1. 25 th Annual Conference November 2013 1

2. Our Golden Rule: Youth Driven “Youth Voices” Videos available on-line at www.youtube.com/user/naehcy www.youtube.com/user/naehcy Youth leaders/advisors, youth coordinators, and young people involved at every level. 2

3. NAEHCY’s Unaccompanied Youth Projects Working with youth, service providers and community members to develop creative strategies to support unaccompanied youth. 3-year project, 9 communities Studies 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

4. Unaccompanied Youth Project: Where, and Why? Rural, suburban, urban NRS and school district data Community infrastructure Political significance East TN, Guilford County NC, San Antonio TX, San Diego and Sacramento CA, Southeast WY, Detroit and Oakland County MI, Southern CT 4

5. Unaccompanied Youth Project: What’s the Overall Goal? Identify what youth 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. 5

6. Unaccompanied Youth Projects: Initial Results 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 6

7. Unaccompanied Youth Projects: Initial Results 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 7

8. Task Force Membership 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? 8

9. Step One: Gather Information to Identify Local Priorities 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 9

10. What do Youth Need? Food Safe, stable housing Transportation Medical and dental care Clothes and hygiene supplies Job 10

11. What are the Greatest Barriers to Youth Seeking/Receiving Services? Fear of referral to police, parents, foster care Transportation Parental consent / Paperwork reqs. Lack of services 11

12. Step Two: Choose 1-2 Tangible Priorities to Start Work 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

13. The Experiences of Three Task Forces East Tennessee Sacramento San Diego 13

14. East Tennessee: What are some of your most exciting achievements? 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 NEUCY Lockers and showers for young people TeenTalk Transportation project underway: car loans and repairs Targeting a legal clinic and nursing clinic 14

15. East Tennessee: ? East Tennessee: What or who are some keys to those successes? Active Task Force Social Work Student Interns Very involved McKinney Vento Liaisons Willingness of the Community to Learn and Help 15

16. East Tennessee: East Tennessee: What key people/agencies keep the task force moving and productive? NAEHCY Collaboration between East Tennessee State University and Department of Children’s Services NEUCY Johnson City Housing Authority McKinney Vento Liaisons from Johnson City Schools and Kingsport City Schools Contact Ministries ARCH 16

17. East Tennessee: East Tennessee: Who are some key people/agencies missing from the group? Attorneys Medical Emergency Housing for Youth Under Age 18 Local Legislative Officials 17

18. East Tennessee: East Tennessee: When you first were getting started, what were some of the biggest challenges? How did you address them? 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 18

19. East Tennessee: East Tennessee: At this stage in the task force, what are the biggest challenges? Getting More Youth Involved Motivation New Projects Growth 19

20. Sacramento: What are some of your most exciting achievements? Active Youth Council A2B Bike Giveaway: gave 50 bikes to youth Work with Regional Transit Year round “sanctuary” for young people 20

21. Sacramento: Sacramento: What or who are some keys to those successes? Youth Inclusion We provide snacks! Regular meeting schedule Efficient discussions that lead to actionable results 21

22. Sacramento: Sacramento: What key people/agencies keep the task force moving and productive? Local Continuum of Care McKinney-Vento liaisons Patricia! Statewide youth advocacy organization (CCY) Youth partners at Wind 22

23. Sacramento: Sacramento: Who are some key people/agencies missing from the group? Law Enforcement Local Businesses Faith Community 23

24. Sacramento: Sacramento: When you first were getting started, what were some of the biggest challenges? How did you address them? Youth input Youth Council: Your Voices Matter! 24

25. Sacramento: Sacramento: At this stage in the task force, what are the biggest challenges? In terms of structure: 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 25

26. San Diego: What are some of your most exciting achievements? Food project: SNAP guidance, resource list, engaging community food partners Youth Panel on cultural competency Dental Day Disseminating information on youths’ rights 26

27. San Diego: ? San Diego: What or who are some keys to those successes? San Diego County Dept. of Health and Human Services-CalFresh officials Unaccompanied Youth! Their voice is integral. Toussaint Academy Local pro bono attorneys, Homeless Coordinator SD DHHS, Social Workers, and more Youth! 27

28. San Diego: San Diego: What key people/agencies keep the task force moving and productive? San Diego Regional Task Force on the Homeless Regional Continuum of Care Council San Diego Schools-County and City Dept. Health and Human Services Social Workers, Pregnant and Parenting Teen Teachers Home Start Service Providers-Youth Shelters, Drop-in Facilities, Family Resource Centers, etc. Hunger Advocacy Network and Feeding America SD Youth: one particular young woman kicked us into gear 28

29. San Diego: San Diego: Who are some key people/agencies missing from the group? MediCal division of Dept. of Health and Human Resources Legislative Staffers Teachers CA Dept. of Social Services administrator 29

30. San Diego: San Diego: When you first were getting started, what were some of the biggest challenges? How did you address them? 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 30

31. San Diego: San Diego: At this stage in the task force, what are the biggest challenges? MediCal enrollment Housing: gearing up for the new regulations Teen Pregnancy issues Spreading the (legal rights) word Dental Day Consistency on the Youth Consultants’ Panel 31

32. Unaccompanied Youth Projects: Initial Results 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) 32

33. 33 Task Force Sustainability Broad, engaged membership Tangible progress ASAP Partner with CoC, local universities Faith community Develop and implement mid- and long-term initiatives once you have some immediate achievements, no matter how small

34. 34 Contact Information Patricia Julianelle  pjulianelle@naehcy.org pjulianelle@naehcy.org  (202) 436-9087