How Can Youth Power Help Your Organization Implement Youth Peer Services? January 11, 2018 PRESENTERS: AZARIA WITTEKIND AND MICA GONZALEZ YOUTH POWER!
How Can YOUTH POWER! Help Your Organization Implement Youth Peer Services?
What is YOUTH POWER!? YOUTH POWER! is the New York State network of young people who have been labeled and are seeking change. Together, we have decided to speak up about our experiences because no one knows what it is like for us better than we do. Through peer to peer mentoring, we empower young people to be active citizens that are aware of government operations, their rights and the ability to use their voices to influence policies, practices, regulations and laws. We are young people helping other people, ensuring availability of self-help and peer support while changing systems so that young people get the support they need with the respect and dignity they deserve. NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US!
Working across systems and disabilities Mental Health Special Education Foster Care Juvenile Justice Addiction Developmental Disabilities Independent Living Special Health Care Youth Development
Promotes Youth Engagement on all levels of service Individual supports and services Community/county planning and oversight Regional Statewide Federal International
Goals of YOUTH POWER! 1: To expand and strengthen the YP! network while remaining youth run 2: To successfully advocate for systems change to ensure better opportunities for young people 3: To increase empowerment, skill building, leadership and advocacy opportunities for young people with disabilities and system specific labels 4: To improve quality of youth peer advocacy & involvement by offering technical assistance and training opportunities to young people and adult allies 5: To practice and promote cultural competency & diversity
Network Leadership = Young people with disabilities Guiding the work of YP! Recruiting and engaging members Leading the Working Groups Fundraising Advocacy for our Priority Agenda YP! Board
Creating an accessible, empowering network Ensuring accessibility Disability history & pride Youth-friendly is people friendly Importance of identity Sense of belonging
Priority Agenda Top advocacy issues for the year Gain input from young people through events, surveys, and direct outreach Action working group contributes to the development and advancement of the agenda Finalized by the YP! Board The 2013-15 agenda was brought to a meeting with President Obama. Began producing an advocacy agenda in 2008
YP! growth 2005 hired Statewide Youth Coordinator 2007 took name YOUTH POWER! and formed the Board 2008 received funding from the NYLN 2009 Juvenile justice prevention funds 2011 reached over ½ million annual budget 2017 reached a million annual budget from diverse sources
YOUTH POWER! Structure
YP! Brings Youth perspective If you had a problem in the black community, and you brought in a group of white people to discuss how to solve it, almost nobody would take that panel seriously. In fact, there d probably be a public outcry. It would be the same thing for women s issues or gay issues. But every day, in local arenas all the way to the White House, adults sit around and decide what problems youth have and what youth need, without ever consulting us. Jason, 17 years old, Youth Force Member Act for Youth: Profiles of Youth Engagement and Voice in New York State: Current Strategies, pg 3
Building on other Peer Movements Family Peer Advocate Adult Peer Specialist Independent Living Movement Youth Peer Advocate
Youth Peer Advocate Expertise Knowledge of the Provider System Knowledge of Community Resources and opportunities Knowledge of peer movements & resources for self-advocates Personal Recovery/Resiliency Story
YPA Base Qualifications Be an individual 18 to 30 years old who has self-identified as a person who has first-hand experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges Be able to use lived experience to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness Have a high school diploma, high school equivalency preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g. SACC or CDOS).This educational requirement can be waived.
Service Components Skill Building Coaching Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy & Empowerment Community Connections and Natural Supports
What is next for Youth Peer Services? CRPA-Y OMH Waiver YPA SPA-YPST YPA
New York State System of Care Youth Peer Advocate Wraparound team
Waiver YPA Training Requirements Online In person Enhancements
YPA Credentialing Level 1 YPA Level 1 (Provisional) Requirements Has completed Level One (online) training for YPAs. Submits 2 letters of reference Agrees to practice according to the YPA Code of Ethics. Demonstrates qualities of leadership Keep in mind YPA must meet qualifications: Meet lived-experience requirements Proof of Age High School Diploma or GED or equivalent
YPA Training & Credentialing YPA Level 2 Requirements Completed Level 1 & 2 training for YPAs. Submits 3 letters of reference Agrees to practice according to the YPA Code of Ethics. Demonstrates qualities of leadership Document 600 hours of experience Complete 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years 3 consultation calls
Anticipated 2018 Timeline April 2018 Level 1 YPST YPA Online Training Available YPAs able to obtain provisional credential July 2018 Level 1, 2 & In person YPST YPA trainings available YPAs able to obtain full credential Service becomes Medicaid billable
Consider your readiness
What have you done to prepare for Youth Peer Services? Ensure organization understands the YPA role Address attitudinal barriers Identify recruitment sources Identify and train supervisors and other supportive staff such as HR Prepare orientation materials Work with young leaders to produce marketing and informational materials on the new service Connect to external supports Consider burn out prevention
Youth-Guided Practice Youth-initiated and directed Degrees of Participation Non-Participation Youth-initiated, shared decisions with adults Adult-initiated, shared decisions with youth Consulted and informed Assigned but informed Tokenism Decoration Manipulation Adapted from Hart, R. (1992). Children s Participation from Tokenism to Citizenship Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.
What does YP! provide? Technical Assistance Networking Education and support
Technical Assistance YP! Provides Technical Assistance in three key areas: Supporting Self-Advocacy Implementing Youth Peer Services Increasing Youth-Guided Practice (Participation in the planning and oversight of agencies/organizations
YOUTH POWER! has supported YPAs and agencies to integrate services by: Providing trainings to agencies on Youth Guided Practices Supported the creation of the YPA job description Supported agencies with interview questions and orientation of YPAs Supported YPAs in structuring youth support groups Collected feedback from YPAs to improve service Brought agencies together to encourage strengthening YPA services Created an assessment for the integration of YPAs into agencies
Technical Assistance These forms are meant to: Assess the agencies readiness Recognize areas of need for support Create a timeline Delegate responsibilities of YP! and the agency Track success and changes Contact your Regional Youth Partner to get started!
For Youth Peer Advocates: Peer Leader Support and Development With YOUTH POWER! s Regional Youth Partners Regional youth peer workforce coalition meetings for YPAs and their supervisors are also being developed across the state (YPALs active in Western!)
June 23-26, 2018 Premiere youth peer conference 4 day conference modeled after the college experience Major in Systems Advocacy or Peer Advocacy Leaders Dinner with state government officials Will be an opportunity for Continuing Education credits
Tip sheets Do s and Don ts of System Advocacy Starting a Youth Advisory Council Supporting and Fostering Youth Involvement Guides Youth Involvement toolkit Supporting Self Advocacy The How To s of Youth Guided Practice Webinars Videos
Alex Frisina Long Island RYP AFrisina@youthpowerny.org 631-245-5289 Mica Gonzalez Central RYP MGonzalez@youthpowerny.org 315-679-1476 A motivated peer between the ages of 18-30 Open position New York City RYP 1-888-326-8644 x31 Brennan Williams Hudson River RYP BWilliams@youthpowerny.org 518-322-2096 Open position Western RYP 1-888-326-8644 x31 A motivated peer between the ages of 18-30
Next Webinar! Part II: What is the Role of a Youth Peer Advocate? January 22nd, 1-2pm How to prepare your agency How to support YPAs within an agency Learning from the mistakes of others Visit ctacny.org to register!
YOUTH POWER! Toll Free: 1-888-326-8644 x31 info@youthpowerny.org www.youthpowerny.org @YOUTHPOWERNY
Q & A
Thank You