National Runaway Safeline 3080 North Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60657 6PM TO 9PM The Palmer House Red Lacquer Room 17 E. Monroe Chicago, IL NOVEMBER 6, 2014 BRONZE SPONSOR Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Charitable Foundation GOLD SPONSORS Greyhound Lines, Inc. | Radio Flyer | Sponsorship levels from $2,500 through $25,000; contact Katy Walsh at [email protected] for more information. Bid on the online auction, enter the raffle or secure event tickets at 1800RUNAWAY.org KEEPING AMERICA’S RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH SAFE AND OFF THE STREETS. SPRING 2014 2014 BRINGS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE 2014 NRS BOARD MEMBERS THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS SPIRIT OF YOUTH 2014 Ending Youth Homelessness “It's time to ramp up our work on homelessness among youth,” Steve Berg, Vice President for Programs and Policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) announced at the 2014 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness. “Interest and commitment are high, and it's time to move from theorizing about frame- works, to articulating and implement- ing concrete policy and practice changes that are going to impact the lives of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.” This call to action comes on the heels of a documented increase in homeless and runaway youth nationwide and a need for more comprehensive solutions to serve this population. As Aimee Hendrigan, Senior Program Officer for the Melville Charitable Trust put it in a recent guest post for the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), “The specific increase in youth homelessness is often compounded by the fragmented and frequently underfunded service delivery response to this highly at-risk population. Youth may cross several service delivery systems within a state – education, juvenile justice, child welfare and law enforcement – but often no agency “owns” them.” In their Framework to End Youth Homelessness by 2020, the United States Interagency Council on Home- lessness (USICH) focuses on two strategies for ending this epidemic. First, by placing an emphasis on data collection to get better numbers and characteristics of youth experiencing homelessness thus defining the extent of the problem. Second, establishing a capacity strategy to strengthen and coordinate the Federal, State, and local systems to act effectively and efficiently toward ending youth homelessness. We are already seeing progress on both fronts. This year, cities and regions across the country included youth homeless- ness in their “Point-in-Time” (PIT) counts, an annual homeless survey organized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that brought together volunteers and service providers for a 24-hour capture of homelessness data. One night in January 2013, the compiled PIT counted 610,042 people as homeless, a third of whom had no shelter at all. For many young people living on the street, like teens everywhere, they do their best to fit in with others. They may not consider themselves homeless, believing that crashing at a friend’s house, couch surfing, or even sleeping in a car provides a young person the illusion of stability. They may be ashamed of a stigma around the issue and intentionally conceal their circum- stance. The result, youth have tradition- ally been left out of official counts. Since officials use the data to allocate funding, provide resources, and gauge progress that result can have devastat- ing consequences. It can mean too few beds for runaway youth, too few resources to keep a homeless youth in school, or too few support services. Further, a statewide initiative in Connecticut called the “No Wrong Door” project provides a template for the kind of coordinated, comprehensive solutions required to address the problem. Funded in part by the Melville Charitable Trust and following the USICH framework takes a comprehensive approach to addressing youth home- lessness by providing a dynamic blend of advocacy and service planning to increase services and supports avail- able to unaccompanied homeless youth from pre-adolescence up to age 24. As America's go to resource for runaway, homeless, throwaway and at-risk youth and their families, the National Runaway Safeline is invigo- rated by this new direction and excited to play a role in helping to end youth homelessness. By Josh Gryniewicz SPIRIT OF YOUTH AWARD RECIPIENT: United Airlines
Transcript
National Runaway Safeline
3080 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
6PM TO 9PMThe Palmer HouseRed Lacquer Room17 E. MonroeChicago, IL
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
BRONZE SPONSORColdwell Banker Residential Brokerage Charitable Foundation
GOLD SPONSORSGreyhound Lines, Inc. | Radio Flyer |
Sponsorship levels from $2,500 through $25,000; contact Katy Walsh at [email protected] for more information.
