Youth Engagement Team Initiative (YETI) Report

May 2017


Trainings Updates ♦ Resources

established-yeti-imageUpcoming Youth Trainings:

Accessing Youth Resources through 211— Register Here

Connecticut Young Adult Services Webinar Recording Now Available:
Wednesday, March 15, 2017 — Click Here 

 

National Center for Homeless Education: Offering free resources and online webinars!

Gov. Malloy and Congressional Delegation Announce $6.6 Million Federal Grant to Help End Youth Homelessness


Updates:

Youth Workgroups Request for Meeting:

Dear YETI and CAN leadership,

In the planning process for the HUD Homeless Youth Demonstration Project, we want  to make sure to include the Youth Engagement Team Initiatives’ (YETI) input on the needs of your particular region and would like to schedule a two-hour session with your community to discuss this. In order to make sure we are hearing as many voices as possible, we are hoping you will have representation from schools, child welfare, other organizations related to youth services within your region, re-entry/criminal justice programs for youth as well as other local providers serving youth or young adults in your region including adult and family providers who also serve youth or young adults. CAN leadership should also attend this meeting.

We would like to cover the following:

  • Current housing and emergency resources for youth under 18 and young adults 18-24.
  • Existing and planned coordinated entry process for youth in your CAN region.
  • Discussion about gaps in service and prioritizing of region’s needs to serve housing unstable youth.
  • Existing data for your region on homeless youth and young adults

We can either do this within the timeframe of your existing YETI meeting, add time onto your meeting, or establish a separate meeting. We would like to hold these meetings prior to June 15th as we have a timeframe given that the first draft of our HUD Homeless Youth Demonstration Program Community Plan (over $6.5 in potential new resources for this population) is due in July.

If she has not already done so, Sarah Chess will be reaching out to you set up a meeting time to take place in the next few weeks. We will also be happy speak with you prior to this convening to discuss details around this. Thank you for all your hard work! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime. Email is usually the best way to reach me. We will be sending out more details about the meeting agenda and content next week.

Thank you and we look forward to meeting with you soon.

From,

Mimi Haley and Katie Durand, Co-Chairs of the Youth Workgroup’s Information and Referral Subgroup


STRIVE Model Family Mediation Training Applications Open

Applications are now open for the Upcoming STRIVE Model Family Mediation Training  with Dr. Susana A. Lopez hosted by CCEH! Thank you for helping us bring together this training.

We are asking Youth Engagement Team Initiative (YETI) and CAN leaders to forward this registration information to only those individuals nominated to participate. Space is limited. Please consider carefully who is selected to attend. See requirements and recommendations listed below. Suggested participants could include staff from Runaway and Homeless Youth Providers, Youth Diversion specialists, and other school social workers.

STRIVE Family Mediation Training with Dr. Susana Lopez

Cost: Free of Charge
Date & Time: June 19th – 21st from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: June 19th: The United Way of Greater New Haven, Wells Fargo Community Room, June 20th & 21st: Teach for America Community Room.
Both rooms are located on the 4th floor of 370 James Street, New Haven, CT

Light breakfast & lunch will be provided.

While family conflict is often at the root of youth homelessness, reconnecting youth with their families or supportive adults can also be a protective factor. If a youth can safely and appropriately be reunited with their families, this can be much more beneficial alternative than entering into shelter or longer term congregate care. STRIVE stands for “Support to Reunite, Involve, and Value Each Other” and is about facilitating reconnection for homeless youth and their families. STRIVE is a family therapy intervention for newly homeless youth and their families delivered through five sessions. Families select the setting for the intervention which is delivered by trained facilitators. Each session introduces new skills and builds on content introduced earlier in the program, and session content is based on cognitive-behavioral theories. Ultimately, STRIVE aims to improve family functioning and build family conflict-resolution skills; it frames runaway episodes as ineffective attempts at resolving conflicts in the family.

Dr. Susana A. Lopez is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of California and the Director of Training for the evidence-based family intervention STRIVE. She completed her doctoral studies in counseling, clinical, and school psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, with postdoctoral fellowship training at UCLA Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior where she gained additional clinical and research expertise in family based interventions, specifically military families (FOCUS) and families involved in the juvenile justice system (STRIVE/EXPORT). Dr. Lopez has a passion for working with youth and families at-risk, particularly those with diverse cultural backgrounds and has gained expertise in youth development issues, parenting issues, and building resilience to stressors and trauma. She enjoys working directly with the families and training other providers to deliver the intervention in a culturally sensitive manners.

Participants must meet these pre-requisites to apply:

  • Provide direct services to homeless youth and young adults on an on-going basis, serving this population on a weekly basis
  • Participate (or are connected with) the Coordinated Access Network,  and/or Youth Engagement Team Initiative, in their region. (Includes Youth Count participation)
  • Be available to conduct mediations for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing unstable housing or homelessness who are entering into the Coordinated Access Network or are seeking services through an affiliated state agency, school, or youth-serving organization.
  • Be able to participate in technical assistance meetings/learning collaborative for a six-month timeframe following the training.
  • Have the ability to keep track of their mediation cases and share aggregate data with local and state entities.
  • Have the approval of supervisor to attend training and provide these services

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you! Click here for the application.


Resources:

Preventing and Ending Youth Homelessness: A Coordinated Community Response

Local Homeless Education Liaisons

Determining Homeless Status of Youth

Youth Resources Page

Guideline for CAN YETI Discussion on Needs of Region to End Youth Homelessness