Youth Count Meeting

Wednesday, December 7, 3:00pm

CAFTH Offices

Attendance:

Robert Blaudow, Southwest Tennessee Community College

Dana Brooks, CAFTH

Kellie Cole, CAFTH and MSFI

Jess Croslow, Workforce Investment Network

Beth Erb, Goodwill

Melody Freeman, Youth Services, WIN

Sheleah Harris, Living Grace Ministries

Stephanie Reyes, OUTMemphis

Darrell Scott, Workforce Investment Network

Aaron Davis, MSW Intern, OUTMemphis

Sarah Hairston, MSW Intern, CAFTH and MSFI

The meeting opened at 3:00pm. Kellie Cole facilitated the meeting.Kellie gave an overview of what a Point-In-Time (PIT)count is and the requirements for HUD funds. She also gave information about Community Alliance for the Homeless as the lead agency for the Continuum of Care (CoC) in Memphis and Shelby County.

Dana Brooks then gave a presentation of the requirements from HUD around surveying individuals experiencing homelessness. She indicated there are two main systems in Memphis that serve the homeless population: one for families and one for individuals. CAFTH is making a coordinated effort to include young adults, ages 18-24, as a specific subset under the individuals system.

HUD requires that any city/area must adopt a common assessment tool to be used by all agencies in that area. Memphis and Shelby County adopted the Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assistance tool (VI-SPDAT) as the assessment of choice. In conjunction with the VI-SPDAT, there is the Vulnerability Index for Transition Age Youth (VI-TAY). The survey is set up so all the information can be entered directly into the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). The 2017 Youth PIT Count must use the VI-TAY in order to meet HUD requirements and provide information in order to receive funding.

Kellie stated there is the possibility to add screening questions to the beginning of the 2017 Youth Count survey. Dana verified that this is ok, more information can be added to the survey, however, nothing can be removed from the VI-TAY (respondents may still choose to refuse to respond to a question). This will allow volunteers to screen young adults who are not homeless out of the Youth Count without “outing” those who are experiencing homelessness. Dana and Tanyce provided all the necessary information for the time being and left the meeting.

Kellie then opened the meeting to introductions. She also gave an overview of the Adult PIT count and this committee’s efforts around the Youth Count. The PIT count will be Wednesday, January 25 beginning at 4am. Volunteers will spend time surveying any and all willing participants around their experience of homelessness. The Youth PIT Count will be held Saturday, January 28. There are two main components: a Come and Be Counted event and satellite survey locations throughout the city.

The Come and Be Counted event will be held at the Cossitt Library on Saturday, January 28 from 11am-2pm. There will be volunteers there to survey youth/young adults. The committee is also reaching out to various agencies to set up tables and provide services for the event. Presently committed agencies include Planned Parenthood, A Step Ahead Foundation, Family Safety Center, and cosmetology professionals to give haircuts. Beth Erb, Goodwill, committed Goodwill to being involved, after discussion with fellow staff. Jess Croslow, WIN, committed Workforce Investment Network to being present as well.

WIN, in conjunction with the City of Memphis, is prepared to do media blasts and advertising to get the word out about the event and the need for volunteers. They are also willing to provide significant financial support for the event. WIN is driven to serve homeless youth ages 16-24 so their organization will definitely support the 2017 Youth Count. WIN will also be present as an agency at the Come and Be Counted event and plan to bring a number of wraparound services available under their agency, including the youth services department, career services department, business department and interagency work with the City of Memphis. Melody Freeman, WIN, is researching options of items that WIN can purchase to support gift bags at the event. WIN also has several new service contractors coming Their executive director is also reaching out to Mayor Jim Strickland to provide support. Kellie asked if she and Jess could meet to ensure communication efforts to the Mayor’s office were coordinated between WIN and CAFTH.

Rob Blaudow, Southwest Tennessee Community College, mentioned that there are students who receive the Tennessee Promise scholarship, which has service requirements for all recipients. He indicated that some of these students may still have hours needed to meet their requirements. He will get more details so that these students may be available as volunteers for the Youth Count.

Kellie moved the discussion to volunteer information and information needed for the flier. We will need the number of locations and number of volunteers needed. Herman Dickey, CAFTH, will be putting the flier together, as well as organizing the volunteer registration on CAFTH.org. CAFTH will be hosting at least 3 trainings for volunteers for the Adult PIT count. This will help volunteers around sensitivity with surveys, as well as safety rules. The Youth Count volunteers will be able to attend these trainings. Kellie also mentioned being able to host brief trainings on Saturday, January 28 before the event begins, in case volunteers are not able to attend other sessions.

Jess asked if these trainings could be electronic. Kellie said that portions might be able to be, including videos around the VI-SPDAT/VI-TAY. However, hard copies of signed volunteer waivers are required, so volunteers will need to be at some form of training. Kellie will push for at least some part of the training to be electronic.