Bid on the online auction, enter the raffle or secure event tickets at 1800RUNAWAY.org
KEEPING AMERICA’S RUNAWAY, HOMELESS AND AT-RISK YOUTH SAFE AND OFF THE STREETS.
SPRING 2014
2014 BRINGS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE2014 NRS BOARD MEMBERS
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERSSPIRIT OF YOUTH 2014
Ending Youth Homelessness “It's time to ramp up our work on homelessness among youth,” Steve Berg, Vice President for Programsand Policy at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)announced at the 2014 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness. “Interest and commitment are high, and it's timeto move from theorizing about frame-works, to articulating and implement-ing concrete policy and practice changes that are going to impactthe lives of young people who arehomeless or at risk of homelessness.”
This call to action comes on the heels of a documented increase in homeless and runaway youth nationwide anda need for more comprehensive solutions to serve this population.As Aimee Hendrigan, Senior Program Officer for the Melville CharitableTrust put it in a recent guest post for the National Runaway Safeline (NRS),“The specific increase in youthhomelessness is often compoundedby the fragmented and frequently underfunded service delivery response to this highly at-risk population. Youth may cross several service delivery systems within a state – education, juvenile justice, child welfare and law enforcement – but often no agency “owns” them.”
In their Framework to End Youth Homelessness by 2020, the United States Interagency Council on Home-lessness (USICH) focuses on two strategies for ending this epidemic. First, by placing an emphasis on data collection to get better numbers and characteristics of youth experiencing homelessness thus defining the extent of the problem. Second, establishing a capacity strategy to strengthen and
coordinate the Federal, State, and local systems to act effectively and efficiently toward ending youth homelessness. We are already seeing progress on both fronts.
This year, cities and regions acrossthe country included youth homeless-ness in their “Point-in-Time” (PIT) counts, an annual homeless survey organized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that brought togethervolunteers and service providers fora 24-hour capture of homelessnessdata. One night in January 2013,the compiled PIT counted 610,042people as homeless, a third of whom had no shelter at all.
For many young people living on the street, like teens everywhere, they do their best to fit in with others. They may not consider themselves homeless, believing that crashing at a friend’s house, couch surfing, or even sleeping in a car provides a young person the illusion of stability. They may be ashamed of a stigma around the issue and intentionally conceal their circum-stance. The result, youth have tradition-ally been left out of official counts.
Since officials use the data to allocate funding, provide resources, and gauge progress that result can have devastat-ing consequences. It can mean too few beds for runaway youth, too few resources to keep a homeless youth in school, or too few support services.
Further, a statewide initiative in Connecticut called the “No Wrong Door” project provides a template for the kind of coordinated, comprehensive solutions required to address the problem. Funded in part by the Melville Charitable Trust and following the USICH framework takes a comprehensive
approach to addressing youth home-lessness by providing a dynamic blend of advocacy and service planning to increase services and supports avail-able to unaccompanied homeless youth from pre-adolescence up to age 24.
As America's go to resource for runaway, homeless, throwaway and at-risk youth and their families, the National Runaway Safeline is invigo-rated by this new direction and excited to play a role in helping to end youth homelessness.
By Josh Gryniewicz
SPIRIT OF YOUTH AWARD RECIPIENT: United Airlines
In 2011, NRS added live chat to its hotline and online services.A youth can connect with NRS through live chat, crisis email or a bulletin board posting. Being ableto offer online crisis intervention service options have elevated NRS’ connections to 250,000 annually. Currently, NRS is investigating adding a ‘texting’ opportunity.To build the infrastructure for texting, NRS received a $10,000 grant from the Ream Foundationto match MGI donations. The funds allowed NRS to furnish each of theeight crisis call stations with a new computer and a new server for the system. The frontline team members now use dual monitors to manage accessing resource information during live chat sessions.Vibes, a premier mobile platform company, is donating the technology software to incorporate texting as yet another means of connecting to NRS.
