Collaborating with and for Street Involved and Homeless Youth in Hamilton

1. Collaborating with and for Street Involved and Homeless Youth in Hamilton Building Resilience Through Collaboration conference November 4th, 2013 Presented by: Erika Morton

2. Presentation Outline • A “coming together” of community in order to build community and support with population of youth who are marginalized, highly vulnerable and excluded. • As well, to promote opportunities and resources as should be available for all youth to tap into their motivation, skills and abilities and build upon their resilience

3. Learning Objectives • Share processes for bringing systems and stakeholders together and developing models of collaboration • Inform on how community development work can improve the capacity of a community to respond to complex issues and trends • Discover ways to develop a comprehensive, coordinated continuum of care which responds to the unique needs of youth

4. Framework for Learning: Resilience • "In the context of exposure to significant adversity, resilience is both the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to the psychological, social, cultural, and physical resources that sustain their well-being, and their capacity individually and collectively to negotiate for these resources to be provided in culturally meaningful ways.“ http://www.resilienceresearch.org/

5. Framework for Learning: Resilience • This definition shifts our understanding of resilience from an individual concept, popular with western-trained researchers and human services providers, to a more culturally embedded understanding of well-being. Understood this way, resilience is a social construct that identifies both processes and outcomes associated with what people themselves term 'well-being'. It makes explicit that resilience is more likely to occur when we provide the services, supports, and health resources that make it more likely for every child to do well in ways that are meaningful to the individual, his or her family, and the community. In this sense, resilience is the result of both successful navigation to resources and negotiation for resources to be provided in meaningful ways.

6. Framework for Learning: Collaboration • “The term collaboration is used to describe a group of people working together to reach a common goal…An inter-organization collaboration brings together separate organization that share common goals, visions and strategies for action…” • Within the stage of full collaboration, a participative and inclusive planning process is developed in order to move diverse organizations and members towards collective action. This strategy is important as it helps members of the collaboration to build trust and find common ground (Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition-OHCC, 2012).

7. Stages of Collaboration

8. Factors of Successful Collaboration • Positive Change Makers • Shared Vision • Common Goals • Trust Building • Rapport/Relationship Building • Effective Communication • Planning • Commitment • Decision Making Process • Leadership • Technology

9. The Story of the Street Youth Planning Collaborative

10. Hamilton is a community with a large population of street-involved and homeless youth. • A snapshot of research on youth homelessness • 33% of youth have Major Depressive Disorder or PTSD • Up to 60% have multiple diagnoses • 20-40% of youth on the streets have fled homes following “coming out” and facing homophobia/transphobia • More than 50% report substance abuse • Youth experiencing homelessness have much higher rates of suicide attempts that less vulnerable youth • www.raisingtheroof.org

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Taking Leadership & Community Collaboration

15. Keeping Engaged and Making Progress • Addressing the Needs of Street-Involved and Homeless Youth in Hamilton (October 2005) • Strategic Planning Sessions • Monthly Planning Meetings • Dedicated Community Development Support

16. 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 • Action oriented and gets work done • Increase of the profile and community awareness around street-involved youth issues

17. Successes • HPS Project • Youth Outreach Workers of Hamilton project • Angela’s Place and Wesley Youth Housing transitional housing projects • 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

18. 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

20. Building On Our Collaboration How the SYPC is collaborating to address the housing needs of street-involved and homeless youth in Hamilton

21. Housing Matters • Housing as a “Door Way” • Mental health concerns • Addictions • Young parents • Youth Justice System Involvement • Lack of family support • History of abuse • Lack of income • Lack of life skills HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

22. Building Collaboration • 2005 - Addressing the Needs Report and Executive Summary • We learned about the housing needs, best practices and gaps in services • Also learned about the connections between the system of services for homeless youth and child welfare • 2008 - After Care Worker Project • SYPC and CAS/CCAS partnered for an aftercare worker project to support youth to maintain housing • Supported youth moving between the 2 child welfare systems

23. Building Collaboration (Cont’d) • 2008 After Care Worker Project Evaluation • The report captured the project’s successes and the need for services • 2009 - Building Collaboration Report • Identified strengths and areas for growth between the child welfare and street involved youth service sectors • A stronger partnership between the SYPC and child welfare agencies led to the development of a project that would bridge the gaps in housing support for street-involved and homeless youth

24. Youth Housing Support Collaborative Partners

25. Youth Housing Support Project: A Comprehensive continuum of Housing Supports for Youth

26. Successes • YHST model – flexible, community-based, resources, teamwork • Collaboration – information sharing, problem solving • Angela’s Place and Wesley Youth Housing Program staff – one on one support • Collaboration support

27. Successes (Cont’d) • Commitment to collaboration • Prioritizing youth • Engaging different levels of staff • On going communication • SPRC’s Collaboration Support

28. Challenges • Shortage of affordable housing stock • Income system with inadequate support • Sustainable Funding

29. Project Key Learnings • Commitment to collaboration • Prioritizing youth • Engaging different levels of staff • On going communication • Collaboration support

30. Collaboration Evaluation • How effective is our collaboration work? • How are we addressing the needs of street-involved and homeless youth in Hamilton

31. Applying the Collaboration Framework to the Youth Housing Support Project

32. The Evolution of the Collaboration Process • leadership in community, • appropriate membership, • development of clear roles, • open and frequent communication, • concrete and attainable goals and objectives, • clear decision-making process, • adaptability, • commitment, • self-interest, • unique purpose

33. Outcomes • Joint training and education • Team Building • Service planning (front line services) • Project development and enhancement • Relationship Building (across sectors) • Systems level perspective

34. Impact • High level of services for youth • Services that are connected • Knowledge sharing and relationship building = capacity building within services • Overall improvement to youth service system in the community • Reduced competition for resources

35. Youth’s Housing Progress • Interviews with 6 youth (and 1 infant!) about their housing journeys • http://youtu.be/CQHkx4BNV-U

36. SYPC Youth Leaders Panel • On being navigators and negotiators • Conor • Alex • Anna • Eve

37. A Tool Kit for Community Collaboration

38. 1. Identifying a Complex Issue • What it looks like • Impacting Individuals, Systems, the Community • Outcomes • Identify the specific issue • Start to build an awareness and profile

39. 2. Engaging Stakeholders/Investors • What it looks like • Bring together service providers, sectors, service users • Outcomes • Enhancing communication • Establishing a network • Relationship building

40. 3. Information and Knowledge Enhancement • What it looks like • Community based research • Outcomes • Fulfilling Knowledge gaps • Aware of scope, prevalence of issue • Platform for Action-build on strengths and address gaps • Evidence!

41. 4. A Plan & Action • What it looks like • A community plan, or strategic road map for next steps • Outcomes • Comprehensive approach to a complex issue • Concrete directions and actions to take • A workplan!

42. 5. Support and Resources • What it looks like • Stakeholders are engaged, either offering funding, resources, knowledge, commitment… • Community development support • Outcomes • Stronger ability to take action and make change and progress in the community

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

44. 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

45. THANK YOU!