who are doubled up, couch surfing, staying in hotels/motels, living in cars, or who are involved in the sex trade
Includes youth counted within county lines on the day/night of the count

5. Who will help with the youth count?
People aged 18 through 25 who have experienced homelessness or housing instability will serve as Guides
Service providers and volunteers will serve as Team Leaders
Members of the Leadership Team will serve as Team Captains

6. How will teams be formed?
Team Leader
Guide Team #1
Guide
Guide Team #2
Team Leaders will oversee 1-2 teams comprised of 2-3 Guides each.

7. What happens on the day of the Youth Count?
Arrival
Refresher Training
Team Assignments
Check in
(1 hour)
Stage 1: Visual Count
Stage 2: Brief Youth Survey
Field Work
(up to 4 hours)
Materials check-in
Team debrief
Guide payment
Return and Debrief
(up to 1 hour)

8. CHECK IN: Team Leader Role
Assist with the check-in process
Waiver and Release from Liability
Sign-in sheets
Supplies (see next slide)
Review team assignments with the Team Captain
Map with the list of hot spots where youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability might be found
Verify that there are sufficient tally sheets and surveys

9. CHECK IN: Supplies
Before leaving the deployment center, verify you have:
Clipboards and pencils
Tally sheets
Surveys with consent script
Envelopes to store and seal completed surveys
Gift cards
ID badges
Resource list
Team Captain cell phone number
Team Leaders must carry a cell phone and Team Captain contact information at all times and be available for calls during the Youth Count

10. FIELD WORK: Team Leader Role
Transport team(s) to assigned areas and oversee Count and Survey.
Remain in the area to:
Answer questions from Guides
Collect surveys from Guides
Hold extra gift cards and supplies
Ensure safety and confidentiality
Respond to crisis situations
Administer surveys if requested

11. FIELD WORK: Count Area
Maps will include a list of hot spots, which will also be marked on the map by location bubbles
Teams will be counting in both outdoor and indoor locations, including intersections, parks, libraries, and coffee shops
Teams must stay within the boundaries drawn on their maps to avoid duplication
If teams are unable to cover a certain area due to safety concerns or access issues, mark the area on the map and let the Team Captains know when you return to the deployment site

12. Stage 1: Who will Guides Count?
Guides will use a tally sheet to record information about any youth in the area who appear to be both:
homeless or unstably housed
AND
aged 13 through 25
Guides should complete this step before they begin surveying people.

13. Stage 2: Who will Guides Survey?
After counting all of the youth in the area, Guides will approach the same youth and ask them to complete the Brief Youth Survey
If any youth leave the area or go into a building, Guides should not follow them
Team Leaders will survey youth if requested by those being surveyed

14. What will Guides be asking in the Brief Youth Survey?
Birth date and initials
Current living situation
Characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation)
History of foster care or detention/jail
If currently pregnant or parenting
Current school enrollment and employment

15. What do youth get for taking the survey?
Each youth who takes the survey will receive a $5 gift card
Youth receive a gift card as long as they answer the first 5 questions
Each youth can receive only ONE gift card

16. Stage 2: What will the process look like?
Screen to determine whether or not to approach a youth
Do not approach a youth who is sleeping or cannot be seen (e.g. inside a tent)
Read the consent statement on the top of survey and obtain verbal consent
If a youth refuses: Check the refusal box on the survey, thank them, and move on to the next person. Do not give the youth a gift card.
If a youth agrees: Move to step 3

17. Stage 2: What will the process look like?
Read the questions aloud in English or Spanish if the youth agrees to take the survey
Skip any questions youth do not want to answer
Repeat each question only once
Team Leaders may survey youth as requested
Thank the youth
When finished with the survey, give the youth one gift card
Completed surveys returned to the Team Leader

18. Stage 1 and 2: Completed Forms
After the Guides have counted and surveyed in a hot spot, Team Leaders:
Collect all tally sheets and surveys
Make sure the Guides marked where they counted
Place everything in the completed materials envelope
Keep the envelope with you until it can be returned safely to a Team Captain

19. Stage 2: What if… A youth who took the survey wants to take it again?
Youth cannot take the survey more than once
A youth walks away or stops responding in the middle of taking the survey?
Check “refused to answer” for the rest of the questions and place the survey into your envelope
A youth feels uncomfortable answering a question?
Youth can refuse to answer any question they feel uncomfortable answering.

20. Stage 2: What if… A youth does not respond to a question?
Repeat the question once and move on to the next question if the youth does not respond
A youth gets upset or emotional while taking the survey?
Ask if the youth if he or she would like some help and offer him or her a resource list. Contact the Team Captain with any questions.

21. CHECK OUT: Team Leader Role
Ensure that the whole team returns to the deployment site by the designated time (Team Leaders AND Guides)
Participate in the check-out process
Collect and organize team paperwork
Debrief the youth count experience and what happened the field

22. Important Reminders

23. General Reminders
Guides will not interact with youth being counted during Stage 1
Guides should use their best judgement when filling out the tally sheet
Guides will work as a team to decide whether or not to include a youth – err on the side of inclusion
Once the tally sheet is completed it should not be altered

24. Voluntary Participation
Guides must read the consent statement in full for each youth they approach to take the survey during Stage 2
You must get their verbal consent (yes or si) to continue with the survey
Guides should never pressure youth to take the survey, answer a question they do not want to answer, or finish the survey.

25. Respect Privacy
Surveys should be completed at a safe distance from others to ensure privacy
Never talk with anyone outside of the team or Team Captains about the youth or the surveys
Assist Guides if they have any questions about a survey
Contact a Team Captain if a question comes up that you cannot answer

26. Respect Privacy
Ensure Guides place each survey in the envelope immediately after it is completed
Keep completed surveys safe, covered, and clean
Never leave them visible or unattended
Return all blank and partially completed surveys to the Team Captain
Do NOT throw any surveys away!
Inform the Team Captain right away if any materials are stolen or lost

27. Ensure Safety
Teams should stay together and know where everyone is at all times
Surveys should only be completed in safe, public places
Be aware of the interactions Guides have with other youth; Guides are being asked to immediately return to you if they feel unsafe
If a Guide is worried about the safety or well-being of a youth they survey, they have been asked to notify you. You may do the following:
If it is a true emergency, call 911
Provide youth with a resource list
Contact the Team Captain immediately

28. Questions?