With Friends Inc Caroline W Looney MA MS

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With Friends, Inc. Caroline W. Looney, MA, MS, MHSA Executive Director

With Friends, Inc. Caroline W. Looney, MA, MS, MHSA Executive Director

About Us With Friends, Inc. is a private, non-profit, community-based organization which began in

About Us With Friends, Inc. is a private, non-profit, community-based organization which began in 1995 to specifically address the unmet needs and to make a positive difference in the lives of young people ages 10 -21 that are homeless, in crisis, or at-risk in our community. We provide residential care, counseling, and education, skill-building, outreach, follow-up and supportive services that focus on positive youth development programs goals including giving the young people the opportunities to learn skills and develop the assets they need to resist high risk behaviors and succeed in life. Services are provided FREE to every youth and family. With Friends, Inc. serves: Ø Gaston Ø Cleveland Ø Lincoln Ø Mecklenburg Ø Stanley Ø Iredell Ø and Union Counties

FULFILLING A NEED Seeing a need for transitional living programs for young men between

FULFILLING A NEED Seeing a need for transitional living programs for young men between the ages of 18 -21, With Friends started the Transitional Living Program (TLP) in 2005. This programs sole purpose is helping young people, who are homeless, transition to adulthood. With the rapid growth of this program, With Friends has two (2) properties for housing. The Transitional Living Program goals, objectives and activities enhances With Friends’ capacity to effectively address the service needs of homeless youth and fulfill the legislative purposes set forth in the Runaway & Homeless Youth Act by: • Providing stable, safe living accommodations while a homeless youth is a program participant; • Providing the services necessary to assist homeless youth in developing both the skills and personal characteristics needed to enable them to live independently; • Providing education, information and counseling aimed at preventing, treating and reducing substance abuse among homeless youth; • Providing homeless youth with appropriate referrals and access to medical and health treatment; • Providing the services and referrals necessary to assist youth in preparing for and obtaining employment • Providing the services and referrals necessary to assist youth in preparing for and obtaining secondary, and where feasible, post-secondary education and/or vocational training.

With Friends Transitional Living Program is the only program in Gaston and surrounding counties

With Friends Transitional Living Program is the only program in Gaston and surrounding counties where homeless youth have direct access to shelter, food, counseling, education, skill building, case management, outreach, follow-up and referral services that focus on positive youth development.

Adams’ House Transitional Living Program Independent Living Program providing the tools for self-sufficiency

Adams’ House Transitional Living Program Independent Living Program providing the tools for self-sufficiency

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM Adjusting to adulthood and independence can be particularly difficult for

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM Adjusting to adulthood and independence can be particularly difficult for young people who are homeless * These young people are often homeless at no fault of their own. Some are leaving the foster care system and others cannot return home or to other safe living arrangement with a relative * Homeless youth are in need of a support system that will assist them in making the transition to adulthood and independent living SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Eligibility v Single Male Youth v Must be homeless v Must be 18 -21

Eligibility v Single Male Youth v Must be homeless v Must be 18 -21 years old v Must be motivated to become self-sufficient v Must be willing to abide by all program rules v Must be willing to gain and maintain employment

Supportive Services v v v Transitional Housing Basic Life Skills Counseling Education Case Management

Supportive Services v v v Transitional Housing Basic Life Skills Counseling Education Case Management Employment Assistance Budget & Money Management Peer Support & Advocacy Transportation Assistance Service Linkage & Referrals Follow-Up & After Care Family Involvement

PROGRAM GOALS EDUCATION Education is the single most important component of this program. Each

