April 9, 2008
The following items are relevant to the work of HEY and might be of interest to you. If you would like to submit an announcement for a future HEY E-Newsletter, please email srazavi@uwba.org

Support San Francisco Foster Youth!
Donate online. Donate by phone at 1-800-273-1779. Donate by mail. Make checks payable to United Way of the Bay Area/HEY and send to: United Way of the Bay Area—HEY, 221 Main Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94105 Remember to indicate HEY in the memo line!

In this issue:

1. HEY Events

2. HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board Corner

3. Policy Updates

4. Articles

5. Reports & Useful Websites

6. Job Opportunities

7. Opportunities

8. Upcoming Events

1. HEY Events

Mark Your Calendars for San Francisco’s National Foster Care Month Event Dates!

Foster Youth Leadership Awards – Thursday, May 1
For more information and to download an application.

HEY Foster Youth Connections Breakfast – Thursday, May 8
Click here for more information.

Voices of Foster Youth 2008 - Resource Fair – Saturday, May 10
Click here for more information.

HEY National Foster Care Month Planning Committee
Group of local foster care service providers working collaboratively to plan for 5th Annual Voices of Youth—Success Through Empowerment foster care resource fair at Justin Herman Plaza during May, National Foster Care Month and the 3rd Annual Youth Leadership Night, a kick-off celebration for National Foster Care Month.

Next meeting is on Tuesday, Apr 15 from 9:30-11 at San Francisco ILSP.

HEY Education Workgroup Meeting
This workgroup is a convening of local foster care education providers and supporters. Our goal is to provide training and support to direct service providers who work with foster youth.

Next meeting is on Wednesday, Apr 16 from 9:30-11 at San Francisco ILSP.

HEY Employment Workgroup Meeting
This workgroup is a convening of local employment and vocational programs to improve understanding of available referrals for current and former foster youth. Our goal is to get foster youth jobs through whichever door we receive them in and like the education workgroup our goal is support direct service providers who work with foster youth in order to improve the outcomes.

Next meeting is on Tuesday, April 22 from 2-3:30 at Mission One-Stop.

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2. HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board (EYAB) Corner

HEY EYAB 2008 members have been selected!

EYAB 2008 members began their term by attending the California Coalition for Youth Youth Making a Change 2008 Conference. EYAB members were trained on the state legislative process and were able to practice their skills through visits with HEY’s local state legislators including representatives from Assemblymember Fiona Ma and Assemblymember Mark Leno’s offices. Additionally the HEY paid a quick visit to Assembly Majority Speaker, and Chair of the Foster Youth Select Committee, Assemblymember Karen Bass’ office.

EYAB 2008 will be formally introduced to the San Francisco Bay Area community on Thursday, May 8 at the annual HEY Foster Youth Connections Breakfast. Be sure to come to our upcoming Breakfast where you can meet this dynamic group!

HEY’s Emancipated Youth Advocacy Board (EYAB) 2008:
Steven Adams
San Chan Choi Saetern
Erika White
Erin Williams

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3. Policy Updates

Local Budget
[From Family Budget Coalition]
THANK YOU ALL for an incredible rally yesterday… Our turnout was amazing (we are estimating between 400 and 500 people), and I want to thank all of you who came, brought folks, and helped out during the rally! We got a good amount of media, but unfortunately didn’t get much “mainstream” media- ABC/KGO Channel 7 was the only mainstream media outlet who covered the event.

Meetings with Supervisors
We met with 9 of the 11 Supervisors this week, and will be meeting with the 10th (Alioto-Pier) next week. The only Supervisor who is refusing to meet with us (or anyone to talk about the budget) is McGoldrick, who is Chair of the Budget Committee this year. Generally it seemed that we had most Supervisors expressing support for our priorities, but also gave some insight into this budget climate as well as into the political climate of City Hall. We are still trying to summarize our findings so I’ll share more details soon (probably at the April 9 meeting).