Lastly, NRS has been contracted byParentPowerChicago (PPC)to handle their calls. PPC isan independent, non-profit public service organization completely committed to
Already this year, the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) hasexperienced significant changes. We’ve added staff and upgraded equipment to better serve youth and families in need. The crisiscall center has been modernized with a new telephone system,new computers and the additionof dual monitors.
First, NRS’ phone system was six years old. Not only was the system no longer insurable, the system was ineffective at interfacing with our computerized data collection system. NRS was able to purchase and install a new telephone system through the generosity of ourMajor Gift Initiative (MGI) donors. The MGI has raised $185,500 ofthe $250,000 of the three-yearcampaign. The funds will be desig-nated to specific projects to build the depth and breadth of NRS’ services. United Airlines generously donated a $25,000 grant toward the MGI campaign and targeted it for the telephone system. The United gift along with other MGI donations allowed NRS to install the new telephone system in March.
Next, NRS continues to explore ways to best communicate with youth.
helping parents ensure their children get a better education. PPC connects parents with information and preparation, effective resources and meaningful, ongoing support. NRS will handle PPC calls for 16-hours a day. In preparation, NRS has added hotline staff membersto help parents access the resourcesthey want and the relationshipsthey need.
2014 has barely begun and the National Runaway Safeline is already making huge strides to keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Thank you for your support in our critical work.
2014 BRINGS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE
Maureen BlahaExecutive Director
Anne SchankinBoard Chair
GOVERNMENT PARTNERSFamily and Youth Services Bureau in the Administration for Children, Youth and Families; US Department of Health and Human Services
DONORS(October 1, 2013 to March 12, 2014)Douglas and Marsha AalsethAdelaide Ltd.Angela AmaroMiriam AmentKaren AnagnostJulie AndersonConnie ArnoldHollie AshworthJeannette AtkinsonJennifer AttenAtwater Kent FoundationRobert and Jan AvalloneCatherine BaranRick BarkanMatthew BarryKeith and Joan BaumanJohn BeaverMarcia BeckmeyerLinda BelanRuss BergeronAndrea BergquistNancy BernthalMaureen Blaha and Joe MorrisMichael and Georgia BlahaWilliam and Diane BlahaSheldon BloomfieldBNR PartnersPeg and Thomas BoggsLuis BorreroRebecca BowlinRyan BrackenJoel BraunoldRob BrennanPhilip BrooksKent and Kimberly BrunnerPeter BulkeleyMaree BullockDavid BurlageSimon BurnhamGreg and Terri BusemanAnne BustamanteJeffrey Callison
Robert and Jane CalvinJ.M. CarlsonJeffrey CarpenterKim CastelnovoCentral Federal SavingsDavid and Lisa ChanEdwin ChandrasekarRonda and Alan ChanningChipotle Mexican GrillDennis ChurillaGwen ClancyRalph Clarke Jr.L.W. Cohen and M.L. CohenJodi Cohen and David SchwartzJoshua CohenGenevieve ColleranDennis and Tracey ContinoMichelle A. Downey and James D. CrinerDan CuellerJohn CurronSandy CzajkaPatrick D'ArcyKim DanielSteve DayonDave DeanThomas and Dawn DeanMichelle and Bill DeForestKateLynn DeLavanSusan DemingStephanie DerderianJennifer Di NicolaJohn and Mary DiCiurcioBret DiskinJoe DiulioWill DixDan DodilletDick and Jean DoubJohn and Marcia DowdDana EckerE.G. EddyEdelman USASally EdelsbergBill EganNeil ElliottTim EnglandS. Marie ErlineSherwin and Denise EstermanLee and Cynthia EversCharles FarraKim FetteJoan FitzgeraldHelen FlanaganJudith FlanaganBrian FlanneryJeffrey FleishmannPhyllis FliegerTheresa Flynn
