December 7, 2023, The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee

The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee

December 7, 2023

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Virtual WebEx - See below for meeting infomation

Agenda:

Open & Introductions
Goals of Subcommittee
Data Survey Results
Data Collection Update
Recruiting Youth of Lived Experience
2024 Subcommittee Goals
Public Comment
Closing

Meeting Information:

Meeting Recording

Meeting Minutes:

Open & Introductions by Tedd Peso
1. John Egan, DCFS
2. Johnna Lowe, CSH
3. Jennifer Parrack, IDOC
4. Wang Lau, OPEH
5. Eva Moore, IDJJ
6. Kylon Hooks, OPEH
7. Nick Johnson, Co-Chair
8. Ashley Bae, Division of Mental Health
9. Tyrie Fluker, IDJJ
10. Christine Hammond, OPEH
11. Tedd Peso, The Night Ministry
12. Susan Reyna, Covenant House Illinois
13. Niya Kelly, Chicago Collation for the Homeless
14. Nikita Robinson, OPEH
15. Sandy Godinez, The Harbor
Goals of Subcommittee by Tedd Peso
1. Our goals of the subcommittee are to support the systems of care, IDOC, IDJJ, DCFS, and DMH, around youth being discharged from those systems and housing stability post discharge. Review of the services provisions and discharge data. Analyzing the discharge data collected to determine recommendations that can be provided to the state that supports housing stability.
Data Survey Results by Co-Chairs and CSH
1. We previously discussed sending out a survey on how we can meet the legislative goals of the subcommittee. We sent it out a survey to the committee, and we received 6 responses. The service planning format currently doesn't have a focus on the year time frame for the youth. The primary focus is while the youth is in care. DCFS does have a different set up. Having those family service centers and particular staff that focus on housing placements for youth exiting the system of care is a huge takeaway. Having a wider perspective around what it would mean to collect data from the systems. One question asked was around the needs to collect data. We have discussed sending another survey out with some questions with more in depth. Another takeaway from the surveys received was that the relationships would need to change. Data collection and systems are not talking was noted.
2. Any questions?
  1. On the DCFS side, we still have ways to go around data collection. We could provide some information on some of our youth but not necessarily a year out.
3. One of the pieces that came about was not having a staff member to collect the data. The logistical administrative and financial side would need to be defined. Also, it is no platform that exist that is used across the systems of care. No system currently is available.
4. At DJJ, we proposed legislation, and it was passed for us to be able to provide services to youth post discharged. Money was included with that, and we are working on getting the position established.
  1. Yes, staffing being a huge issue was brought up as well.
5. It would be great if vendor staff did the discharged work if they could complete the survey, it would be helpful in providing a wider perspective.
6. Question: What are the four systems of care?
  1. Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Division of Mental Health, and Department of Children and Family Services.
Data Collection Update by OPEH and CSH
1. OPEH is interested in supporting and driving the conversations around how we stand up strong systems for data collection. During our preliminary view of data collected from our listening sessions the discharged data collection was not necessarily uplifted in those conversations. We look forward to having more conversations around collection of data.
2. Early on we had brought in Kevin Roth from OPEH, and he mentioned possibilities of looping in a university for the collection of data. Currently we are trying to determine if it should be a state platform or if it will be outsourced. Think it would be great if it was one system through the state so that the platform could collect data more easily. In understanding the mandate, we are struggling currently with the data collection and the gap that exists to obtain the data.
3. Very much for a stand-alone database, they are usually contracted through a vendor. A data entry system through the state that all four system could use would be good.
4. Yes, I support those conversations. It's a bit of a struggle of understanding who creates this new thing and who is the holder of it. Also have to think about privacy and general understanding for what the platform looks like.
5. Any questions or thoughts around data collection platforms?
  1. The funding piece comes to mind when thinking of a platform and the FY25 budget. Could this fit in the Home IL budget line item for FY25. Also, it's a group of private funders (funders to end homelessness) who may be a good resource to look at. Michael Reese, or other organizations may be good places to also look at.
  2. DCFS is spending billions of dollars to redo their information system. It's an unbelievably large amount of money to rebuild a system that would talk to each other. May want to do a survey on what each agency is doing for data collection and their IT on if the systems can talk to each other. Could be done in a way to respect privacy.
