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League of Women Voters® of Deschutes County |
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Evaluating Initiative Petitions
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HOMELESS YOUTH CONSENSUS MEETING
About 15 members attended the Homeless Youth meeting held at Beth Bolles’ home on Thursday, November 16th. We thank Beth for providing such a pleasant setting and beverages for our brown bag lunch. There was lively participation in discussion of the consensus questions, with background information presented by members Diane Beathe, Dolores Ellis, Anita Elliot and Pat Gibson. A summary of the discussion follows: We agreed that although parents are legally responsible for their children, community and government services should work to alleviate the needs of homeless youth. The group felt that virtually all the support services suggested are needed to help families stay together and prevent youth homelessness. These include family crisis counseling, relief nurseries and child care for low-income parents, parenting education, especially early help with parenting skills, mental health and addiction services, etc. We noted that inadequacy of low income housing was cited by many of those agency persons we interviewed as most important to alleviate, and relief nurseries and child care for parents who cannot afford it.
It was believed that funding sources for preventive and supportive services for families should primarily come from the state and federal governments. Block grants are given to states, but local government should do the decision making as to what is needed. Nonprofits need more donations. Commission of Children and Families is good for local services’ coordination.
The primary services that are needed by these young people (those who do not qualify for foster care) should include assistance in finding jobs [part time] and training; also a need for sessions on learning life skills such as interviewing, handling checkbooks, etc Both government and nonprofits should be responsible for funding homeless services, with the Federal government primary, but the local government to make decisions where and for what the $$$ are needed.
Services for homeless youth should be supported, at least in part, by state funding, especially shelter facilities and should also include outreach staff to locate youth needing services and encourage them to use the services, one-stop shopping" - services and referrals available from one intake facility, independent living skills training, addiction and mental health services, and counseling. Programs need integration, individualization by need. No outcome data available to know what’s working! Funding fluctuations make it difficult to track. State funding for services to homeless youth should be allocated to each county according to population of children, but county allocations should also consider population density and unemployment figures. There was concern that using ‘need’ may become a political issue.
In order to develop into responsible adults, children separated from their families need .caring adults to offer sincere consideration and affection as well as discipline and education; and a good role model.
A sizeable population of homeless youth resists using services. Youth outreach workers look for street youth to encourage them to enter programs. The members thought this is an effective way to get needed services to homeless youth, but that there also should be use of peers to encourage use of available services. Also consult teachers and peers. Get to know and talk to homeless adults.
Our League members believe that the biggest gaps and needs for our population of homeless youth is adequate funding for current programs. There needs to be more coordination and integration of programs so that there is a ‘one-stop’ place to find all services.
At the local level, League members can support local programs and work on increasing awareness of the needs.
Thanks again to all who participated in interviews and work on this committee.
Marie Gibson, Chair
| Elk Lake with Mount Bachelor |