Mockingbird Society

Navigation

• General

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Glossary of Terms
  • Links
  • Photo Gallery
  • Wish List
  • Jobs

• Mockingbird Times

  • About
  • Current Issue (PDF)
  • How to get Published
  • Mockingbird Times Archives

• ASK-Y

  • About
  • Meeting Minutes
  • Sealing of Juvenile Records Bill

• Mockingbird Family Model

  • About
  • Executive Summary
  • First Evaluation from the University of Washington (April 2004)
  • Second Evaluation from the University of Washington (September 2004)
  • Third Evaluation from the University of Washington (January 2005)
  • Fourth Report from the University of Washington (January 2006)
  • Fifth Report from the University of Washington (January 2007)

• Mockingbird Society

  • Board of Directors
  • Executive Director
  • Join Mockingbird
  • Indirect Cost Policy
  • Mockingbird in the News
  • Program Information
  • Training Institute

ASK-Y Meeting Minutes: 5/22/06

Present

• Mockingbird Society — Jim Theofelis, Lauren Frederick
• City of Seattle — Valerie Douglas
• Columbia Legal Svc. — Casey Trupin
• Northwest Network for Youth — Gary Hammons
• Teenhope — Rian Merrill
• UDSP — Laura Pritchard
• YouthCare — Curtis Knopf
• YWCA Works — Rhashida Brown
• 45th St. Clinic — Charlotte Tucker

Intro/Welcome

• Jim welcomed newcomers Rhashida Brown from YWCA Works and Laura Pritchard from UDSP.

HB 2002 Implementation

• There is not currently a plan to implement HB 2002. The first meeting of the Implementation Committee was held this month in Olympia. The meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend. At least one representative from each DSHS region attended. The meetings are not large. Rick Butt is the meeting coordinator.
• The hope of ASK-Y is that youth who turn 18 in June will be able to keep their placements until they start school in September, although there is no application or enrollment process yet.
• Some have asked if youth could receive the payment that would go to their foster parents for housing, and use that to obtain their own apartment while going to school. Jim stated that this is not in the spirit of HB 2002. HB 2002 would likely pay for foster youth to stay in a dorm or with a foster family while attending school.
• Rian asked if the payment would affect the financial aid received. Jim stated that as long as the money went to the foster family, it would probably not affect financial aid.
• The state has not made a commitment to have HB 2002 implemented by fall 2006.
• The bill is not applicable to youth who are employed when they age out of care, unless they also have a GED or diploma and plans for higher education.
• Chapin Hall research shows that youth who age out of the system and have a safe place to live have better outcomes than those that don’t.
• The group discussed putting more money toward safe housing, and less toward ILP programs.
• Casey reported that both the state and federal government have fallen short in their spending on services for transitioning youth. He will look into this and let us know what this means.

Local Advocacy Efforts

• Charlotte, Rian, and Valerie are discussing having a Homeless Youth Advocacy day that is aimed at the city and county governments. They are brainstorming and want input from youth about possible activities and issues. One option would be to have a round table discussion with a number of higher-functioning youth. They asked the SKCCH chair for stipend money for this effort, but there is little available.
• The group talked about obtaining funds from other providers like Pro Youth, or having Councilmember Rasmussen sponsor the event. They aren’t sure how much this would cost.
• Snohomish County has a youth advisory board that works well. Some county staff time is dedicated to that.
• Gary and Jim state that the group needs to start early when planning something like this, and they should figure out how much it would cost.
• Valerie stated that the group needs a clear vision and agenda for the day.
• Pro Youth could potentially move some of the funds used for their summer barbecue and put them toward this event.
• Valerie reported that Seattle must make $20-40 million in budget cuts for the 2008 budget, although at this time there is a surplus for one-time only projects for 2007. $1-2 million will be direct service budget cuts.
• Rian stated that we could focus our advocacy efforts around those cuts but should figure out who our audience is.
• Jim suggested that the group should finalize a budget and concept before approaching other organizations for funding and sponsorship.
• SKCCH will send out a call for committee members to plan this event.
• Laura stated that the UDSP would likely participate, if there was a solid plan in place.
• Jim stated that this effort would be most effective if connected to the Committee to End Homelessness, which is receiving a lot of attention right now. Fall would be a good time to do an event, coinciding with the city’s budget process. Neil Powers might be able to assist with planning.