Transcript Building the Bridge from Box to Bed

SEA HAVEN, INC.
www.seahaveninc.com
Opportunities for struggling youth..
• CREATE THE SCENE
• SET THE TONE
• GET IN TUNE WITH
POSITIVE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT
PARKING LOT
• PARK YOUR QUESTIONS
BEST PRACTICES
• FLEXIBILITY
–Open minded
–Policies /procedures
• HOUSE TRADITIONS
–Zero tolerance
–Non – judgmental
–Youth Friendly
PROMOTE + YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Youth Interns
Advisory memberships
Incentives
Signage
RHY TRENDS
Confidentiality
“Keeping it real”
Evidence Based Approaches
Outreach Efforts
Safe Exit Strategies
Reduce Stigma
POSITIVE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT
WORKSHOP
Building the Bridge from Box to Bed:
How Creative and Effective Outreach
Practices can Engage Hard to Reach
Street “Travelers”
POSITIVE YOUTH
DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
• PRESENTED BY:
• ANTQUAN J. SMITH, PROGRAM
DIRECTOR FOR SEA HAVEN STREET
OUTREACH PROGRAM.
• CHRISTINA B. JACKSON, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR FOR SEA HAVEN, INC.
PROJECT LIGHTHOUSE
MISSION
SEA HAVEN STREET OUTREACH CENTER
• HAS AS ITS MISSION TO FORM ALLIANCES WITH
FELLOW “TRAVELERS” WHOSE ROADS HAVE
INTERSECTED WITH OURS. IN WALKING A
COMMON PATH FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, WE
MAY RECONNECT SIGNIFICANT LIFELINES, SHARE
ACQUIRED WISDOM, AND ENHNACE THE
ADVENTURE OF OUR COLLECTIVE JOURNEY.
STATISTICS
“62% of runaway and homeless youth are
never reported or sought after by guardians”
• According to the McKinney Vento guidelines.
– 654 students were homeless in Horry County
– 10,000 youth were homeless in South Carolina
• Sea Haven programs
– 179 youth resided at the shelter program
– 53 youth accessed the Transitional Living Program
– 120 youth accessed the Sea Haven Street Outreach “dropin” center.
– Safe Place program
• 14 youth were counseled by phone, 5 were from Sea Haven
safe place sites.
– Youth not in school; not working
• 23,957 in SC,
• 1,116 in Horry County
SEA HAVEN STREET
OUTREACH CENTER/PROJECT
LIGHTHOUSE
• Ages up to 21 years
• Services include: ‘drop-in’ emergency crisis
intervention, counseling, laundry facilities, showers,
survival pack, food, educational materials, and
assistance leaving the streets.
• Safe, comfortable, friendly environment.
• “Chillin” time
• Opportunities for high school and college students to
make a difference.
• After school reading program – “Great Conversation”
VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS
FRONT ENTRANCE
LOBBY
WORD OF MOUTH
RESOURCE ROOM
SURVIVAL SERVICES
FUN-HOUSE
BOOM
WHACKERS
STREET OUTREACH SERVICES
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Expanded Mobile Outreach (E.M.O)
Street Outreach
Midnight Outreach
4th Quarter
School Awareness
Food Vouchers
Combat Hunger
E.M.O
• Twice a week Sea Haven’s
Project Lighthouse van visits
outlying rural areas in Horry
County to meet youth who
have been reported as
homeless, aimless and
congregating in local areas.
• Survival packs of food,
water, undergarments,
personal hygiene supplies
and an invitation to utilize
Sea Haven services are
provided.
OUTREACH EFFORTS
• STREET TEAMS
– A Street team consist of a minimum of 3
individuals which include 2 senior staff,
volunteer/intern, and other Sea Haven
staff if necessary.
– Street Outreach is conducted two
afternoons a week in known youth
hangouts. Program youth also participate
in street outreach if able
– Additional outreach includes visiting local
food pantry-community kitchen, Libraries,
parks, bus-stations, and shopping mall.
