Maryland Living Center Hastings, NE A HAND UP NOT A HAND OUT

Transcription

1 Maryland Living Center Hastings, NE A HAND UP NOT A HAND OUT

2 Where it all began CASA, HPS & Through the Eyes of a Child Initiative Team- Identified aging out foster youth as a highly neglected population Met with Linda Addison, Housing Development Corporation BRAINSTORM!!!

3 Housing Development Corporation Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Funding that would allow application of grants larger than $500K NSP3 Funds Available for Rental Projects Application was made and HDC was awarded approx. $1 million TOTAL COST OF PROJECT: $1.6 Million Additional Funding through NSP1 Funds- $400K Capital Campaign and Mini Grant Awards

4 Where to Build? Mary Lanning Hospital- Looking to sell or tear down old dormitory facility Built in the 1920s and over the years became a nursing dorm RENOVATION TIME! Bedroom Apartments 3 Offices- MLC Staff, Mental Health Providers, and Hastings Public Schools Community Room 2 Laundry Facility Areas Basement- Storage Lockers, Food Pantry, Clothes Closet

5 Need in Our Community Significant numbers of runaway, homeless, and street youth in Hastings. Since 2006, of the 999 youth who have aged-out, at least 200 have been homeless within 1 year of aging out (DHHS, 2011) The Homeless Outreach Liaison reported the following numbers to the NE Dept. of Edu. between 2007 and 2011: School year : 66 homeless youth and 18 unaccompanied School year : 59 homeless youth and 21 unaccompanied School year : 147 homeless youth and 38 unaccompanied School year : 210 homeless youth and 35 unaccompanied 70% Increase between and

6 Maryland Living Center Independent Transitional Living Center Full Time On Site Supervision months per youth Ages Functions of the Facility: Intakes on youth entering into program- Background checks, Urine Analysis, Basic Personal Information, Letter to the Program Upon acceptance into program- Contract, Lease Agreement, Daniel Memorial Independent Living Skills Assessment, Trauma Assessment

7 Finding Independence Available Services Mental health referrals Substance Abuse/Prevention Education Reproductive Health Education Parenting Education- Child Care Assistance Independent Living Skills Education- Fiscal management, hygiene, health, cleaning, Rent Wise, Insurance, etc. Requirements for Each Youth Work minimum of 15 hours per week Enroll in GED, post-secondary, or vocational training education program (if not enrolled- full time employment) Volunteer 3 hours per month in the community

8 Programming Transition to Independence Program (TIPS Model) Positive Youth Development Strength Based Futures Planning Prevention Skills Building Mentor/Relationship Building Problem-Solving Resilience Training Focus on transition domains (employment, career, education, living situation, personal effectiveness, and community life functioning).

9 Funding for Operation Costs Nebraska Children and Families Original Grant of $30K Families and Youth Service Bureau (FYSB) Grant 5 Years (renewable) $180,000 Each Year Mary Lanning Trust Sherwood Foundation Community Donations (churches, businesses, individual) Youth Required 30% Each Paycheck for Rent

10 Community Support Collaboration, Collaboration, Collaboration! Around 20 Agencies Have Offered to Partner In to Ensure MLC is a Success!!! Hastings College, South Central Behavioral Services, Central Community College, Boys Town, Workforce Development, Crossroads, Tenth Judicial District County Courts, US Bank, YWCA, Healthy Beginnings, Revive Inc, Hastings Public Schools, Vocational Rehab, Housing Authority, Hastings Family Planning, DHHS. Adopt A Room Campaign!!

11 Maryland Living Center Bring Awareness to the Issue! In October 2012, Maryland Living Center received the award of Project with the Most Impact at the statewide Through the Eyes of a Child Summit Chief Justice Heavican State of the Judiciary Speech MLC referenced as a project for the legislature to look at!