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About theNational Network for
Youth
A Membership Organization
• Community-based & faith-based organizations
• Public agencies• Regional and state youth
service associations• Youth workers• Young people
Mission
Champion the Needs ofRunaway, Homeless,
and other Disconnected Youth through
Advocacy, Innovation, andMember Services
History
• Runaway and Homeless youth a central focus of our work since founding in 1974
• Architect and lead champion of the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
Place to Call Home Campaign
A Place to Call Home
The National Network for Youth’s
Permanency Plan forUnaccompanied Youth
Our Aspiration
To Build Permanency – A Place to Call Home –
for America’s Youth
Permanency• A lasting connection to loving
families, caring adults, and supportive peers
• A safe place to live• Possession of skills and
resources necessary for a life of physical and mental wellness, continuous asset building, dignity, and joy
Home Elements
Home Elements• Homeowners• Homebuilders• Neighborhood• Foundation• Roof• Construction Schedule• Walls and Bricks
The Walls and Bricks
The Walls and Bricks
• Public Policy Advancement and System Change
• Practice Improvement and Professional Development
• Public Awareness and Stakeholder Education
• Research and Knowledge Development
Wall 1: Public Policy
Brick 1.B: Place to Call Home Act• RHYA alone an insufficient
response• Causal factors must be addressed• NN4Y will advance comprehensive
legislation to prevent, respond to, and end youth homelessness
Wall 1: Public Policy
Brick 1.B: Place to Call Home Act• Vehicle for identifying
Congressional champions• Easy ask from constituents• Source text for stand-alone
mini bills• H.R. 3409; No Senate bill (yet!)
Purpose
Create theconditions, structures and supports needed to ensure
permanency for the nation’s unaccompanied
youth
Subject Areas• Homeless Assistance• Housing• Child Welfare• Juvenile Justice• Public Health• Education• Workforce Investment• Young Family Support• Immigration
Homeless Assistance
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
• RHYA only federal program targeted exclusively to unaccompanied youth
• RHYA projects form national safety net for unaccompanied youth
RHYA Programs
• Street Outreach Program• Basic Center Program• Transitional Living Program• National Support Activities• Administered by U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Family and Youth Services Bureau
Limitations of RHYA System
• Only 51,680 annual basic center users.• 2,081 basic center turnaways due to
lack of beds.• Only 3,279 annual transitional living
users.• 2,455 transitional living turnaways due
to lack of beds.• No transitional living program in Idaho,
Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wyoming.
• Small grant award amounts.
Reauthorization Issues
• Infrastructure– Staff recruitment and retention– Service coordination– Outcome monitoring
• Funding– Authorization levels– Small state and territory allotments– Redistribution of unrequested funds
Reauthorization Issues
• Federal Program Management– Grantee performance standards– Applicant appeals process
• National Activities– Homeless youth census– National RHY research and evaluation
priorities– Cost-Benefit analysis of services to homeless
youth– Public information campaign
• Admission and length of stay criteria• Use of funds and funding conditions
Reauthorization Status
• House– Lead is Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY)– Bill expected in December 2007
• Senate– Lead is Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)– Bill expected early 2008
HUD McKinney-Vento
• Homeless assistance program for all people experiencing homelessness
• Homeless youth and young adults access HUD McKinney-Vento-funded projects
• Serves homeless youth not reached through RHYA
Reauthorization Issues
• Definition of homelessness• Scope and flexibility of eligible
activities• Youth involvement in community
homeless assistance planning• Prohibition on family separation
in residential programs
Reauthorization Status
• House– HEARTH Act (H.R. 840)– Markup expected in mid 2008
• Senate– CPEHA (S. 1518)– Passed by Committee in Sept. 07– Could reach Senate floor any time
Housing
Permanent Housing
• Youth and young adults are not a focus population for permanent affordable housing
• No targeted youth permanent housing program
• Youth face housing access barriers
Perm. Housing Provisions
• GAO study on youth housing needs• Housing choice vouchers for homeless youth• Extend age and duration of FUP vouchers
for foster youth in transition• Youth as special population in consolidated
housing plans• Amend federal one-strike housing
admission/eviction policies• Sense of Congress on minor right to
contract for necessities
Perm. Housing Status
• NN4Y has requested a joint hearing on housing needs of youth
• NN4Y has requested a GAO study on the housing needs of youth
Transitional Housing
• Transitional housing is an appropriate housing model, including for youth and young adults
• Transitional housing opportunities are available for some target subpopulations, but lacking for others
Trans. Housing Provisions
• Reauthorize the RHYA TLP program• Extend eligibility for Chafee room and
board services through age 24• Authorize a new transitional housing
program for youth domestic victims of commercial sexual exploitation/trafficking
• Authorize a youth offender reentry program with room and board component
Trans. Housing Status
• House– RHYA reauthorization in 2008 (Yarmuth)– Reconnecting Youth to Prevent
Homelessness Act (Berkley-NV), 11/07– Youth Offender Reentry Act, 12/07
• Senate– RHYA reauthorization in 2008 (Leahy)– Possible companions to above House
bills
Child Welfare
Child Protection• Family risk factors are primary
causal factor of youth homelessness• Practices to strengthen and support
families are well understood, but lacking in resources
• Some public policies lead to youth separation from their families
Child Protection Provisions
