Family Staff Featured at Statewide Conference on Homeless Youth

Jessica Ropke, MidWay Program Director, Robert Molina, Team Leader for Adolescent Services, and Jen Pineda, Deputy Director, were thrilled to attend the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) annual gathering of runaway and homeless youth service providers.  Jess participated in the planning committee for months, working closely with organizers and OCFS supervisors to provide a meaningful and collaborative two-day event!

 

Jen was asked to be a featured presenter at the conference. She provided a guided discussion on trauma-informed care, focusing much of the talk on self-reflection, self-regulation, and ways to support one another as we meet the needs of the youth in our programs.  Many of the providers shared inspirational stories with one another, as they brainstormed together ways to build safety and trust for both staff and youth.

 

Nina Aledorf, OCFS Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success, spoke of the relatively recent changes to the New York State Runaway and Homeless (RHY) laws regarding eligible youth in our state’s basic centers (Family House) and transitional living programs (MidWay).  Previously, homeless youth under the age of 16 were legally not allowed to stay at MidWay, and would be referred to the foster care system for housing.  Then, one day, a 15-year-old and her 9-month-old baby landed at Family House.  She didn’t have any family and was trying to get back to school.  She was taking good care of her daughter, and a foster care group home just wasn’t the right place for her.  Michael Berg and Nina were on the phone numerous times and both agreed that MidWay was the exact right place, but the law was standing in the way.  Nina shared at the conference it was THIS case that sparked the advocacy needed to amend the law that now allows RHY Transitional Living Programs to provide housing to youth under the age of 16 when the program notifies OCFS of the necessity.  This youth and her baby DID move into MidWay and they both THRIVED!  She was able to go back to school, connect with Child Care Connections to have her daughter in daycare during the day, and began working evening shifts to begin saving some money.  She left MidWay into a safe apartment for herself and her daughter and remained in contact with the program for years afterward. 

 

At the conference, Nina shared how grateful she was to Family of Woodstock for leading with compassion and being willing to do what makes the most sense for the well-being of the youth we serve.  It was a proud moment for us, and a reminder of how special and unique our agency is when it comes to handling any problem under the sun.