Q&A
DYCD policies on youth shelter, coordination, and educational resources
2:27:43
·
7 min
Council Member Stevens inquired about DYCD's policies regarding the right to shelter for 16-17 year olds, coordination with other agencies, language interpretation services, and connecting clients to educational resources. DYCD representatives provided information on their current practices and efforts to improve services.
- DYCD prioritizes placement of 16-17 year olds in RHY beds and will not turn them away or discharge them to homelessness
- DYCD has developed relationships with other city entities to share information about their resources for migrant youth
- Language line services have been extended to be available 24 hours a day for providers
- DYCD works closely with the Department of Education to connect clients to educational resources and facilitate enrollment
Althea Stevens
2:27:43
Okay.
2:27:44
The monitoring period for the right to shelter settlement for 16 to 8 year olds ended December 31, 2023.
2:27:52
Does the Z y c d still recognize and guarantee right to shelter for 6 seen seven year olds in New York.
2:27:57
If so, how is this right currently being forced enforced?
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:28:01
I think that the the terminology right to shelter is not, like, directly applicable in that way.
2:28:07
Right.
2:28:08
But DYCD does prioritize the placement of sixteen year and seventeen year olds in bet in 2 RHI beds if they're in need.
2:28:21
So if a young person who's under the age of eighteen, who's a minor, does present themselves at a RHI program, and they are in need of it, they would be given 1st priority.
2:28:35
And they would not be turned away.
2:28:37
Let me just be that clear with that.
2:28:38
We would not turn them away.
2:28:40
We would not discharge them to homelessness.
2:28:42
We would make sure that they either got a aycd bed or another bed that they were eligible for.
2:28:47
Sometimes we make connections with ACS.
2:28:49
If that's an appropriate resource for them.
Althea Stevens
2:28:53
Okay.
2:28:54
Just a couple more questions, and then ACS will welcome you to the party.
2:28:59
Providers have stated that unaccompanied migrant youth have largely learned about RHI facilities through word-of-mouth.
2:29:05
How can but hurt better coordinate with DIRECTV to ensure that youth aren't informed of the youth shelter system upon their arrival?
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:29:14
I just wanna state that youth learn about services through word-of-mouth is like a culture.
2:29:22
Yeah.
2:29:22
You know, through most of the young people that come into aycd's RHI programs expressed that they heard about the program through someone else.
2:29:31
This is a a common thing through a friend, and and that's why we really encourage peer to peer work.
2:29:38
But we've developed relationships with the Hertz, the reticketing centers, all of the other city entities that are doing a residential work with migrants to be able to share with them our resources so they know what we do, how to access it, and how to make those connections.
Althea Stevens
2:30:01
Yeah.
2:30:02
I mean, absolutely, most of our programs are through word-of-mouth, and and that's what they usually do.
2:30:07
But I think especially with young people coming in from other countries, it's we have to do better effort because you know, it's just a little different.
2:30:16
And and especially in New York sometimes, it gets really hard to, like, navigate through all the bureaucracy.
2:30:22
And so especially for the young people, we should definitely try to just make sure we're just coordinating with the hurricane and making sure that we're trying to capture those young people as soon as possible.
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:30:34
Definitely.
2:30:35
We we're definitely working in that way collaboratively with those entities.
Althea Stevens
2:30:41
Are individuals eligible to receive services that asylum seeker helps center if they are residing MDY City shelters?
2:30:47
Yes.
2:30:49
Providers have noted that challenges for using language line to offer sensitive care for youth in some language remain difficult to support through existing resources, given these limitations, would the agency consider allocating additional financial support to expand in person interpret interpretation services for RHI providers?
2:31:09
Say yes.
2:31:10
It's a little back of 5 for it.
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:31:13
We we've definitely
Althea Stevens
2:31:14
You would love it.
2:31:15
Right?
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:31:16
We've definitely
Althea Stevens
2:31:17
It would be great.
