Youth Homelessness - Life Skills - Minutes for Feb 2, 2012

Attended: Connie Ladd – Family Violence Project, Tony Veit – Kennebec Behavioral Health, Gloria Audet – Volunteer &Caring citizen, Ashalie Wark – Youth Move ME in Kennebec, Ruth St. Amand – Healthreach RSVP, Nancy Souza – South End Teen Center, Jackie Dupont – Hardy Girls Healthy Women, David Dickson – Captain of Salvation Army, Angela McMahon – LCSW at RSU 18 &Homeless Liaison, Audrey Booker – New Dimensions Credit Union, Caring citizen, Cindy Manson – Program Director of The Children’s Place at The Maine Children’s Home, Faye Nicholson – REM, Executive Director

~Introductions and recap of vision/goal of Life Skills Initiative

~Nancy Souza briefly explained YETE (Youth Empowerment Through Employment).

• presently involves Waterville School youth
• those in free lunch program eligible
• career exploration, work-ready skill development, employment in community
• incentives to complete program include: class credit, food, minimum wage, resume entry

~Ruth St Amand spoke about RVSP's Thresholds and Decisions program which teaches a five-step decision-making model to inmates who are within a few month of their release. Through their involvement in the program, Thresholds graduates have the chance to create better lives for themselves and a safer, more productive community for us all. RSVP has interest in exploring utilizing the Thresholds model with teenagers.

~Homeless youth often difficult to identify whether they are high-functioning students in school or fearful of being approached by adults in community.

~What are the life skills homeless youth need? Not clear/concise list. Unique to each youth and dependent on their challenges, age, length of homelessness, supports available before/during/after crisis. Could be as basic as: how to get food (shopping/cooking), medical attention, social etiquette, housing.

~How might Life Skills training be provided?
Must be safe, neutral location, teen-friendly, accessible by foot

• 2nd floor Mid –Maine Homeless Shelter? Not safe, teens choosing not to go to Warming Center
possibly due to feelings of safety
• KVCAP?
• Halcyon House? To far to walk
• The Maine Children’s Home (where YETE meets and TPSP program located)?
• Adult Ed with off-site location of classes? Connie Ladd has connections with Somerset County and Angela McMahon with Kennebec Adult Ed and they’ll look into possibility and report back to group
• same location where Clearing House is

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• Colby Cares group who presently work with younger kids
• church groups like Oakland Baptist Church which is already heavily involved with homeless youth through their Backpack Program
• Waterville Public Library’s career program (Donna Hamilton)