May 19 at 10:00 a.m. Presented by the John Burton Foundation & California Coalition for Youth

1. Runaway and Homeless Youth Act May 19 at 10:00 a.m. Presented by the John Burton Foundation & California Coalition for Youth Call-in phone number for live audio: 916-233-3088 Access code: 480-861-210

2. Webinar Technical Details • Call-in phone number for live audio: 916-233-3088 • Access code: 480-861-210 • To submit live questions, click on the “Questions” panel on your screen, type your question, and click “Send”

3. Outline of Presentation • Introduction to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act • Creating and Operating Basic Center and Street Outreach programs • RHYA Application process and what’s new this year • Q and A

4. Today’s Presenters • Debbie Raucher, John Burton Foundation • Liz Gomez, Youth Program Consultant • Sylvia Lamalfa, Covenant House California • Frank Lopez, South Bay Community Services, Inc.

5. RHYA History • Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act passed in 1974 to fund emergency shelters (Basic Centers) • Transitional Living Program (TLP) added 1988 • Street Outreach Program added 1994 • Collectively these programs are known as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA)

6. Program Administration • Administered by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) • Funding for RHYA managed by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) a program of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) • FY 2010 funding is $115.7 million nationwide • Basic Center and Shelter Outreach Grants allocated as 3-year contracts

7. Street Outreach Program (SOP) • Purpose is to help young people get off the streets and avoid sexual abuse or exploitation • Services include • Street-based education and outreach • Access to emergency shelter • Survival aid • Treatment and counseling • Information and referrals • Crisis intervention • Follow-up support

8. Street Outreach (cont.) • Must have 24-hour access to the shelter in order to maintain interaction with youth while they are in placement (can be by referral) • Program goal: By FY 2012, 95 percent of the youth served enter safe and appropriate settings after exiting ACF-funded RHY services.

9. Basic Center Programs (BCP) • Emergency Shelter for youth up to age 18 • Can provide up to 21 days of shelter for up to 20 youth • Focus on reunification with family or locating alternative placements • Must be licensed under local licensing standards • Program goal: 90 percent of youth living in safe and appropriate settings after exiting BCP

10. Basic Center Services • Food, clothing, medical care and other services that youth need (offered either directly or by referral) • Individual, group and family counseling • Recreation programs • Outreach to youth who may need assistance as well as to public and private agencies that work with youth and families • Aftercare services for youth after they leave the shelter

11. Program Considerations Liz Gomez, LG Consulting

12. Positive Youth Development Both Basic Center and Street Outreach programs must include elements of the Positive Youth Development approach • Help young people achieve their full potential • Give young people the chance to exercise leadership, build skills and become involved in their communities. • www.rhyttac.ou.edu/images/stories/PYD/ resources/PYD toolkit 2008.pdf

13. Shelter Licensing Requirements • BCPs must be in compliance with State and local licensing requirements • In California licensing overseen by the Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) • Efforts are underway to modify licensing regulations to be more appropriate for emergency shelter settings

14. Integration with Continuum of Care The Federal Youth Services Bureau focuses on how well the grantee integrates the continuum of care of all RHY programs if funding is received. Street Outreach Basic Center Transitional Living Program Family Reunification

15. Family Intervention Family Intervention is new from last year; where RHY grantees are allowed/shall provide family conflict resolution services to ensure family reunification as an outcome.

16. Other Requirements • Outcome data must be entered into a centralized Management Information System (RHYMIS)

17. Sylvia LaMalfa, Covenant House California

18. Program Staffing • Street Outreach Supervisor • 2 Full time Street Outreach Workers • Part Time Street Outreach Worker • 1 Per Diem Street Outreach Worker • 1 Day Outreach Case Manager • 1 PT Outreach Peer Intern • Evening Outreach Case Manager Note: Funding for positions includes sources other than RHYA

19. Program Design • Vans go out 7 nights from 4-12 pm to areas where youth are known to be congregating • Staffed by 2 outreach workers plus peer intern • Target youth in danger of sexual exploitation • Approximately 5,000 unduplicated youth served each year in over 11,000 contacts • Youth offered bag lunches and water, blankets, jackets, hygiene kits, crisis counseling, educational materials aimed at prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation • Referrals for shelter, services and transportation

20. Program Design (cont.) • Covenant House national toll free hotline referrals • Youth encouraged to meet with Case Manager to talk further about services offered and to see the shelter. • Youth interested in housing can be directly moved into the CHC Crisis Shelter • Youth interested in Primary Health Care or Mental Health care can be seen at CHC Health Clinic or by Clinical Department • Once youth enter the Crisis Shelter additional supportive services available to them

21. Lessons Learned • Long Engagement Process - consistency of staffing and interactions with street youth • Consistency of 7 day per week program and engagement process • Quality over quantity of youth contacts – changed over the years • Low Barrier to entrance with harm reduction approach to substance use • Trauma informed service provision.