Discussion then turned to locations for the satellite surveys. Stephanie Reyes, OUTmemphis, mentioned that there was some insight around adding satellite locations on local college and university campuses. Young adults experiencing homelessness may also be students and we can engage them directly there. However, these satellite locations potentially have a better chance of success doing the surveys on Wednesday, January 25, as more students will be present. Darrell Scott, WIN, agreed with this method and date. Aaron Davis, OUTmemphis MSW intern, has been researching who to contact at colleges in order to ensure we can be present on campus doing surveys. Additionally, he is in contact with MSW students who are active in the student organization, GO!SW and Stonewall Tigers, the University of Memphis’ LGBTQ student organization, for volunteers.

Stephanie then gave an overview of the locations used in their November 2015 Youth Count. She indicated that the satellite locations at churches did not see a lot of youth/young adult responses. Jess asked if the churches were strategically chosen. Stephanie said that each one had either a free meal or a food distribution program specifically targeted towards people experiencing homelessness and/or poverty. First Congo was the only location thought to be odd to have a low response—Stephanie knows several clients that she knows go there for their lunches.

The library satellite locations were fairly successful at the last Youth Count. Stephanie is also interested in adding a location at the Oak Court Mall, as well as at MATA bus depots, community centers in parks, and local coffee shops. The committee felt it important to use as many government-owned locations, as liability and entrance were ensured in conjunction with the City of Memphis. However, it is also viable to use privately-owned locations, especially ones where youth/young adults are known to frequent. Rob also mentioned using MAGY as a source. Stephanie is in contact with Emerson, a facilitator for MAGY.

Jess asked if the committee was looking to expand locations. Stephanie answered that it mainly depended on the number of volunteers. Jess also indicated that focus on impoverished areas would be critical. Stephanie answered that the library locations in these areas were the option that worked best previously. Community centers are also an option for the 2017 Youth Count. Stephanie has gotten permission from the City of Memphis parks director to use them, as long as individual community center directors are contacted directly around the event.

Melody asked how communication around the event would be done. Kellie stated that CAFTH uses the radio and news to advertise around the PIT count. Stephanie mentioned that Kim Clark, of Action News 5, came to OUTmemphis and Stephanie shared some information about the event. Melody mentioned that MATA uses direct advertising on its buses and that they can be fully wrapped. Jess indicated WIN had been considering this for their advertising and could include some information around the event.

Discussion ensued on how to advertise for both aspects of the event, Come and Be Counted and the satellite survey sites. Stephanie particularly wants to push people to come to the Come and Be Counted event, as service providers and various agencies will be available to help people directly. Jess mentioned that it is still important to advertise satellite sites because not everyone will have the resources to get to Cossitt. Sheleah Harris, Living Grace Ministries, suggested sticking to community centers and schools.

Stephanie and Aaron will bring a map with preferred locations to the next meeting. They will also create a dream list of locations and number of volunteers needed. This will allow the committee to make final decisions around the flier and volunteer registration. Then advertising can commence. Intentionality and communication is critical around this event, both with volunteers and participants.

Stephanie said that the remote locations had volunteers in scattered shifts, usually 2-3 hours, at the last Youth Count. This will allow more people to cover area and not get burnt out. Beth also indicated that if there are any holes in the map/places to cover and if there was a Goodwill nearby, the holes could be filled. She will follow up with her staff.

Melody asked if information around students experiencing homelessness has been requested from Shelby County Schools. The data will not give specific insight around individuals, but does provide overall data around students and the issue. Kellie said that it is being obtained.

Stephanie was able to get an answer about having a DJ at the Cossitt—it should be ok. Sheleah will move forward with getting a local DJ.

Kellie then mentioned scheduling meetings with the upcoming holidays. Weekly meetings have been scheduled through December 14. The committee will meet again on December 21 at 3:00pm at CAFTH. Meetings will commence again after the holidays.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00pm.

Action items:

CAFTH

  • advertise for volunteers
  • organize and run volunteer sign-up
  • help with budget for magnet event

Kellie/Sarah

  • adding on questions to VI-TAY
  • resource list
  • reach out to Sister Supply about menstrual hygiene

Sheleah

  • Will get a DJ to come out to the Come and Be Counted Event
  • Will reach out to MATA about surveying– Downtown and American way terminals

Stephanie/Aaron

  • reach out to Domino’s contact
  • Reach out to BRIDGES—YAB participants
  • Resource list
  • Bring a list of locations to next meeting
  • Bring a dream list of volunteer numbers

Rob

  • Will see if Southwest Tennessee Community College will have a booth at the Come and Be Counted event
  • Reach out for SWTCC Promise scholarship volunteers

Jess

  • Reach out for volunteers from WIN and the City of Memphis
  • provide budget for the event—care packages
  • communicate around donations needed for care packages (socks, dental hygiene, menstrual hygiene, travel-sized shampoo, conditioner and soap)
  • communicate media connections with Kellie/Herman

Aaron and Sarah

  • pre-survey questions/screener

Beth

  • Information about Goodwill helping at Come and Be Counted
  • Information about Goodwill helping at satellite locations

Respectfully Submitted,

SMH