  3. Yes, we asked what they are using now but did not ask what it would take to get a build out for each system.
Recruiting Youth of Lived Experience by CSH
1. The committee has four slots for youth with lived experience to participate. We want to understand what we could do to have four youth actively participating in this subcommittee? What does recruitment and engagement look like?
  1. Having young people reach out to different providers throughout the US who are providing similar services to youth. It could be a great way to learn more about the providers and get more insight on what changes we need to make here.
  2. Leveraging job fairs could be a good way to expand our outreach. Could be good way to recruit and network with younger audience.
  3. Look at the colleges and high schools for recruiting. Having more like a mentorship. Asking someone who has been doing that for a long time may be helpful.
  4. Any providers who are currently working with youth that may be a good fit for the committee.
  5. We do know some organizations who have youth who are stably housed. Those in the transitioning housing. How would you support the young people?
    1. We have two youth that were appointed before the start of this committee and we discussed the goals, etc. They are receiving a stipend for participation. Talked about the committee, what it would mean to participate. In retrospect, having a deeper conversation on what engagement looks like. Figuring out what the support between each meeting could look like. The process isn't user/ youth friendly so that is another concern. Also talked about walking the youth through the application process, it has to be approved by the GO, and then do a training.
    2. May want to look at the time spent to complete the application, training since youth would not receive compensation. Mentoring would be great to support them. Suburban cook has a good youth program that may be a good model to look at. Also, can some of the state stuff be bypassed?
    3. Not certain on what could be bypassed or who would be the person of contact to find out.
    4. Think it would be great. But even financing them through the training based on the time we are asking from them.
    5. Currently have mentor programs that exist, but no current youth subcommittee mentor program. Would need to figure out what that would look like.
    6. For youth who age out of care we have money that we could look at. Starting to recognize that a stipend is not an effective way of engagement. Curious if any departments have had success in changing their requirements in contracts around hiring people with lived experience. Billing the department for the hours of participation and could be a very effective for participation.
    7. There are a lot of youth that have requirements for the youth have to get a job. But if we could package it in a way that youth would be interested. I know some people I could reach out to.
    8. When this subcommittee was created, we had put money aside for any youth who joined. Our way of compensating for those with lived experience, we used the national low-income housing threshold of the Chicago cost of living to pay an hourly wage. So, for prep-work, trainings, and other work-related things would be compensated. Can check with our development person to see where that is sitting.
    9. I recall having those conversations, and we also were talking about making sure that the youth can have the technology to participate. Stipends have been successful for us, the issue we have had is that their DCFS license still has high school experience required. It has not changed to lived expertise. We pay cash and so youth can use it as job experience.
    10. I had talked to David from SHPA, and he disseminates the stipends for our youth subcommittees, and other committees. Think the process has since changed. Having a mechanism that is more person centered of an approach around providing the stipend. Want to think of other ways that we can support persons bending to them not them bending to us.
    11. We had talked about a newsletter. Want to think of ways to do outreach in addition to the cut and paste approach via email.
    12. We included it in our last newsletter, and it is an OPEH email inbox that we could respond to.
    13. Could someone share the newsletter link? Some ways for engagement could include outreach to social workers, and local high school/ colleges who have clubs. Having a posterboard so people can see.
    14. Can we get people who are connected to subcontractors or youth specific organizations in our network to disseminate that.
    15. Do we need to know the compensation process look like before we get that out?
    16. Yes, both and. Put out as is and note that we are working on this.
    17. Will look into what the compensation currently looks like and will provide that information.
    18. Does it list out the expectations and the time required around participation?
    19. No, it currently shares the subcommittee composition. But no formal job description or any expectations of the role.
    20. Having that information would be very beneficial to open interest for youth.
    21. Yes, happy to work on that. The lack of transparency affects engagement.