James FoleyPaul FoxK. Frust-KuzukDavid FurlinDavid GabrielseMary GalliganAmelia GarciaDiane and Gordon GaultSteve GearyColin GibsonLarry GillardEugenia and Mac GillespieJohn GingellMelissa GinterThe Glenmede Trust CompanyGerald GoldbergFrancine GoldenFrederic GoldsmithWilliam and Anne GoldsteinChris GonzalezMimi GordonCandice GrahamKevin and Pamela GraneyPaul and Marcia GrassmanGreyhound Lines, Inc.Jerry and Nancy HaleyJames and Rhonda HallGloria HaroldsonDr. Gary W. Harper and Dr. Herek L. ClackKelly HartmanLinda HaschRobert and Trish HattanMcKenin HauckKathleen HeneghanPhilip HeppJennifer Herlein and Scott OltroggeSarah Hoban and Mitchell WalkerMarc HochmanMike HohmanFred and Sandy HolubowHugh M. Hefner FoundationWilliam Hynes and Roger WardICM PropertiesI.U.O.E. Local 150Paul and Mariana IngersollUsha Iyer-RaghavanKathy JackiwJ. JanezicChanan and Rupinder JaswalJames and Barbara JavorcicJohn JonesJohn R. Houlsby FoundationBrian and JoAnn JordanJP Morgan ChaseBellene KaishMichael Kamradt
Larry and Maxine KaneJonathan KarmelMarilyn KarshCharles KatzenmeyerClare KennedyJohn KennyJoel and Cathy KesselJeff and Sherry KirbyAmy and David KleinKristopher KlindworthKaren Koehler-DavisIngeborg KohlerErin and David KohnSteven KoponenElouise KouimelisKristin KowalchyleKurt G. KramerPatricia KrauskopfMindy KurlanskySandra Lagunas MarkeyBen and Myril LandsmanSara LarkinTom LawlerBennett LawsonCarlos LazaroDebra LedfordNicole LeeMichele and Gary LehmanKandace and Eugene LentiEdwin and Judith LeonardCraig LeveilleHoward LevineHoward LevinsonJill LewaniakLocal 881 UFCWEmily and Henning Lohse-BuschChristopher LorenzenJohn Love and Colleen ConleyJames LucchesiJeffrey MackStephen C. and Rosemary MackDarlene MaderPaul MaggioMelissa and Quentin MaguireMalnati Organization, Inc.Virginia Ann MaloneDaniel and Crystal MarchigianiLynne MarekKaren MareschMarquette AssociatesAndy MauTom MauPatrick and Mary MauroMelody MazzaDenise McCaffreyTroy and Charles McDonald KaneLisa and Andy McDonoughMaggie McVay
Joseph and Catherine MeloyDarius MenafieldMark and Mary MenzelMesirow FinancialNorweeta G. Milburn and Anthony W. JacksonEdward MillerMiller, Cooper & Co., Ltd.Patricia MitchellThomas and Cecile MitchellPhyllis Monks and Joseph GleesonLloyd and Donna MorganAlice Morrissey and Dan SchiffLarry Moston and Carole LukensCarol MoyMichael MurrayCatherine Nardi and Eric GastevichNational Concierge Association - Chicago ChapterElizabeth NeedlemanScott and Alice NewellLisa NicolaNancy NimsMargaret and Patricia O'ConnellColleen OdegaardDonna OsipchakLee Osipchak and Gabe GeersLuke Allan Palese and Enrique UsecheJohn PappasKathy PasekKristie PaskvanPepsiCo FoundationStephani and Kenneth PerlmutterJack and Lindsay PhilbinMary PickettKim PleshaGeorge and Melissa PowersPatricia PreckelRonald PrimeauMary Ann PusateriRadio FlyerDaniel RappaportReam FoundationRobert ReegCaetheirne RichardsonRon and Jean RichterToni RoarkAlex RodriquezKaren RossRandall and Fiona RoyerDan Ryba Kathy Ryg HedlinDerek SammannAndrea Sanchez