MIDNIGHT OUTREACH
• 3 individuals including 2 senior
staff, volunteer/intern, Advisory
members, and program youth can
participate.
• Safety protocol: ED and local law
enforcement have schedules,
security management on the
boulevard is in check with process,
cell phones, program identification
through t-shirts, picture id’s, and
signage on van.
• ALWAYS REMAIN TOGETHER!
• Initial research of youth hangouts is
completed in order to make efforts
more efficient.
SCHOOL AWARENESS
• Outreach teams visit
local high and middle
schools weekly
throughout the school
year during lunch
periods.
• We engage with youth,
handout informational
materials, and play
games.
4TH QUARTER
• Open house to the
community youth once
a month.
• Advertisement through
flyers, word of mouth,
and PSA’S.
• Video Games
• Card Games
• Ping Pong
• Much more…
FOOD VOUCHERS
• Food vouchers are given to marginal motels
on the boulevard and at the E.M.O location
sites to encourage youth to visit the street
outreach center and access services.
• Safe exit strategy- This concept is used as a
strategy to entice youth to explore the
opportunities provided by Sea Haven. By
distributing food vouchers the youth has a
chance to visit, learn more about services,
stay safe, and it provides food for a day.
COMBAT HUNGER
Outreach program in the Transitional Living Program
that provides weekend food for students in local High
and Middle schools who are homeless/at-risk, or
struggling.
Chef Boyardee- pop tops
Vienna Sausage
Pop-tarts
Peanut butter crackers
Soup- pop tops
Crackers
Snack bowls
Fruit cups
90-second rice- store brands
Hungry Jack mashed potatoes- just add water
Snacks- variety sealed
EVIDENCE BASED
APPROACHES
• HARM REDUCTION APPROACH
In recognizing the potential harm
associated with street life, the program
immediately provides services that will
reduce the dangers while living on the
street. The intent is not to abet street life
but to reduce the daily risks for those
youth…
HARM REDUCTION CONT.
– Drop-in” center
– Emergency assistance
– Food, clothing, laundry facilities, temporary shelter,
survival kit, and ID’s
– Condom dispenser
– Blankets and rain ponchos
– Bus Tickets
– Safe Place hotline
– Wise Guys, Smart Girls
– SC Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign- “What
could you do?”, S.H.A.R.P
• TRAUMA INFORMED CARE
Staff completely understand the impact of
trauma and how to effectively maximize
efforts without causing more trauma. The
focus of the program is to help the youth
overcome obstacles that may interfere with
the ability to reach self-sufficiency and wellbeing.
– Motivational Interviewing - a goal oriented
youth center process that includes a nonjudgmental counseling approach.
– Nondirective approach to help youth explore
– Collaborative workshops
SEA HAVEN SHELTER HOME
• Maintains a nine licensed bed facility for
runaway, homeless, at-risk youth ages
13-17
• Staff work 3-8hr shifts
• Referrals come from the Department of
Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement, Safe
Place sites, schools, community,
parents, and other agencies with
knowledge of youth needing services.
Transitional Living Program
• Offers case management and life skills
instruction for at-risk struggling youth
ages 16-21.
• This program allows youth to move
towards independence and selfsufficiency by achieving personal goals
• Combat Hunger
62% of homeless youth indicated
that a member of their family let
them know they were unwanted
and are never reported missing by
guardians.
Project Safe Place
• Youth outreach program that provides
a safe haven and resources for youth
in crisis.
• Youth get help fast with involvement
from the community, partnerships
with businesses, fire stations, schools
and other community organizations.
• www.nationalsafeplace.org
• 94 sites in Horry County
National Safe Place Week
Hosted by Safe Place Sites
2012/2013
Future Shelter Home
280 Hwy 57, Little River SC 29566
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTICIPATION
• SEA HAVEN PARKING LOT