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:31:19
We've we've definitely extended the the language line as a resource for our providers.
2:31:26
Language line was not available to our providers 24 hours a day previously.
2:31:32
So we've put a lot of emphasis in making language line universally available.
2:31:37
To everyone so that they can communicate with our youth in all of the various languages that we're seeing now, which is, you know, a a change in the culture of what we've typically seen in RHI.
2:31:52
So we're gonna continue that and not opposed to, you know, providers using resources, community based resources as much as possible.
2:32:02
We've actually had some conversations with them about them utilizing interpretation from community based organizations.
Althea Stevens
2:32:14
Yeah.
2:32:14
So we'll figure out how to get some funding for that.
2:32:16
So great.
2:32:16
You guys agree.
Alexa Avilés
2:32:17
Is that is that a funded effort?
2:32:19
Will that be funded effort, or are you gonna ask community based ORGANIZATIONS TO DEPEND ON VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR COMMUNITY TO SUBSAIDIZE THE CITY WORK.
Althea Stevens
2:32:26
Andrew: No, LUCKS, WE'RE GOING TO EXPERT IN A Budget THIS SHARE BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S NOT FUNDED.
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:32:30
SOME OF OUR PROVIDERS HAVE EXPRESSED HAVING PARTNICIPS, AND also the ability to make those relationships on their own.
2:32:39
So we just tried to connect them with those entities that do that work.
Althea Stevens
2:32:42
Yeah.
2:32:42
And I know some of the providers have been using, like, other folks who are there some of the par participants and staff who have who are in those other languages, but definitely is definitely a need.
2:32:53
Given the influx of unaccompanied youth and DUICD providing additional training focus on social emotional learning support, so that they can better serve the population additionally.
2:33:03
How has DUI City Incorporated feedback from providers to implement policy changes in response to the growing needs?
2:33:15
You you can talk them to the Maximus only.
2:33:17
Who loves
Susan Haskell
2:33:18
me?
2:33:20
I mean, feedback from providers has been essential because as this migrant and new arrivals has increased.
2:33:28
We were learning, you know, what's needed, and we're learning that from providers.
2:33:31
So the need for legal services was certainly uplifted.
2:33:34
The need for language services are certainly uplifted.
2:33:37
And I think we have, you know, we've done our best to make sure to happen to available resources, including the resources that have been outlined by my colleagues here today to target those specifically towards runaway and homeless youth.
2:33:50
We really appreciate that.
2:33:51
And we keep those very active coordination meetings alive so that we can tap into what is needed, what providers are lifting up to us in meetings and on-site visits.
Althea Stevens
2:34:04
Thank you.
2:34:05
Last question for the UI City.
2:34:07
What are the policies that are in place that NYCDs to ensure that the clients are aware of their right to enroll in education, including transfer high schools, and how does NYCD connect their clients to DOE to coordinate their enrollment?
Susan Haskell
2:34:22
Well, I'll start by saying that Department of Education has been a great partner and is very active in our regular coordination meetings.
2:34:30
Sometimes, New York City Public Schools is lifting up needs that DUISED can be helpful with.
2:34:38
And at the same time, DUACD may be lifting up needs that that young people can benefit from in terms of, like, enrollment center or specific situation.
2:34:47
So I think we just stay connected and we do frankly a fair amount of case management if there are circumstances where something's needed and there seems to be a barrier.
Althea Stevens
2:34:56
Thank you.
Dr. Amy Wilkerson
2:34:57
I wanna just also add that DOE is regularly presenting to our providers at our provider meetings.
2:35:04
To explain to them the resources that are available for our young people and how to make those connections.
2:35:09
We've also tried to do some partnerships, and one of our drop ins actually did partner with the DOE to have on-site enrolment event where young people can come and get directly enrolled in academic programs through the DOE at the drop in center.
2:35:26
So we're trying to continue to build out those kinds of relationships.