    22. Would it be helpful to have a youth in person meeting that would be like a check in with state staff and youth? Meeting in person a couple times of year?
      1. Yes, I think that could be amazing. It would be a good way to have them engaged. It could be something that they look forward to.
    23. The potential shift from stipend to salary, then what does it look like so that youth are meeting every month. Would like to explore more state guidelines on supporting the youth engagement role.
    24. That would be really great. This committee comes from legislative mandate. What change could look like moving forward. Looking at funding coming from external entities could be helpful, so it doesn't go through all the state things.
    25. The way we have been describing this position feels like what me and the other youth are doing. Also did we determine if we are continuing this meeting?
    26. Yes, we will be continuing to meet and convene in 2024. Do we want to keep this meeting at every other month? Initially we met a few months in a row since it was a new committee. Curious if you all want to continue meeting at every other month?
    27. I am fine to meet every month or every other month.
    28. I have no say in it, but its new NOFO around youth and planning. I think there is more activity going on with youth. But whatever you agree to you could always change it. I would love to see more work in this area than not.
    29. Once every other month works. Other meetings can arise around the work. Figuring out what the subcommittee calendar is. If this time feels good folks, then we can keep it and add more meetings as we need to.
2024 Subcommittee Goals by CSH
1. Any 2024 goals that we can work on in the next year?
  1. Maybe to start identifying some youth homelessness services and providers throughout the country that could become good partners.
  2. Yes, that could begin. CSH is a national organization, and we can look at spreading that net. Would be a great idea. Learning of successful models that do exist.
  3. Have we tailored our message to the youth on what we are doing?
  4. No, not around recruitment.
  5. We should look at specifying what our messaging is around positions. Would we still look at youth participation once positions have been filled?
  6. We can work on that. Would be good to look at recruitment. Looking at the mandate, we have to have four youth with lived experience participating.
  7. Don't think it we have to reinvent the wheel based around recruitment. Seems similar to another committee I'm on.
  8. Yes, I will work on the role expectations and share that out to everyone.
Public Comment
1. Youth Homeless Systems Improvement, it's a new federal program that was released with the intent of using this funding opportunity to have a more unified approach addressing youth homelessness. Have heard that it may tie into the recommendations around the youth exiting the systems of care. What this group is doing and any feedback? How can we be helpful? One of the recommendations that is coming from this subcommittee's work that is being included into the Community Advisory Council on Homelessness' recommendations was around impacting the youth exiting the child welfare system into homelessness. Can we apply for dollars to help support that recommendation?
2. For youth homelessness demonstration grant, I worked with agencies who applied. I don't think that they have heard back.
3. I know about this grant, but it's a bit confusing to me. Not sure how they intend for people to use the funding. I did not necessarily connect the dots to this subcommittee here. I will have to look further into it. Was not aware that a state application could be more beneficial.
4. I have recently heard about this but have not had a chance to look into it. We will continue to explore that.
5. If I can, my team did a high-level summary that I can share.
6. When looking at infrastructure change for youth that could be a funding opportunity to look at.
7. It is due February 15th so if we are interested, we should move on it.
Closing
1. We do not have a February meeting scheduled. We will work on having those sent out.
2. If people are interested in doing this, we won't be able to wait until the next committee meeting. If we want to do this, we should look at scheduling a meeting almost immediately to look into that.
3. We can look at scheduling that meeting.
4. The entities from the Youth Subcommittee it would be most important would be the co-chairs and OPEH.
5. Yes, it was some conversations around leadership at DHS.
6. I think this is very important and I want to make sure we are connecting and moving forward. Happy to communicate.
7. Do we know who would have to complete the application?
8. I believe any 501C3. But I just want us to move on this.
9. Having that convening would be good.
10. What are the next steps?
11. I am happy to email those who have expressed interest and the committee. We can understand the next convening. Would include Kylon, Nick, Tedd in the next convening.
12. Great meeting. Want to reiterate the sending the survey to other staff who have a data focus as well as those who aid in the discharge planning.
13. All have a great holiday season and see you all soon.
14. Meeting adjourned at 11:30am.