PROGRAM GOALS EDUCATION Education is the single most important component of this program. Each young person will obtain a High School Diploma, GED, or attend college. There is no substitute for education EMPLOYMENT & SELF-SUFFICIENCY Youth will participate in career exploration, job preparation, maintenance and retention training, dress and grooming, resume writing, interviewing and workplace expectations BUDGET & MONEY MANAGEMENT This skill is critical to the young person’s ability to maintain stable housing. Skills will include how to prepare a budget, grocery shopping with cost saving techniques, savings accounts, paying bills, check writing and filing out an income tax form ACCESS PERMANENT HOUSING Several types of living arrangements will be explored with each young person including: apartments, live-in roommates, boarding homes, shared homes public or subsidized housing. Each youth will sign their own lease. SELF-SUFFICIENCY

4 LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE P R O G R A M LEVEL I Orientation:

4 LEVELS OF INDEPENDENCE P R O G R A M LEVEL I Orientation: Intake/Education a. Social Services b. Health c. Education d. Community Service e. Skill Building LEVEL II Intermediate: Employment/Money Management a. Employment b. Money Management c. Community Service d. Skill Building LEVEL III On the Go: Transportation a. Transportation b. Community Service c. Skill Building LEVEL IV Phase Out: Permanent Housing/Exit a. Permanent Housing b. Community Service c. Skill Building

Calls are coming in…

Calls are coming in…

Issues/Barriers Street Outreach Program released a data collection study, the first of its kind

Issues/Barriers Street Outreach Program released a data collection study, the first of its kind published April 12, 2016. This data study revealed: • average youth spent 2 years living on the streets; • more than 60% were raped, beaten up, robbed, or otherwise assaulted; • nearly 30% identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual, and nearly 7% identified as transgender; • and about half had been in foster care. The most commonly reported reason for becoming homeless the first time was: • being asked to leave by a parent or caregiver (51. 2%), • unable to find a job (24%), • physically abused or beaten (24. 7%), • problems in the home due to a caretaker’s drug or alcohol abuse (22. 6%). More than half of the participants had slept or rested outside on a street, in a park, or on a bench (51. 8%). Almost one-quarter of participants (24. 1%) had “agreed to be sexual” with someone in exchange for a place to spend the night. Victimization while homeless was a common occurrence – 60. 8% had experienced at least one type of victimization (beaten up, assaulted, or robbed).

HUNDREDS on the Waiting List

HUNDREDS on the Waiting List

Needs Issues/Barriers: Ø 750 youth are homeless in Gaston County Schools, 9/21/16 Ø North

Needs Issues/Barriers: Ø 750 youth are homeless in Gaston County Schools, 9/21/16 Ø North Carolina is ranked the 3 rd worst state for human trafficking while statistics show that 1 in 3 homeless youth will be picked up by a pimp or sold within 48 hours of becoming homeless. Ø Youth are the fastest growing homeless population with North Carolina ranked the 35 th worst state out of 50. Ø In January 2015, a single ‘point in time count’ showed there were 194, 302 homeless youth, representing 33% of the total homeless population in North Carolina. Ø According to an article in the Gaston Gazette on March 21, 2015, Numbers of Homeless Students Surprising: 600 youth in Gaston County don’t have permanent home or living situation. Ø Youth are aging out of foster care

Ways to Help • • • Preventing youth homelessness and reuniting families Ensuring education

Ways to Help • • • Preventing youth homelessness and reuniting families Ensuring education and employment opportunities Mobilizing philanthropists Turning social-service “silos” into systems Sending strong messages Funders, agencies, and elected officials need to form a Youth Homelessness Task Force to develop a systems model that will unite different funders with different social services in a coordinated effort to stabilize homeless youth.

CONTACT INFO Caroline W. Looney, MA, MS, MHSA Executive Director With Friends, Inc. 2098

CONTACT INFO Caroline W. Looney, MA, MS, MHSA Executive Director With Friends, Inc. 2098 Keith Drive Gastonia, NC 28054 Phone: 704 -691 -7116 Fax: 704. 691. 7315 www. withfriendsinc. com clooney@withfriendsinc. com

Why be alone when you can be “With Friends”

Why be alone when you can be “With Friends”