The children and youth of Coleman Advocates' family membership have created a 60 second ad: "A Message to Mayor Newsom from the Children & Youth of San Francisco." The commercial is a clever play on the popular Toyata Prius "YES" commercial, and an earnest plea to San Francisco's Mayor Newsom to SAY YES to the city's children, youth and families.

Check it out! or go to YouTube.com and search "Coleman Advocates"

Recent Budget Update from Controller’s Office
[From Human Services Network (HSN) Update 3/31/08]

(A) CITY BUDGET STATUS: THE JOINT REPORT
On March 21, the City released the annual "joint report", a 3-year general fund budget projection prepared by the Controller's Office, the Mayor's Budget Office and the Board's Budget Analyst. The report projects revenues and expenditures for FY 2008-09 through FY 2010-11.

The report paints a deteriorating picture for the coming fiscal year. The projected deficit, which was $229 million when the Mayor issued his budget instructions in November, has risen to $338.4 million. While revenues continue to increase, key factors in the size of the deficit are salary increases required under labor agreements, state funding cuts, voter initiatives (such as the use of $26 million for MUNI) and a lawsuit that requires additional spending to house inmates at the county jail. The report estimates that only a $7.6 million fund balance will be available at the end of this fiscal year. Projected deficits for the following years are $45.9 million (FY 09-10) and $40.7 million ( FY 10-11).

The projections are based on many assumptions, and would change in response to any mid-year cuts or current-year supplementals, labor agreements for future years, a June ballot measure that will affect retiree health and pension benefits, and any decisions to delay rebuild plans for S.F. General or furniture for Laguna Honda.

One of the largest factors impacting the coming year is the state budget. The Governor's proposed budget would decrease funding to San Francisco by $41.1 million. In addition, the proposed federal budget includes a number of cuts which have not been included in this report.

The City is already taking steps to decrease the deficit. Several mid-year cuts have been approved, including the closure of Buster's Place today. The City is also scrutinizing departments' excessive use of overtime.

On March 18, the Mayor issued an additional budget instruction asking departments to make deeper cuts. The first round of instructions asked for 8% cuts and 5% contingency cuts. He is now asking each department for an additional 8% salary reduction. This cut may be partially filled by deleting vacant positions. As a result, this will reduce the potential for the Board of Supervisors to save services through the June addback process.

State Policy
The Assembly Human Services Committee is expected to hear several more foster care related bills on April 15th in Room 437 of the Capitol. The first hearing was on April 1st.

Below are a list of some of bills to be heard on April 15th. NOTE: This is a tentativelist and subject to change. Please check http://www.leginfo.ca.gov or the Daily File for bills of interest to you closer to the hearing date (or contact the Assembly Human Services Committee’s office at 916-319-2089).

AB 2096 – Bass
AB2399 – Portantino
AB2736 – Cook
AB2748 – Soto
AB2029 – Tran
AB2338 – Beall
AB2651 – Aghazarian
AB2904 – Hayashi

The deadline to send in letters of support or opposition (the fax number for the Assembly Human Services Committee's office is 916.319.2189) and have them reflected in analysis for bills that will be heard April 15th is on Thursday, April 10th by 5 p.m. (the Committee's Rules require receipt by 5 calendar days before any hearing).

The Assembly Human Services Committee was expected hear the following foster care related bills on April 1st.

AB 2070 – Bass
AB 2117 – Evans
AB2238 – Smyth
AB2310 – Maze
AB2341 – Maze
AB2571 – Runner

HEY will continue to provide updates on hearings, however, as it is still early in the legislative process, more detailed analysis of current legislation will be available closer to the late April as we begin to approach the last day for bills to pass out of their house of origin (May 30).

Blue Ribbon Commission Recommendations
The California Blue Ribbon Commission on Foster Care issued draft recommendations for public comment on March 14, 2008. The recommendations focus on four areas: 1) efforts to prevent removal and achieve permanency; 2) court reforms; 3) collaboration between the courts and their child welfare partners; and 4) resources and funding.

