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Program Design
Strengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and ChildrenAn Initiative of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in partnership with The National Center on Family Homelessness, the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the Child Welfare League of America Homeless families now account for 40% of the overall US homeless population (US Conference of Mayors, 2004). The vast majority (84%) of homeless families are female-headed (Burt & Aron: America’s Homeless II: Populations and Services, 2000). Almost 1.3 million children are homeless each year in the US, with 40% under age six. (Burt & Aron: America’s Homeless II: Populations and Services, 2000). Data about homeless families typically excludes those who are living in hotels or motels, campgrounds, or who are doubled up with relatives or friends. In 2006, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation created Strengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children to respond to this crisis by developing a national model to by improve the housing, health and development of homeless and at-risk young mothers and children. This $11.2 million initiative, which includes matching local investment of approximately $4,000,000, seeks to integrate the various social service systems already in place, address gaps in service, and bring together the homelessness and child development service sectors. It is anticipated that approximately 500 children and their families will benefit annually from this initiative with a focus on enhanced family outcomes, such as greater housing stability, improved maternal and child-well-being and strengthened family functioning and family preservation. The target population is young at-risk or homeless mothers, ages 18-25 with at least one child five years of age or younger. National PartnershipStrengthening At Risk and Homeless Young Mothers and Children represents a marriage of Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s long-standing commitment to early childhood development and homelessness. A key component of this Initiative’s implementation was the creation of a Coordinating Center, comprised of national experts in the fields of family homelessness, child development, child welfare and housing. This is not a physical Center, but, rather, consists of the staff expertise to ensure that the local grantees have the skills, knowledge and support needed to achieve project outcomes and, also, to ensure that the local outcomes could be translated to have a national impact. The Coordinating Center is comprised of three national partners, which mirror the local partnerships, bridging the homelessness/housing and child development/welfare service sectors.
Selected Pilot Communities and GranteesLos Angeles: Each night in Los Angeles, approximately 80,000 people are homeless. Families are a growing percentage of this population, ranging from 20% to 43% (Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the Weingart Center 2004. Homelessness in Los Angeles, A Summary of Recent Research). Strengthening Young Families, Antelope Valley, CAPartners: United Way of Greater Los Angeles (lead agency); Antelope Valley Domestic Violence Council; Antelope Valley Partners for Health; Healthy Homes/Antelope Valley Hospital; Mental Health Association; St. Joseph’s Manor Through the creation of new staff positions and enhanced interagency communication and coordination, Strengthening Young Families will increase and enhance services for the increasing number of homeless families in this rapidly growing area, with a special focus on the needs of children. Hope and Home, Pomona, CAPartners: Prototypes Centers for Innovation in Health, Mental Health and Social Services (lead agency); Foothill Family Services; Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health; Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services; Pomona Unified School District, Child Development Program; Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, Child Development Program. This Los Angeles Partnership, which includes centralized assessment and intake, co-location of services in 5 different sites, enhancement of evidence-based practices, and cross training for all partners, will be created to enhance services for young mothers and children and to ensure systemic changes between the homelessness and child development sectors. Minneapolis/St. Paul: In Minnesota, 8,900 people are homeless on any given night, with about three-quarters concentrated in the Twin Cities area. Ethnic minorities comprise 9% of the state population, but 57% of the homeless population (Amherst H. Wilder Foundation 2003. Homeless in Minnesota.). STRong: Strengthening Our New Generation, Minneapolis, MNPartners: Reuben Lindh Family Services (lead agency); Wayside House, Inc.; St. Stephens Human Services. Three agencies will use a team approach to integrate housing, child development services, chemical dependency, and mental health into a single delivery system. Chicago: In Chicago, approximately 74,000 individuals were homeless in 2006; it is estimated that 21,078 were homeless on any given night. Of those, over 26,000 were children. (Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, December 21, 2006. How Many People are Homeless in Chicago?) FACT: Working with Homeless Families, Chicago, ILPartners: Beacon Therapeutic and Diagnostic Treatment Center (lead agency); Heartland Alliance; Voices for Illinois Children; Thresholds; Mercy Housing Lakefront; The Inner Voice Chicago's Initiative is a broad collaboration of service providers who have an established commitment to the needs of homeless and at risk families for many years. Utilizing the evidence- based approach of the ACT model, a new service delivery system and approach to working with homeless and at-risk families is being established. PartnersConrad N. Hilton FoundationThe Hilton Foundation was created in 1944 by hotel entrepreneur and business leader Conrad N. Hilton, who left his fortune to the foundation with instructions to help the most disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world without regard to religion, ethnicity or geography. With offices in Los Angeles, California and Reno, Nevada, the foundation has provided more than $500 million for charitable projects throughout the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.hiltonfoundation.org. The National Center on Family HomelessnessThe National Center on Family Homelessness is the nation’s only research and social action organization dedicated solely to helping homeless children and families. By developing model programs, effective services, and innovative technical assistance, The National Center works to stabilize the lives of homeless families. Its mission is to identify what works, educate and inspire, and take action to end family homelessness. Please visit www.familyhomelessness.org for more information. National Alliance to End HomelessnessThe National Alliance to End Homelessness works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity, leading to stronger programs and policies that help homeless individuals and families make positive changes in their lives. The Alliance provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide. For more information, please visit www.endhomelessness.org. Child Welfare League of AmericaThe Child Welfare League of America has been a champion for children since 1920. It is committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting well-being of children, youth, and their families. CWLA envisions a future in which families, neighborhoods, communities, and governments ensure that all children and youth have the resources they need to grow into healthy, contributing members of society. For more information, please visit www.cwla.org. For More Information:Debra Medeiros, Project Director |
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