The National Network for Youth

1. The National Networkfor Youth Victoria Wagner Chief Executive Officer

2. The National Network for Youth is dedicated to ensuring that young people can be safe and lead healthy and productive lives.

3. The National Network for Youth The National Network was started in 1974 by a group of community volunteers NNY was developed to give a voice to young people who had none.

4. The National Network for Youth Vision Weaving together a Safety net for America�s Vulnerable Youth Mission Championing the needs of runaway, homeless and other disconnected youth through advocacy, innovation and services-one community at a time.

5. The National Network for Youth More than 600 member organizations and 1,200 constituents involved in regional and state networks The National Network informs public policy, educates the public and strengthens the field of youth work.

6. The National Network for Youth Real contact with young people�s needs Youth participation Youth engagement Young people are in leadership roles through out the organization

7. The National Network Member Involvement The National Counsel on Youth Policy Made up of youth and adult members from across the country Set the Policy making agenda for NNY Opportunities to meet with congressional representatives and hill staff on critical issues

8. RHYA Legislative History 1974 Enactment Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Basic Center Program and National Communication System first authorized.

9. RHYA History 1992 Violence Against Women Act Street Outreach Program first authorized. SOP included in the base RHYA statute. 1992 VAWA Part of the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1992. Established a program to provide services to young people on the street to prevent their sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. 1999 Reauthorization RHYA reauthorization coupled with reauthorization of the Missing and Exploited Children�s Act, which is Title IV of the JJDPA. 1992 VAWA Part of the Omnibus Crime Control Act of 1992. Established a program to provide services to young people on the street to prevent their sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. 1999 Reauthorization RHYA reauthorization coupled with reauthorization of the Missing and Exploited Children�s Act, which is Title IV of the JJDPA.

10. RHYA is the Sole Federal Law Targeted to Unaccompanied Youth.  RHYA Projects are Facing Overwhelming Unmet Need. 740,000 homeless youth fy 07 only 7% provided shelter or Transitional Housing RHYA Projects are Cost Effective Alternatives to Custodial Care and Arrest. The average federal cost in Fiscal Year 2008 of serving a youth in a basic center of $1,254 TLP -$14,726 Child welfare or juvenile justice systems, with annual costs ranging from $25,000 - $55,000 per youth.

11. Programs work with community Partners Law enforcement officials are the referral source for 20 percent of youth entering basic centers. RHYA Projects Use Federal Funds to Leverage Community Resources. RHYA projects succeed due to partnerships created among families, schools, community-based organizations, faith communities, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and volunteers.

12. Basic Center Programs The RHYA Basic Center Program provides grants emergency and respite shelter for youth under the age of 18. The average age of children entering a basic center is 15 years. In FY 2008 371 BCP grantees supported 42,167 children and youth at an average cost of $1,254 in federal funds per young person.

13. The RHYA Transitional Living Program  Longer-term residential services (up to 21 months) and life skill supports Youth ages 16 through -21 In FY 2008 228 TLP grantees supported 3,554 youth at an average cost of $12,183 in federal funds per youth. .

14. The Runaway Prevention Account The RHYA Street Outreach Program to support street-based outreach In FY 2008 161 SOP grantees reached 741,037 youth at an average cost of $23.20 in federal funds per contact.

15. REAUTHORIZATION Authorized at a 35% increase for FY 09---but provides a bench mark for going forward Basic Center Program and Transitional Living Program- increased from the current $105 million to $140 million in FY 2009 and �such sums as may be necessary� in each of FY 2010 through FY 2013. � � The runaway prevention account (Street Outreach) authorized at the $25 million level in FY 2009 and such sums as may be necessary from FY2010 through FY 2013.

16. REAUTHORIZATION Increases the RHYA Basic Center Program allotments for small states and for territories. The minimum BCP allotment for states with small youth populations would be increased from the current $100,000 to $200,000. DC is an example of a small state with a very high need � U.S. territories increased from the $45,000 to $70,000.

17. REAUTHORIZATION Extensions of stays Allows extensions in length of stay in basic centers from 15 days to up to 21 days and in transitional living projects from 18 months to 21 months, due to exceptional circumstances

18. OTHER SIGNIFIGANT FEATURES Requires HHS to develop performance standards for RHYA direct service grantees Adds a finding on the applicability of positive youth development to the organization and delivery of services to unaccompanied youth. � Adds a statutory definition of �runaway youth� identical to the definition of such term in the Code of Federal Regulations.

19. Other features of Reauthorization Requires the GAO to assess the effectiveness of the grant-making process for runaway and homeless youth programs within 1 year of enactment of the law. content and structure of grant announcements the grant review process the selection of grant reviewers the oversight of the grant review process the timeframe and process for communicating to applicants about funding

20. Other Reauthorization features Includes educational and workforce development programs that reconnect youth to school, college, and labor under grants for research evaluation, demonstration and service projects. We were able to use this to effectively lobby to WIA funds more accessible for this population of youth

21. National Activities Requires HHS to develop a national estimate of the incidence and prevalence of runaway and homeless individuals between the ages of 13 and 25, utilizing specific expertise in quantitative and qualitative social science research. Requires HHS to establish research, evaluation, and demonstration priorities every two years and to provide an opportunity for public comment on such priorities.

22. NN4Y�s Policy Work Administration NNY to bring program management recommendations to administration for discussion and action. Congress Work with members at a grass roots level through alerts and communication with congress for initiatives

23. How we gather input Membership Input Opportunities Call for comment issued in Fall/Winter Network News/Policy Reporter. RHYA Dialogue Instrument distributed via Public Policy Update. Discussion within regional and state networks. Symposium workshops. On line surveys

24. NNY Advocacy Work involves Training of youth as advocates Calls and Letters from Member Agencies Hill visits by youth and agencies National Letters and Visits with other national groups Hearings and testimony

25. NN4Y has a good track record with policy work Successful track record on hill Membership with expertise on RHY and other youth issues Passion and commitment of leaders, board and staff Encourage and include youth as a resource Cutting edge programs; innovative and flexible Located in DC

26. Coalition Building Work with coalitions on a number of levels---example here with the advocacy efforts Social Capital as a Key Principle- connections within and between social networks as well as connections among individuals. A charismatic organization attracts people by achieving powerful results and building a community that others want to join.

27. Social Capital and Marketing Social Capital refers to a network of relationships that yield benefits to those who are part of the network: community of staff, donors, volunteers, and friends who can provide access to other social networks. Social marketing is the systematic application of marketing along with other concepts and techniques to achieve specific behavioral goals for a social good. Social marketing can be applied to promote causes

28. Building alliances for youth Effective work with other coalitions and constituent groups embodies the principles of social marketing and social capital

29. The National Network for Youth Giving homeless youth a voice