MANY eMessages

MANY (The Mid-Atlantic Network of Youth & Family Services) designs its bi-weekly electronic newsletters to bring together those organizations and individuals who are interested in the development of innovative alternatives for youth and families, and in exploring new ways to provide high quality services.

MANY (MANY) is a regional network designed to strengthen and coordinate resources and services for youth and families in high-risk situations.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to your colleagues. Let us know if this newsletter is useful to you and how it might be improved to better serve your needs.

If you do not wish to receive this eNewsletter in the future, please reply with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the header.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008, President Bush signed into law S. 2982, the "Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008," which reauthorizes Federal funding for grant programs that provide services to runaway and homeless youth and their families; and modifies program requirements relating to eligibility, performance standards, and other matters. Courtesy of the Congressional Research Service, key components of this act include:

Section 3
Amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to revise requirements for services provided under grants from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for centers for runaway and homeless youth and their families. Limits the length of stay in such a center to 21 days.
Increases grant minimum allotments from $100,000 to $200,000 for states and from $45,000 to $70,000 for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Requires the plan proposed by grant applicants for a runaway and homeless youth center to include an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

Section 4
Revises requirements for transitional living programs. Specifies that shelter may be provided by contract and that services to homeless youth may be direct or indirect.
Increases the length of continuous stay in such programs from 540 days to 635 days.
Requires a transitional living program also to develop an adequate emergency preparedness and management plan.

Section 5
Requires the Secretary to give priority (currently, special consideration) to grant applicants for specified research, evaluation, demonstration, and service projects regarding runaway youth and homeless youth.
Requires the Secretary to give special consideration to proposed projects relating to: (1) behavior (currently, mental) health care for runaway and homeless youth; (2) access to educational and workforce programs to achieve outcomes such as decreasing high school dropout rates, increasing rates of attaining a secondary school diploma (or equivalent), or increasing placement and retention in postsecondary education or advanced workforce training programs; and (3) programs, including innovative programs, that assist youth in obtaining and maintaining safe and stable housing (which may include programs with supportive services that continue after the youth completes the remainder of the programs).
Requires the Secretary to ensure that selected grant applicants: (1) represent diverse U.S. geographic regions; and (2) carry out projects that serve diverse populations of runaway or homeless youth.

Section 6
Requires the Secretary to report periodically to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate: (1) estimates of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals between 13 and 26 years of age; and (2) an assessment of the individual's characteristics.

Section 7
Requires the Secretary to: (1) give priority to public and, as under current law, nonprofit private agencies for sexual abuse prevention programs; and (2) conduct, directly or through grants or contracts, a national homeless youth awareness campaign. Specifies the use of, and prohibitions on, the obligation and expenditure of funds for such campaign.

Section 10
Requires the Secretary to establish performance standards for grant recipients.

Section 1
Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to specified congressional committees on the processes for making grants under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.

Section 12
Redefines "homeless youth" for purposes of transitional living programs to extend the age limit to 21. Defines "runaway youth" as an individual under age 18 who absents himself or herself from home or place of legal residence without the permission of parents or legal guardians.

On October 8, 2008 President Bush signed into law H.R. 6893: Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. The act amends parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to connect and support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care and adoption access, improve incentives for adoption, and for other purposes. Courtesy of the Congressional Research Service, key components of this act include:

S. 3061: William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 would authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, and for other purposes. The bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the Senate as a whole.

Remember to go to the polls on Tuesday, November 4. In addition to selecting Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, you may need to vote on measures specific to your state. Visit your state’s election office website and search for a sample ballot so that you have time to consider the issues before November 4.

The Children's Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families contracted with Chapin Hall and other research institutions to evaluate select independent living programs for youth who age out of foster care. Two new reports evaluate a tutoring/mentoring program and a classroom-based life skills training program, both in Los Angeles County, California.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or Department), Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announces the availability of approximately $47 million in grant funds for YouthBuild Grants. YouthBuild grant funds will be used to provide disadvantaged youth with the education and employment skills necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency in occupations in high demand and postsecondary education and training opportunities; opportunities for meaningful work and service to their communities; and opportunities to develop employment and leadership skills and a commitment to community development among youth in low-income communities. Application Deadline: November 5, 2008.

Subject to the availability of appropriations for fiscal year 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service (the Corporation) announces the anticipated availability of approximately $68,981,000 to award new and re-competing AmeriCorps State and National grants. The grants in AmeriCorps State are: State Commission Competitive, Territories, States and Territories without Commissions, and State EAP. The grants in AmeriCorps National are: National EAP, National Direct, National Professional Corps, National Planning, and Indian Tribes. Application Deadline: January 15, 2009.

Join us in Annapolis, MD for MANY's 20th Annual Regional conference. Our multi-track program will include inspirational speakers, creative presentations, and networking opportunities for personal and professional growth. Come to share and learn from other programs and agencies committed to supporting the positive development of youth and families. The award-winning Westin Hotel offers participants a serene getaway in the heart of downtown Annapolis.

October 27
A Call to Action for Maryland’s Homeless Youth:Identifying a State-wide Agenda
Annapolis, MD

Maryland lacks the resources and supports needed for homeless and unstably housed young people across the state. We invite you to become part of the solution in creating a statewide agenda that addresses the comprehensive needs of this population and ensures no youth fall through the cracks.

Over the past few years, the Baltimore Homeless Youth Initiative has been exploring these issues and recently commissioned the Legal Aid Bureau of Maryland to write a report on the laws and regulations that contribute to youth homelessness. Many of these laws and regulations are state-based. This forum will provide the opportunity to learn how these issues impact youth across the state, to find out what people are doing in other jurisdictions and to build allies for statewide policy changes.

The Annual Family Support Conference began in 1994 to gather parents, family support staff, policy makers, human service professionals, community leaders, and other individuals committed to children and families to discuss issues and trends, hear new ideas in the field, and network. More information coming soon.

DIRECTOR, ACUTE CARE POLICY UNIT
The Hilltop Institute, Baltimore, Maryland

The Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to improving the health and social outcomes of vulnerable populations. The Director of the Acute Care Policy Unit provides leadership in accomplishing the mission of The Hilltop Institute and provides direction for the Unit's researchers and analysts.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePAC) is searching for a new executive director. The mission of WePAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-based organization, is to create and amplify the opportunities for children and youth in West Philadelphia. It achieves this mission by providing underserved children and teens with critical educational and out-of-school supports. The new executive director will be asked to strengthen WePAC’s present foundation, grow the current creative activities the community, staff and volunteers have built during its first five years, and to find the human and financial resources needed to address what everyone agrees local children and youth desperately need.

Minimal qualifications for the position include (1) a college degree; (2) five to ten years of post-college work experience in a field related to education, social work, nonprofit management, community advocacy, or social justice; (3) the capacity to work with and supervise men and women of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds; and most importantly (4) the ability to raise money from individual donors, private foundations and government. Salary and benefits are competitive.

To Apply: Send a copy via e-mail of your resume, a list of references and a cover letter to:
Sue Gibbons
Chair of the WePAC Executive Director Search
West Philadelphia Alliance for Children
E-mail: sue@wepac.org

If you would like to post a job opening in MANY'S eMessages,
please submit information to eMessages@MANYnet.org.

Mid-Atlantic Network of Youth & Family Services (MANY)
135 Cumberland Road, Suite 201
Pittsburgh, PA 15237

phone 412.366.6562
fax 412.366.5407
email MANY@manynet.org

Visit our website