Early Intervention: Preventing Youth and Family

Homelessness

Lorraine Flores &Deryk Clark

Bill Wilson Center

Bill Wilson CenterBill Wilson Center’s vision is to prevent poverty in the next generation by connecting youth and families to housing, education, employment, and advocacy.

Bill Wilson Center has four over-arching goals that apply to all programs:

Every youth will have the skills to become a self-sufficient adult.Every youth who leaves an institution, a system, or the streets

will have a safe, stable place to live.Youth will become emotionally healthy, and will develop the

skills to solve their own problems.We believe in the power of the peer experience.

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Can homeless prevention and intervention services work

in schools?

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INDEED THEY CAN!

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Family Advocacy Services

Outreach to FamiliesPresentations to teachers/administration

Flyers to students to take home to family

Notices at Employment Centers

PTA presentations

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Target PopulationFamilies who are AT-

RISK of becoming homeless

Families who are homeless

Recent Immigrants who are at-risk of exploitation

Schools with highest poverty rates / free lunch programs

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Identify high need schools; complete

needs assessment

Work closely

with school staff –

develop MOU

Hire the right staff;

provide training on homeless

issues

First Steps

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Family Advocacy Services It is both a

PROGRAM and a

PHILOSOPHY

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•Intensive Case Management#1•Training of Teachers#2•Workshops for Parents#3

Application of FAS

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Intensive Case Management•Develop Action Plan with family – goals/barriers.•Warm hand-off to service providers both formal and informal supports.•Daily/weekly review of progress in person, by phone, in workshops.•Monitor linkages made.

Training of Teachers•Start training on the referral process before or as soon as school starts.•Focus on signs of homelessness in students, services available to students and families.•Give teachers handouts and schedules of trainings.•Connect often with school staff/teachers.

Parent Workshops•Financial skills.•Housing / legal skills.•Knowledge of educational rights of children.•Resources in their community.

FAS Services

FAS HistorySchool-linked Services – Social

Services/General Fund.$70,000 contract to serve 60 families with

school-age youth.Access to ESG funds for housing assistance. Collaboration with shelter providers and

school districts.MOU with school-site administrators.Connect with McKinney Vento Liaison

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FAS - How to Get StartedIdentify high need schools.Start with a school needs assessment.What do schools see as a need?Determine how many / what percentage of

student families need homeless prevention services.

Work closely with school administration to develop MOU and develop scope of service to be provided.

Hire the RIGHT STAFF!Train staff on homeless/employment/training

services in your community – develop working relationships.

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FAS School Sites Lincoln High School9th to 12th grades1,698 students67% Hispanic, 20%

White, 7% Asian, 4% Black

11% below poverty levelZip Code 95126Initial contact: school

estimated 35-50 families in need of services

Mt. Pleasant High School9th to 12th grades1,840 students69% Hispanic, 20%

Asian, 5% White, 4% Black

12% below poverty levelZip Code 95127Initial contact: school

estimated 50 families in need of services

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Lessons Learned with FASConnect with schools early and be persistent!MOU to be clear on school’s and FAS responsibilities.Set up training of teachers early to identify students /

families needing FAS services.Early on, send flyers home with students describing

service, workshop dates, contact information; post. Have knowledgeable staff – they need to know what

services are in your community.Build collaborative relationships with other

providers: shelter/food/employment/clothing/vouchers – formal and informal supports.

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Case Examples• Mother living with two kids in car: FAS arranged

shelter services for family, provided case management services, employment assistance, emergency transportation and clothing: With FAS support, mother found job and currently working with CM to finalize stable housing. Children going to school and doing well. FAS following case to ensure stability.

Ten people in one room: FAS assisted mother in writing resume, filling out applications, locating employment opportunities; mother able to secure full time job, was able to move out of crowded living conditions to 2 bedroom apartment with FAS assistance, two teen children staying at home now and attending school. Previously were “couch surfing”. FAS following case to ensure stability.

Can’t pay utility bill: FAS assisted parent in getting utility bill paid so lights not turned off. Providing case management services to support financial stability for family.

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School Performance OutcomeGPA of students in the FAS program moved their GPA averages by .5 over a 2 month period; with expectations of continued improvement – based on housing stability and support to continue with their academics.

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Parental Employment Outcome11 (or 37%) of parents did not report any employment issues, therefore did not require FAS assistance for employment. 11 (or 37%) of parent received employment supportive services are currently employed or gained employment; the rest of the parents (25%) are currently interviewing or job searching (with support from case manager) or receiving benefits (disability).

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Assistance OutcomeTypes of assistance received by families:

75% of the families received utility assistance, VTA Pass, food, transportation, and employment vouchers

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Housing Outcome

60% of the families received support to secure stable housing

7 families are working with case manager to secure housing.

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MORE OUTCOMES

84% housing stabilization 90% satisfied with services 80% employment rate56% of students improved educationally97% of parents surveyed for parent

workshops enjoyed workshops and gain knowledge.

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For more information contact: Sparky Harlan

Chief Executive Officer Bill Wilson Center

Sharlan@bwcmail.org www.billwilsoncenter.org

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References and Websites:

www.billwilsoncenter.org