• Reauthorizes and strengthens Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act programs
• Reauthorizes and strengthens substance abuse and mental health programs
• Increases funding for Promoting Safe and Stable Families
• Prohibits child removal to foster care on sole basis of the family’s homeless status
• Prohibits homeless and victim assistance programs from denying admission based on any age of a child member of the family
• Reforms one-strike housing admission/eviction laws
Foster Care
• Older youth face barriers to accessing foster care and adoption assistance services
• Foster care system ends services for youth too soon
• Foster care system discharge to homelessness
Foster Care Provisions
• Extends foster care maintenance through age 20
• Authorizes kinship guardianship assistance• Removes income as eligibility consideration
for foster care maintenance payments• Requires states to reduce incidences of foster
children going missing from care• Improves foster care case planning, discharge
planning, and judicial review of such plans• Requires GAO study on youth admission into
foster care
Foster Care Transition• Youth in transition from foster care
often lack family connections and supports
• Youth in transition from foster care often lack resources for basic needs
• Congress has established the Chafee program to facilitate foster care transition
Foster Care Transition Provisions
• Increases authorization level for Chafee program
• Extends eligibility for Chafee services, room and board, and education and training vouchers through age 24
• Ensures that that States inform Chafee youth of supports and services available through other programs
• Ensures equal opportunity for nonprofit providers to receive Chafee funds
• Strengthens evaluation requirement of Chafee funds
Child Welfare Status
• House– Reconnecting Youth to Prevent
Homelessness Act (Berkley-NV), 11/07
– Kinship Caregiver Support Act(H.R. 2188)
• Senate– Kinship Caregiver Support Act (S.
661)
Juvenile Justice
Juvenile Justice System
• Unaccompanied youth are at risk of contact with juvenile justice system
• Youth may run from juvenile justice placements
• Juvenile justice system discharge to homelessness
Juv. Justice Provisions
• Removes valid court order exception to JJDPA deinstitutionalization of status offenders core requirement
• Strengthens juvenile justice system case planning and discharge planning
Youth Offender Reentry• Youth discharged from juvenile justice
system often lack family connections and supports
• Youth discharged from juvenile justice care often lack resources for basic needs
• Congress has not established a program to facilitate youth offender reentry
Youth Reentry Provisions
• Authorizes formula grants to states for youth offender reentry
• States may use funds for pre-release services and post-release supports
• Offenders below age 25 are eligible
Juvenile Justice Status
• House– JJDPA reauthorization in 2008
(McCarthy, D-NY)– Youth Offender Reentry Act, 12/07
• Senate– JJDPA reauthorization in 2008
(Leahy, D-VT)– Youth Offender Reentry Act, 12/07
Public Health
Public Health
• Untreated addiction, mental illness, chronic diseases, and catastrophic health situations contribute to family breakup
• Unaccompanied youth are at high risk of physical and mental health problems
SA/MH Provisions
• Prohibits treatment facilities from discharge to homelessness
• Increases authorization levels for SAMHSA substance abuse and mental health programs
• Includes unaccompanied youth as special population within SAMHSA youth programs
Medicaid/Access Provisions
• Extends Medicaid to youth through age 24 up to 300 percent of FPL
• Restricts premiums and co-pays for youth through age 24 below 200 percent FPL
• Requires states to provide Medicaid to transitioned foster youth through age 24
• Requires states to remove barriers for unaccompanied youth to Medicaid
• Sense of Congress that states shall permit unaccompanied youth access to health services without parent consent
Public Health Status
• House– HART Act (H.R. 4129, Solis (D-CA)
and Ramstad, R-MN))
• Senate– SAMHSA reauthorization
legislation under development
Education
Secondary Education
• Unaccompanied youth face barriers to enrolling, attending, and succeeding in secondary education
• Congress has established the McKinney-Vento program to remove such barriers
Secondary Ed Provisions
• Requires LEAs strategies to address unaccompanied youth participation in extracurricular activities
• Requires LEAs to permit unaccompanied youth to make their own educational decisions
• Waives school fees for homeless children and youth
• Requires liaisons to develop policies for managing school participation of unaccompanied youth
Secondary Ed Provisions
• Requires LEAs to accept for credit full or partial coursework completed in other jurisdictions
• Increases authorization for EHCY program
• Requires federal afterschool grantees to ensure enrollment, participation, and success of homeless students
• Authorizes grant program focused on truancy
Postsecondary Education
• Unaccompanied youth face barriers to enrolling, attending, and succeeding in postsecondary education
• Very little support available for homeless students at postsecondary level
Postsecondary Ed Provisions
• Qualifies homeless, foster care, and juvenile justice youth as independent students for purposes of FAFSA
• Includes disconnected students as special consideration populations in TRIO and GEAR UP programs
• Authorizes grants to higher education institutions for comprehensive support services for disconnected students
Postsecondary Ed Provisions
• Authorizes grants to higher education institutions for provision of temporary housing to homeless students during periods when student housing is closed
• Authorizes student loan forgiveness for employees of runaway and homeless organizations
Education Status
• Place to Call Home Victory! – FAFSA Fix for Homeless Kids Act (PL 110-84)
• House– Homeless Education Improvement Act
(H.R. 3205)– No Child Left Behind Reauthorization– Higher Education (HEA) Reauthorization (H.R.