Click here for more information including press release, history, Executive Summary and full recommendations.

HEY will work closely with Foster Youth Alliance (FYA) and other partners to formulate a response and submit our comment by the Public Comment Deadline: May 13, 2008. Please watch for more information in coming weeks.

4. Articles

Lives rebuilt, a page at a time: The Lifebook gives foster kids a chance to put chaotic pasts into perspective
Chicago Tribune • March 25, 2008

CSU San Marcos Program Helping Foster Kids Go To College
San Diego News • March 26, 2008

National Research Project Seeks Better Ways of Communicating with Runaway, At-Risk Youth
Business Wire (Press Release) • March 25, 2008

RELATED NEWS
Disabled students required to pass exit exam
SF Chronicle • April 2, 2008

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5. Reports & Useful Websites

San Francisco Foster Care Demographics (1998-2008)

Click here for a great demographic report by SF HSA. The report shows the current demographics and short-term trends of the SF foster care based on data from1998-2008.

Voices from the Street: A Survey of Homeless Youth by Their Peers
The California Research Board has conducted a survey of some of the hardest-to-reach and least-studied homeless people: youth who sleep on the streets or in cars, squat in abandoned buildings or "couch-surf." Journalist Nell Bernstein and Lisa Foster present the final report. Click here to download the report.

Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Systems Integration Initiative: A Promising Progress Report
CWLA is proud to announce the availability of Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Systems Integration Initiative: A Promising Progress Report, written by John A. Tuell. This new bulletin provides a report on the work and progress in numerous state and local jurisdictions around the country that have partnered with CWLA. These jurisdictions have used the framework to develop statutes, guiding principles, protocols, procedures, legal analyses, new multisystem collaborations, and other reform measures to effectively intervene and interrupt the costly trajectory of maltreated youth deeper into the delinquency and criminal justice systems.

CWLA has worked diligently to improve the tools, resources, and publications available to state and local jurisdictions around the country and within the sites participating in the critically important work of the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice Initiative to improve outcomes for maltreated and traumatized children and youth entering our nation's delinquency systems. Due to extraordinary commitment and leadership of the many youth-serving professionals devoted to this area of reform, we believe there is reason to be encouraged about many of the developments highlighted in this bulletin.

View online a PDF version of Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice Systems Integration Initiative: A Promising Progress Report, or contact Sorrel Concodora at sconcodora@cwla.org to receive a copy.

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6. Job Opportunities

Have a job posting serving transitional aged youth? Post in HEY’s e-Newsletter.

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7. Opportunities

Foster Youth Leadership Awards
HEY is now accepting nominations for the 3rd Annual Foster Youth Leadership Awards!
Please be sure to nominate current and former foster youth who you would like recognize as leaders in the community. Details are in the application form. Deadline for nominations is Monday, April 14th.

A committee will receive all nomination forms and select the youth who will be honored. Those selected will be invited to the Foster Youth Leadership Awards on Thursday, May 1st 2008. Honorees will receive:

• Gifts and Awards
• Recognition and dinner at Foster Youth Leadership Awards on May 1, 2008
• Invitation and breakfast to HEY Foster Youth Connections Breakfast on May 8, 2008.

Special Note: This year not all nominees will be selected. However, those who will be selected will also be HEY’s Guests of Honor at the HEY Foster Youth Connections Breakfast on Thursday, May 8th at the Palace Hotel. They will be formally recognized and will also receive the last part of their gift, a gift certificate and proclamation from Assemblymember Mark Leno.