Janet SantarelliMelanie SantarelliFrank and Barbara Lee SantosJoyce and Jonathan SapirBonnie SaundersRon and Anne SchankinRuth SchankinSuzi SchelewitzBarbara Schmidt-BaileyKathleen SchwappachAlan and Sandy SchwartzMark and Denise SchwartzBarry SearsEric SeutheAlice and Lewis SheltonCraig and Barbara SheltonLindsey SheltonAlan ShirleyStephanie SidemanRichard J. SiebertWendy SiegelJ. SmithKaren SmithKathryn Smith Lisa SmithNatalie D. SmithRobert SnyderMegan SolorioSuzanne SpainByron SpicerJim and Delores StanceJohn StatonRobert Dale StephensonMargo SternJames Gordon StevensJennifer StevensonElizabeth StilesCarol StobbeJoe StoneRick StonehamJohn and Heather StottsElizabeth and Daniel StraussJessica StreitDoug StrieflerSilvija StrikisFred SturmJames SugrueSulzer Family FoundationDarius SutrinaitisCathy SvacinaMargaret SwiderskiMiles SzczurekTix 4 Cause, LLCFrank R. TortorellaErnie and Katy TothRichard TranfagliaDona-Lee TrotterDavid Ungerleider
United AirlinesDavid and Beverley UrschelUS Bank FoundationChristina Van Pelt and Larry DiskinGordon and Mary VanceKelly and Kathryn Vance VentasMartha VillalbaGeoff and Jasleen VinesVineyard Christian Church of EvanstonJim and Sue WalshJohn WalshKathleen WalshSue WaltonLaura WangrowScott WarrenAnn WeberLisa WeilDaniel Weisberg and David KlingenbergerMark WeisbergBonnie and Steve WheelerMerry Carol WhiteJudith WilliamsLarry WilsonEllen and David WilsonGeorge WolfRobert WolfErica WolfortWolfort Family FoundationJohn Wright and Alice CampbellDeborah and Samandar YazdaniJoseph ZambranoBrian and Anne ZborilNora ZborilCary and Darlene Zec
In Memory of Jimmie AlfordRick Barkan
In Memory of Janis FornellMarvin and Kay Zelkin
In Memory of Samuel SagallMarvin and Kay Zelkin
In Honor of Caitlin BerghPaul and Catherine Bergh
In Honor of Maureen BlahaDouglas Emde and Joyce SimonCharles KatzenmeyerNancy Nims
In Honor of Dave DeanAnonymous
In Honor of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth GoldbergAnna GurevichBruce Maki
In Honor of Nick MaynardMelanie Duch
In Honor of Samantha OwensMegan Manetas
In Honor of Gordon VanceDeborah Hinde
In Honor of Bonnie WheelerMaureen Blaha and Joe Morris
THANK YOU
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin toured NRS offices in Chicago to learn more about hotline and online crisis services. (left to right) NRS Board Members Katya Mazon and Randall Royer, Senator Durbin and Executive Director Maureen Blaha. Photo courtesy of Sharri Bryan.
Recently, NRS was invited to speak at the Saudi Child Helpline Regional Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Director of Programs Gordon Vance is pictured here with Princess Adila bint Abdullah. The princess, the daughter of King Abdullah, is one of the few Saudi princesses with a semi-public role. She is an advocate of women issues, including; right to drive, health awareness and legal rights. She spoke out against domestic violence and supported women's groups and organizations. Photo courtesy of Child Helpline International.
NRS is going electronic! To receive our monthly electronic newsletter, please email [email protected].
NRS Board of Directors celebrates successfully raising over $120,000 at Spirit of Youth 2013. (left to right, first row) Emily Lohse-Busch, Jodi Cohen, Kandace Lenti, Katya Mazon, Brian Zboril, Executive Director Maureen Blaha, Vice Chair Christina Van Pelt, Chair Anne Schankin. (left to right, back row) Treasurer Randall Royer, Jim Criner, Tom Lawler, Jack Philbin, Secretary Dave Dean, John Stotts, Gary Harper, Troy McDonald Kane and Suzi Schelewitz. (Not pictured: Michele Lehman, Kelly Mead, Norweeta Milburn, Jennifer Riley.) Photo courtesy of Anthony LaPenna.