3147)
• Senate– NCLB Reauthorization– HEA Reauthorization (S. 1642)
Workforce Investment
Workforce Investment
• Unaccompanied youth require income in order to secure housing and other basic needs
• Unaccompanied youth face barriers to workforce services and to employment
Workforce Provisions
• Extends age of youth for WIA youth programs through age 24
• Adds runaway and homeless youth organizations to WIA youth councils
• Requires local WIA agencies to permit unaccompanied youth to participate in WIA services without parental consent
• Adds homeless youth as target group for eligibility in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Workforce Status
• House– Reconnecting Youth to Prevent
Homelessness Act (Berkley-NV), 11/07
– WIA Reauthorization
• Senate– WIA Reauthorization
Young Family Support
Young Family Support
• Young families require income in order to secure housing and other basic needs
• Minor parent families face additional barriers to TANF programs beyond those facing adult heads of household
Young Family Provisions
• Requires states to develop strategies to address the unmet service and living arrangement needs of teen parents
• Requires states to establish transitional compliance periods for minor parent education and training and minor parent living arrangement TANF rules
• Establishes TANF sanctions protections procedures for teen parents
• Ensures the provision of appropriate alternative living arrangements for minor parents unable to live at home
• Ensures states consult with minor parents about their preferred living arrangements
Young Family Provisions
• Permits minor parents to appeal state selection of alternative living arrangement
• Commences the lifetime limit on TANF assistance for teen parents completing education and training requirement at age 20, rather than at age 19
• Requires HHS to conduct studies of TANF and teen parents
• Requires states to establish policies and procedures to facilitate homeless family access to child care
Young Family Support Status
• House– Reconnecting Youth to Prevent
Homelessness Act (Berkley-NV), 11/07
• Senate– No action pending
Immigration
Immigration
• Undocumented, unaccompanied children and youth need special protections within the nation’s immigration system
Immigration Provisions • Establishes procedures for handling
unaccompanied alien children when found at border or port of entry
• Establishes conditions of care and custody of unaccompanied alien children within interior
• Establishes order of preference for placing unaccompanied alien children with relatives and licensed facilities
• Establishes standards of placement for detained unaccompanied alien children
• Establishes Sense of Congress not to repatriate children into life threatening settings
• Authorizes DHS to establish a child advocate program for unaccompanied alien children
Immigration Provisions
• Ensures access to counsel for unaccompanied alien children
• Preserves law enforcement authority to investigate and prosecute crimes in which the unaccompanied alien child is a victim or witness
• Strengthens polices for permanent protection of alien children
• Provides training for officials and private parties who come in contact with unaccompanied alien children
• Ensures training for officials and private parties in handling children’s asylum claims
Immigration Status
• House– William Wilberforce Trafficking
Victims Protection Act (H.R. 3887)– Immigration reform legislation
• Senate– Unaccompanied Alien Child
Protection Act (S. 844)– Immigration reform legislation
Building a Place to Call Home
Building A Place to Call Home
• Permanency plan in place• Homebuilders identified• Foundation poured• Bricks are being laid!
Be a Homebuilder• Learn more about the Place to Call Home
Campaign and the Place to Call Home Act• Endorse the Campaign and/or the Act• Urge U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor the
Place to Call Home Act (H.R. 3409)• Be a “homebuilder” in your local community
Please Join us in Building a Place to Call Home for the Nation’s Unaccompanied Youth!
NN4Y Contact Information
National Network for Youth1319 F St NW 603 Stewart StSuite 401 Suite 920 Washington DC 20004 Seattle WA 98101 202.783.7949 voice 206.382.4949 voice202.783.7955 fax 206.382.6072
Victoria A. Wagner, MA, President and CEO206.382.4949, ext. 2
Bob Reeg, MPA, Public Policy Director202.265.7271