R10 IL/TL Collaboration Initiative Conference Call
March 2nd from 2pm-3:30pm (Pacific)
Minutes
Updates/Developments
Pathways Conference Update and Pre-Conference Meetings/Sessions
Portland OR, May 17-19 at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Portland – Lloyd Center
1000 N.E. Multnomah
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 281-6111 - Fax (503) 284-8553
Designed for people who work with or care for youth in out-of-home care, this three-day conference brings together people who share a common goal: to enhance the quality of life of our nation's youth and their families by improving the quality of human services. This annual event attracts approximately 600 adult professionals from throughout the country who want to learn, connect, and renew their commitment to their profession. As a participant you will learn with and from others in this important field, make connections that will prove beneficial in your professional and personal life, and renew your commitment to providing competent, compassionate, and effective services to the youth and families with whom you work.
For those that have submitted plans for potential workshops for the Pathways Conference the final stages of selection are in place. If selected you will receive an email and then further contact information, if you are not selected you will be put on a hold list in case there are changes and additional speakers are needed.
As far as keynote presenters the selection process is still in review and will be shared as soon as final decisions are made.
The ILP/TLP forum
The ILP/TLP forum will include a collaborative luncheon with about 300 people. There will be two examples of collaboration taking place between the ILP and TLP in Oregon. It is once again requested that you share your collaborative effort so they can be placed on the web for other to see and they will also be packaged and disbursed at the luncheon. The form to use is located at the ACF website http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/region10/. Please have your collaborative efforts submitted no later than March 31, 2006 by close of business.
The IL forum begins at 9:00am on May 16th.
Northwest Network TLP symposium
May 16th there will be a preconference workshop for the TLPs, Northwest Network TLP symposium. Doug Tanner will be presenting, this will take place from 9:00am – 3:00pm, there is a $30 registration fee, and lunch is provided. Register early for more information http://www.nywy.org.Report on "It's My Life" Conference
Jim Theofelis, Executive Director of Mockingbird Society http://www.mockingbirdsociety.org/
Jim gave a brief overview of the Mockingbird Society, a youth driven advocacy coalition that works with homeless and former homeless youth. The Mockingbird Society runs a newspaper that is written by youth. The youth lead program has done a video about what it is like to work at the paper and be involved in the advocacy program. The Mockingbird family model was also presented at the conference (see website for more info on that model). Other workshops included topics such as queer youth and youth of color. Jim stated that one Native American youth that attended was absolutely amazed at seeing the amount of people of color that were in powerful positions.
Regina Louise, author of Somebody's Someone who was raised in foster care was a conference speaker. http://www.reginalouise.com/. As was Josh Ship who discussed obtaining a vision for yourself, creating it and making it happen.
Jim discussed House Bill 2002 which will change policy to allow youth to remain in foster care after the age of 18 if they are enrolled in college. Youth have been very involved in getting this legislation passed; it is now waiting to be signed by the governor.
Positive Youth Development
Steven Mullen, NRCWYD gave brief presentation on positive youth development. The four core principles that are the foundation of all of the resource center's work and trainings are; collaboration, cultural competence, permanent connections, and youth development. Steven gave the definition of youth development as a process which prepares young people to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood through a coordinated, progressive series of activities and experiences which help them to become socially, morally, emotionally, physically, and cognitively competent. Positive youth development addresses the broader developmental needs of youth, in contrast to deficit-based models, which focus solely on youth problems. (Approved by the executives of National Collaboration for Youth Members, March 1998)
Steven asked the following questions for thought:
- Name a significant adult from your adolescence with whom you had a positive relationship.
- What behaviors did the adult demonstrate toward you that made them important to you?
- How did you feel when you were around them?
- What did you learn about yourself from interacting with that person?
- What behaviors are you doing with young people that mirror this?
- What kind of an honor would it be to be named as a significant adult by a young person?