22. Lessons Learned (cont.) • Training in victims of human trafficking/sexually exploited youth • Groups on transitioning youth off the streets into safe housing • Need range of community supports for range of needs.

23. Lessons Learned (cont.) • Youth Development • Efforts to assist youth in making healthier personal choices • Provide for physical and emotional health, employment, educational supports • Peer Youth Intern positions for youth in shelter to be part of Outreach team • Youth Council and leadership training workshops and programming • Creative Arts Programming

24. Frank Lopez, South Bay Community Services, Inc.

25. Casa Nuestra • Funded under RHYA Basic Center program • In operation since 1990 • Only youth shelter in S. Bay region of San Diego area. • Referrals come from probation dept., school based services, CPS, other SBCS programs, other non-profit providers

26. Facility Design • 8-bed facility in 4-bedroom house (2 beds per room) • Shared kitchen and bathroom facilities • Capacity for 4 girls and 4 boys • Original site acquisition funded through combination of City and County funds

27. Program Design • 24 hour staffing includes: • 2 full time Facility Mangers • Program Lead • Part-time and on-call staff for additional coverage • Volunteer from Jesuit Volunteer Corps • On-site MFT intern • Each participant completes an assessment and has an individualized service plan • Referral to other services offered as needed (e.g. substance abuse, job readiness, etc.)

28. Success Factors • On-site MFT intern • Focus on reunification • Follows up with clients after program exit • Available to respond to needs immediately • Service package adapted to needs of each client – no cookie cutter approach • Youth involved in creation of service plan • Life skills training – youth cook meals, participate in household chores, etc.

29. Compliance with Licensing Guidelines • Crucial to review Community Care Licensing guidelines in advance and ensure ability to comply • Examples of adaptations made for compliance • Incorporation of outcomes into services plan • Checklist in each file to ensure all necessary paperwork obtained and maintained

30. Application Information Liz Gomez

31. NOFA information • Notices Of Funding Availability (NOFA) for BCP and SOP anticipated to be released soon • No NOFA for TLP expected • New minimum standards to be released • Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and public entities

32. The Numbers • BCP and SOP maximum funding per project = $200,000 • BCP average funding = $150,000 • SOP average funding = $100,000 • Non-federal match of 10% of total project required (can include in-kind contributions) • Grant allocations for BCP and SOP are for 3-year contracts

33. Anticipated Program Changes • More stringent enforcement of licensing requirements for BCP • More emphasis on cultural diversity • Addition of kinship care and mediation to BCP

34. Application Sections • Forms (DUNS number required) • Table of Contents • Project summary (1 page maximum) • Objectives and need for assistance • Results or benefits expected • Approach • Staff and Position data

35. Application Sections (cont.) • Plan for project continuance beyond grant support • Third party agreements • Budget • Budget Justification • Certifications and assurances

36. Application tips • Do not exceed maximum page limit - Projects are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, not length • Focus on outcomes • Do not overdo number of objectives or projected service targets • Read the instructions and respond to every section – be especially careful if cutting and pasting from prior applications as sections may have changed

37. Additional Information The Runaway and Homeless Youth Technical Assistance Collaborative (RHYTAC) will conduct a web seminar after the NOFA is released for prospective applicants. www.RHYTTAC.ou.edu

38. Upcoming Trainings • June 16th, 10:00 am – Webinar: MHSA Housing program • June 17th – RegionalTraining: What do Foundations Really Want, Riverside County • July 8th: Federal Youth Partners Training, San Francisco • July 22nd: HYCBP annual meeting, Los Angeles • Individual Technical Assistance available for HYCBP members

39. Questions or comments? Enter questions on your screen now by clicking the “Questions” panel, typing your question, and clicking “Send.” Or direct later questions or comments to: Debbie Raucher John Burton Foundation (510) 593-8382 debbie@johnburtonfoundation.org www.cahomelessyouth.org