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Now freely accessible: New science on homelessness in high school. Click the link then the "Download" button: https://lnkd.in/eMz8uC49

💥👇🏽👇🏽💥 Just a few of the thoughtful and well-researched questions from our young people during tonight’s Youth-Led Candidate Forum. Our young people are engaged and ready for change. Which candidates will listen and commit to being a champion for young people? 1. In DC from 2022-2023 5,619 children and youth were recorded to be homeless in our DCPS school system. With the increase in cost of housing many families are impacted. We have also seen youth who are homeless on their own. What are some plans or steps you will take to support youth who are homeless on their own as well as families experiencing homelessness? 2. There were 20,246 calls to the CFSA hotline (called “referrals” by the agency) in FY 2023. Majority of which were deemed unfounded. We know there is over-reporting in black and brown communities. Please share how you will assist youth of color in DC with shifting how we address CFSA calls and reports and also make reports from Mandatory reporting? 3. 3,000 youth between 12-17 in DC have experienced depression. We have seen direct links between gun violence and community violence and mental health trauma. Please share your plan to increase youth safety in schools and communities? Black Swan Academy ○ DC Action ○ DC Girls’ Coalition ○ United Leaders 4 Freedom ○ YWCA National Capital Area

Last night a few of us from the New Avenues for Youth Ambassador Board gathered with Portlanders at an Oregon Humanities event where we listened to a National Reporter for The New York Times share about his recent deep dive into the homeless epidemic in Portland and across the country. Shocking data points he shared included: 💥We’ve experienced a 400% death rate over the past 4 years, with 300 deaths in 2023. 💥In Multnomah County we have approximately 10,000 houseless individuals. 💥Police response times can take hours and Fire Department responds more to overdose than anything else. As folks got up to ask questions it was clear our community feels passionately and is looking for a quick fix. The reality is the topic is nuanced. One thing was clear - this is not an us vs them problem - it is US. There doesn’t seem to be clear answers, that said, I’m happy some of the leaders on our Board showed up last night to educate themselves. We gather together in 2 weeks to see how we can best support New Avenues for Youth in addressing the challenges of Youth Houselessness. One thing is for sure - the best way to be helpful is to show up, learn, listen, and take individual action. It’s going to take all of US coming together. Humans can make remarkable things happen when we come together as a unified force for good. #communityaction #homelssnessawareness #socialimpact #youthempowerment #civicengagement #unitedforchange

🥺 With the increase in elementary children killing themselves, it's imperative that I share my latest article in TulsaKids Magazine, "Combating Youth Suicide in Oklahoma: A Call to Action." It's a powerful call for collective action to address the alarming rise in youth suicide rates. Let's join hands in creating a safer and more supportive environment for the next generation. Together, we can make a difference. 💙 📚 To read the full article, click the link in the comments. #YouthMentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #communityaction

💔 Two 12-year-olds sentenced for murder. 😔 A 19-year-old lost his life. 👀 How did we get here? This tragedy in my city of #Wolverhampton has been weighing heavily on my mind. Shawn, just 19, was waiting with friends when his life was taken - only months after arriving from abroad. As a father, with a 13 yr old young son, I can’t imagine the pain his family is going through. And as an educator, I feel an urgency to act. We need to do more, be more intentional, and fight harder to guide our youth away from paths of violence. How did these boys - just 12 years old - get here? In my view, key factors include: • Lack of Positive Role Models: Without guidance, youth are left to navigate life on their own, often falling into negative influences. • Emotional Disconnect: These young boys were struggling, likely feeling isolated and unable to manage their emotions. • Exposure to Violence: Social media platforms like Snapchat and TikTok are normalizing violence, making harmful actions seem easy or justified. What Can We Do as Educators? → Build Emotional Intelligence: Incorporate social-emotional learning to teach empathy, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation. → Create Safe Spaces: Schools should be sanctuaries where students feel supported, and community spaces - like youth zones or recording studios - can be transformative. → Early Interventions: Identify and support at-risk youth through counselling, mentoring, and after-school programs. → Strengthen Community Ties: Partner with local organisations to offer positive outlets like sports, arts, and music. → Educate About Consequences: Use real-life stories, like Shawn’s, to teach about the severe impacts of violence. → Promote Positive Peer Influence: Foster a culture of kindness and respect to create a more supportive environment. This is a Shared Responsibility. Preventing youth violence is not just on schools - it’s on all of us. We must prioritise prevention, education, and early intervention over punishment. Shawn’s tragic death is a wake-up call.... We have the power to change the narrative, one lesson, one conversation, one connection at a time. 👉 Let’s come together to build a brighter future for our youth. Follow John Paul for more insights on how we can make a difference. #YouthViolencePrevention #CommunitySupport #EducationMatters

Guess what? We were recently highlighted on Tipping Point's Early Childhood Spotlight! Check out the article at https://hubs.li/Q02qbXBh0. #EarlyEducationAdvocate #CALaw #BayAreaEducation

Did you know St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families has SEVEN core values? Value #3, "Healing," is especially vital as we accompany women and their children who are working to heal from past traumas as they progress towards stable, hopeful, independent futures. #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth Learn more about St. Ann's Center's Mission, Vision, and Values here: https://lnkd.in/ekB6u8g5

How can schools better support unhoused students? KQED published an article featuring our 2020 report on student homelessness in California about the challenges that unhoused students face, how those challenges affect their education, and what schools can do to support them. Although the challenges these students face are complex, schools have the unique ability to be service hubs for healthcare and social services, supporting students and families in ways that one system can’t do alone. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gDH9egd3 Read the report at https://lnkd.in/gyeGeJuv #unhousedstudents #studentsupport #educationequity #studentwellbeing #supportservices #schoolcommunity #eduresearch #uclaresearch

What does infant and toddler homelessness look like in your state? A new report by SchoolHouse Connection confirms that as few as 3.5% of birth through age three-year-old children were enrolled in an early childhood development program in some states in 2021-22. This new report uses the first state-by-state collection of data to make concrete recommendations for critical action steps. 🔗Read the report: bit.ly/3Ec8MoH

Why do we focus on education? And why is that not enough? One of our SXSW EDU sessions answered these questions through the perspectives of two of our clients, the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Child Poverty Action Lab (CPAL). Check out the audio recording below to learn how leaders in Tulsa are ensuring every child born there is healthy and thriving, and how a coalition in Dallas is working together to cut child poverty rates in half in a single generation. As you’ll learn from this panel, these strategies can be applied to any cause in any place. And while education plays a role, it takes a holistic approach to make an impact. https://lnkd.in/gZxCJVuu