The outcome of having a significant adult allows youth to feel good, have connection as the adult takes time to spend youth the youth and makes them feel important.
Steven closed by giving the following;
Keys to Success
- Youth are in responsible planning and decision-making roles
- Activities meet real needs
- Adults and young people work together as partners
- Opportunities are provided for reflection and feedback on the program and on participant's personal involvement
- A commitment to support the youth participation process
- Roles are clearly defined
- The program establishes a positive peer group
- Opportunities are provided to develop skills
- Successes are acknowledged and celebrated
- The project is fun to participate in
The question was asked about how success was measured, if it was based on outcomes? Basically the answer was that it depends on the program, what the outcomes are, and what aftercare is provided. Back in the day, success was measured by numbers but it has changed and needs to be outcome based and service oriented as opposed to just numbers.
Jim, from Mockingbird Society stated that he has seen situations where funding sources and youth engagement project were in direct conflict in timeframes. Engagement of youth takes longer than the short term expectations the funding source may have in mind. A youth may be only reaching his comfort stage in 10-12 weeks and then is turned away because of the end of project.
Community Programs to Promote Youth Development, National Academy Press is a book that is full of evidence based research that some may find useful. This was suggested by Kathy Sutter.
There are various definitions of youth development, it is not adolescent development. Many systems have various definitions of youth development when doing collaboration be sure to get clear definition of youth so that everyone is on the same page.
Different Perspectives of PYD
Program View: Outside In
Heather Brown with Outside In, a program that works with homeless youth age 18-21, offered the perspective of how their
program utilizes positive youth development. Outside In offers services such as case management, mental health, employment
programming, educational programming, and housing assistance. Evidence of positive youth development within their program
is seen by:
- Youth being on hiring boards
- youth forums
- ad hock work, not all group work
- how youth are incorporated into their individual service planning
- youth may actually be hired into staff roles
The key is to take the positive youth development philosophy and incorporate into daily practice, use of a client centered and individual approach. Programs need to focus opportunities of youth/adult partnerships on supports geared to youth needs, and keeping in mind that there may have to be some accommodation for those needs. There may have to be some work done with the adults that are going to work within youth/adult partnerships in preparing them in working with youth. Build trusting relations between youth and adults. Make connection and when youth are ready to take on more it is important to know when to let go, back away while offering support that is needed.
Casework View: Rosemary Iavenditti
Rosemary talked about Oregon's use of Youth Decision Meetings. These meeting are utilized with youth around age 16 and look at needs for transition, education, mental health, ETV, etc. Involved in the meeting are youth chosen adults that are in a supportive role to the youth. The goal is to empower the youth. These meeting currently are not being held on a regular basis although few counties are using it more regularly than others.
Question was asked; how as an agency do you keep employees thinking within the framework of positive youth development?
Answer; it has to be embedded into the infrastructure of the agency, its values, policy/procedures, and in practice. A strengths based approach need to me maintained. Language within policy and contracts need to need to be youth development friendly. And training for staff on what positive youth development really is.
State View: Rick Butt
Rick talked about the Youth Advisory Board for Washington, Passion to Action, which includes statewide representation by 20 youth ages 13-24. The youth advisory board is involved in policy making. Staff are not allowed in the process, a facilitator is/was utilized to help, train, and further develop the board. Youth advisory board members sit on a variety of committees within the Children's Administration; they give presentations; and have been featured in success stories for youth who leave care. The youth advisory board is also part of the Greater Seattle Alumni Network (GSAN).
Comments from Alaska on the Youth Advisory Board: Dot Douglas
Dot talked about the Alaska youth advisory board being youth run. They plan and partake in four statewide retreats. They have utilized the Better Together training. Dot reminds us that when youth are involved in agency meetings the meetings take on a different flavor. Alaska has a paid youth advocacy position.
Closing
Reminder of website and conference registration.
Judith thanked all those who participated on this conference call.
Posted on April 19, 2006.