Q&A
Special considerations for young adults (18-22) in the shelter system
1:29:24
·
128 sec
Council Member Diana Ayala raises concerns about young adults aged 18-22 in the shelter system, noting that while legally adults, they may need additional support. Officials discuss the special programs and considerations in place for this age group.
- There's a focus on providing specialized services for 18-22 year olds in the shelter system
- A dedicated site with specialized programming has been created for this age group
- Collaboration with the Department of Education and Department of Youth and Community Development to provide tailored services
- The initiative was developed in response to input from community partners
Diana Ayala
1:29:24
And I know that this is where the the social services kinda got funky because 18 to 22, right, they're legally adults.
1:29:30
But believe me, I have a few and they're nowhere near adulting.
1:29:35
And so is there any, relationship between the HERCs and maybe the YCD, ACS, all of the other youth programs so that we're ensuring that those that are not as mature or need, you know, guidance, and and further assistance are receiving that?
Molly Schaeffer
1:29:56
Absolutely.
1:29:57
It is something we are hyper focused on.
1:30:00
We've spent a lot of time with DOE to make sure that kids that are eligible, the 18 to 20 year olds that are eligible, can get schooling that way, and we've helped people apply.
1:30:09
We've been working with DYCD on their programming as well.
1:30:12
It's something that we're critically focused on, is this population.
UNKNOWN
1:30:17
May I
Ted Long
1:30:18
add just one quick moment there?
1:30:19
I think it is, and it is an important point.
1:30:22
The, so for our 18 to 22 year olds in particular, this is an issue that was, again, flagged by our community partners as something important, something we could potentially develop an individualized strategy around.
1:30:34
So one of the things that we've done in lockstep and, you know, with our community partners is taken one of our sites and taken a couple of the floors at that site and dedicated it to to just people 18 to 22.
1:30:47
I think we may actually have a couple of people 18 to 24 now.
1:30:49
But anyways, and what we do there is we've created individualized programming that's, a program we developed with DYCD, with our community partners, and with, working with the people that we're caring for.
1:31:01
That includes things like having DOE on-site, things like that.
1:31:03
But, we're continuing to build out that program now.
1:31:07
I think that the most important point I wanna take away I wanna make there though is that, this is an idea that was brought to us by our community partners, and their input has been critical and crucial in the difference we've made in people's lives.
Diana Ayala
1:31:18
Will you be able to send us the numbers of of extensions and stuff like that so that we have it on record?
1:31:25
Thank you.
1:31:26
You're the best.
1:31:27
But you have to say yes on the record.
1:31:28
Sorry.
Ted Long
1:31:30
Whatever the question is, yes on the record.
