Enhancing Services for Street-Involved Youth in Hamilton

1. Collaborating With & For Street Involved and Homeless Youth in Hamilton Coming of Age – Report Launch Presentation Presented by – Erika Morton Feb 24th, 2014

2. The Story of the Street Youth Planning Collaborative

3. There are at least 700 street-involved and homeless youth in Hamilton… • Addressing the needs of street-involved and homeless youth, who are also: • Pregnant and parenting • Aboriginal • LGBTQ • Newcomer • From a range of geographic communities

4. The SYPC Story • How we are doing Community Development work, Systems Integration and Systems Level Planning work in Hamilton • Which is to say that we are building the resilience and enhancing the capacity of the community to address the unique and complex needs of youth

5. Community Conversations & Relationship Building • Directors from street-involved youth agencies have a long history of ad-hoc communication • Over ten years ago, a group of service providers began meeting formally in order to address community gaps • Separated the directors and front line staff to enhance communication

6. Gathering Evidence & Information • The directors table partnered with the SPRC in 2004 to develop a community plan that would address the needs of street-involved and homeless youth • In October 2005, the Addressing the Needs document was released • The subsequent recommendation implementation phase helped us understand how the three stakeholder groups would work together

7. Getting Organized & Taking Action • Mission Statement: The SYPC strives to advocate for, support and facilitate an enhanced, seamless system of services for street-involved and homeless youth. Directors Committee Front Line Advisory Committee Youth Leaders Committee

8. Leadership in Community Collaboration for Youth

9. Key to our Engagement & Collaboration • Addressing the Needs of Street-Involved and Homeless Youth in Hamilton (October 2005) and Evaluation (August 2009) • Strategic Planning Sessions • Monthly Planning Meetings • Dedicated Community Development Support

10. Successes • The collaboration model-3 stakeholder groups • Commitment to systems planning; systems level perspective • Documentation of community conversations and use of research in work • Community development support • Increase of the profile and community awareness around street-involved youth issues • Enhance communication between service providers-address barriers • Share resources, projects, programs • Joint planning and program development

11. Successes • Youth Housing Support Project • Youth Outreach Workers of Hamilton project • Angela’s Place and Wesley Youth Housing transitional housing projects • Living Rock’s Weekend Open Access Support • The Addressing the Needs report and subsequent Interim Project Check-In • Increased capacity and training for front-line staff • Increased mental health services, including clinical services

13. Challenges • Time • Balancing inclusiveness and getting work done • Working with diverse agencies • A funding climate that expects collaboration but does not foster it • Meaningfully valuing the perspective of front line staff and youth

14. Funding Partner • Thank you to the Government of Canada for their generous support

15. Questions? • For more information about the SYPC or YHSP please contact me at: • emorton@sprc.hamilton.on.ca • 905-522-1148 ext 303 • Follow us on Twitter at @SYPCHamOnt

16. THANK YOU!