Opportunity Youth Needs Assessment December 2017 Coalition - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Opportunity Youth Needs Assessment December 2017 Coalition Supporting Young Adults Support Provided by the Community Foundation of Louisville

Made Possible by the Youth People from … Boys & Girls Haven Louisville Metro Youth Development Bridges of Hope Neighborhood Place Louisville Urban League Coalition for the Homeless Louisville Youth Group Family & Children’s Place Peace Ed Family Scholar House St. Vincent DePaul Jewish Family & Career Services TAYRLD KentuckianaWorks True Up Kentucky Youth Career Center YMCA Safe Place Home of the Innocents Youth Build Louisville Louisville Metro Baxter Community Center Uspiritus Louisville Metro Project Life Volunteers of America

Project Team Fiscal Agent : Matt Reed, YMCA Safe Place Project Director : Elizabeth Senn-Alvey, Emerging Workforce Research Principal : Stacy Deck, PhD, MSSW, Spalding University Research Coordinator : Cassandra Webb, Louisville Urban League Fiscal Mapping Coordinator : Erin Smith, YMCA Safe Place Research Assistants : Midaya Marshall, TreyVon Neely, LaDonna Kennedy Project Committee : Matt Reed, Nikki Thornton, Heather Dearing, Natalie Harris

Project Components 197 Youth and young adults at 24 events 61 Participated in 9 focus groups Youth Voice 117 Completed in paper/online survey 8 Interviewed for the video Interviewed community organizations Fiscal & Program Identified federal sources for disconnected youth Mapping Established process for ongoing tracking Membership survey Recommendations Work groups in education, employment, housing Strategic planning meeting

Core Questions 1. Who are Louisville’s opportunity youth? 2. What are the primary real-world challenges our youth face? 3. How does access to currently available services and systems compare with the needs of our youth? 4. What are the dynamics of local, state, federal and private funding to reconnect Louisville’s most vulnerable youth? 5. What are the collective, systemic and specific actions we can take to improve support to our opportunity youth.

Who are Louisville’s “Opportunity Youth”?

Approximately 15,200 (10.9%) of Louisville’s 16 to 24 year olds are neither in school nor working .

Number and Percentage of Disconnected Youth 2013 2015 total number percent of total number percent of disconnected 16 to 24 year olds disconnected 16 to 24 year olds Louisville 21,750 14.0% 15,200 10.9% Nashville 29,283 12.8% 22,000 9.3% Indianapolis 35,539 15.8% 25,400 11.1% Cincinnati 38,312 12.8% 33,400 12.4% Kentucky 81,850 15.2% 75,600 13.9% United States 5,527,000 13.8% 4,881,500 12.3%

15,200 16 to 24 year olds neither in school nor working 399 young people 14 to 18+ years lived in out-of-home foster care (Oct 2017). 971 young people (10 to 17 years old) experienced abuse or neglect (2016). 2,580 13 to 17 year olds were admitted for inpatient psychiatric treatment in Jefferson Co (2016). 5,026 Juveniles referred to court for criminal or status offense (2016). 3,649 Students were enrolled in JCPS district alternative schools (2016-17). 15,494 JCPS students in comprehensive high schools qualified for free or reduced lunch (2016-17). 2,591 High school students received ECE services in Jefferson Co Public Schools (2016-17). 1,538 JCPS high school students reported being homeless (2015-16). 443 Unaccompanied 18-24 year olds were living in emergency shelter, transitional shelters or on the streets (2016) 10,268 18 to 24 year olds have not completed high school (2015). 2,058 16 to 19 year olds were not in school and haven’t earned a diploma (2015). 54 Homeless young people (16 to 24) report they are a victim of sex trafficking (2017).

What are the real-world challenges our youth face?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxyUKvDHWzM

How does access to current services compare with the needs of our youth?

Youth Voice: Create more opportunities to… • Connect with mentors that are available as needed, particularly positive male role models. • Access effective treatment for addiction, depression, loss, trauma, and anxiety. • Learn practical skills such as how to manage money. • Find a job that pays family-supporting wages, offers consistent and adequate hours, and is accessible. • Get help with learning and focusing better in school. • Connect with positive peer networks that “really have my back”.

Youth Voice: Ensure programs and systems are… Flexible: Reduce barriers to participations in entrance criteria, scheduling, and policies for re-enrolling. Youth Friendly : Staff programs with consistent, qualified, and caring adults. Easy to Find : Promote effective programs and resources in multiple ways and several times. Lead by Youth: Create meaningful ways for young people to get involved in decisions that impact them. Reliable: Follow through on commitments. Let young people know their concerns have been heard.

Need this resource? Hard to access this resource on your own? Not an Resource No need at An important A critical Somewhat Somewhat important Very hard Very easy not all need need hard easy need needed 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 Need Access (reverse coded) 7.00 3.05 2.91 6.00 2.81 2.56 2.71 2.69 2.28 2.43 2.34 2.49 5.00 Summed Mean Ratings 2.22 2.21 2.38 2.10 2.26 2.21 4.00 1.84 2.00 1.87 1.93 3.02 3.01 2.97 2.83 2.77 2.75 3.00 2.65 2.46 2.42 2.30 2.22 2.08 2.01 1.90 1.86 1.83 1.65 2.00 1.63 1.62 1.53 1.00 0.00 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Potential Needs (See list in Table 5)

Five Most Difficult Top Five Needs Identified Top Priority Areas Resources to Access by by Young People (High Need/Low Access) Youth People 1. Transportation 1. Housing 1. Housing 2. Housing 2. Transportation 2. Transportation 3. Planning for the 3. College/training 3. College/training future programs programs 4. Financial resources 4. Financial resources 4. Financial resources 5. Getting and keeping 5. Food 5. Planning for the a job future

Disconnected Youth: How to Help ▪ Develop options for safe and affordable housing and transportation. ▪ Make resources (services, job opportunities, emergency help) easier to find. ▪ Help young people plan for their future. ▪ Connect youth with caring and consistent adults. ▪ Create meaningful ways for young people to get involved in decisions that impact them.

What are the dynamics of local, state, federal and private funding to reconnect Louisville’s most vulnerable youth?

Fiscal Map Next Steps 1. Complete the data base of programs, outcomes, and funding. 2. Increase the unrestricted fund, managed by the Coalition for the Homeless. 3. Fully fund public programs that serve vulnerable youth. 4. Establish an “Opportunities for Youth” Fund. 5. Explore options for collaborative funding.

What are the collective, systemic and specific actions we can take to improve support to our opportunity youth?

Coalition Next Steps 1. Develop a collaborative “opportunity youth” services funding strategy. 2. Strengthen cross-agency work groups in education, employment, housing and health & wellness 3. Address barriers to accessing services, particularly mental health, mentors, transportation, housing, planning for college/training, and high school credentials. 4. Develop opportunities for young people to be heard during institutional decision-making processes. 5. Advocate to make opportunity youth a priority in Louisville.

“ These young people want to be self-sufficient, contributing members of society. They are asking us for support and mentorship in finding their way along this path to success.” Stacy Deck, PhD Spalding University School of Social Work