For more information contact Sara Razavi at 415-808-4435 or srazavi@uwba.org

2008 City College of San Francisco Guardian Scholars Summer Academy
The SFUSD Foster Youth Services Program, CCSF Guardian Scholars Program, CCSF AmeriCorps Program, SF Independent Living Skills Program and SF Human Services Agency are pleased to announce the 2008 City College of San Francisco (CCSF) Guardian Scholars Summer Academy. This program is designed to prepare foster youth students for a smooth transition from high school to college. The program provides free tuition, transportation passes, books, supplies, peer mentors and career exploration activities. With enthusiasm and a six-week commitment, high school juniors and seniors and entering college freshman can gain valuable tools for success. High school students will receive high school and college credit. Please have interested students complete the attached reservation form (located on the Summer Academy brochure) to Maya Webb by April 15, 2008. Space is limited to forty students.

Previous Summer Academy participants are enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with possible applicants and are available to present at your school site or organization. If you are interested in having previous Summer Academy participants present to your students, please contact Maya Webb to coordinate a date and time.

Click here for an application.

For more information contact:
Maya Webb, MSW, PPSC, Foster Youth Services Coordinator
(415) 242-2615, Ext. 3310, or webbm1@sfusd.edu

San Francisco Youth Commission is recruiting!
The San Francisco Youth Commission is now accepting applicants for the 2008-2009 term

They are looking for youth who are:
... between the ages of 12-23,
... passionate about youth issues,
... highly involved and accountable,
... a resident of City and County of San Francisco,
... knows the issues that impact his/her communities, and wants to improve them?
... available at least 2 hours/week.

Click here for the application
DUE: Monday, May 19, 2008

Questions? www.sfgov.org/youth_commission or 415.554.6446.

Starting to Climb—UC Davis
The Solano County Office of Education, Youth Development & Student Leadership Services Department and the Foster Youth Services Program is proud to announce the first UC Davis College Day, “Starting the Climb.” On May 19, 2008, the Foster Youth Services Program will escort thirty foster youth residing in Solano County to gain a full collegiate experience. Please share the attachment with high school youth who would like to spend the day at one of California’s prestigious Universities!

Download the event flyer and permission form for the “Starting the Climb” UCD field trip. This activity is open for Solano County high school aged foster youth. Space is limited so send in your registration forms as soon as possible. For more information, contact (707) 438-3675 or bcruz@solanocoe.net

Grant Announcement: Treatment for Homeless
Request for Applications (RFA) No. TI-08-013
Posting on Grants.gov: March 31, 2008
Receipt Date: May 29, 2008
Announcement Type: Initial

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2008 grants for the Development of Comprehensive Drug/Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment Systems for Persons Who Are Homeless.The purpose of this program is to expand and strengthen treatment services for persons who are homeless (including those who are chronically homeless), who also have substance use disorders, mental disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. To address the broad needs of this population, CSAT seeks to increase the number of homeless persons placed in stable housing who receive treatment services for alcohol, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. SAMHSA/CSAT is targeting $4.5 million per year within the Treatment for Homeless Program for services in supportive housing. Click here for more information.

City Budget 101 Workshops
These trainings are offered by Coleman Advocates’ Family Budget Coalition. Bring them out to your group/organization for a FREE 60-90 minute City Budget 101 workshop! This interactive and fun workshop will demystify the city budget decision-making process and timeline, help participants understand the basic concepts of how the city budget works, and explore how participants can get involved in working for a fair City Budget for SF children, youth and families!

Contact Chelsea Boilard at (415) 239-0161, x19, or cboilard@colemanadvocates.org

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8. Upcoming Events

Advanced training on the THP-Plus Participant Tracking System
Tuesday, April 15. Each web seminar will be held from 2:00-3:30 p.m. The web seminars will be taped and available on the THP-Plus website,www.thpplus.org. The training series will feature a Question & Answer format, with a limited presentation and a focus on answering your questions. Registration information for the March 20 workshop will be sent out next week. Registration for the April workshops will be sent out later this month. If you have any questions, please contact Michele Byrnes at (415) 693-1323 or michele@johnburtonfoundation.org.

Paving the Road to Higher Education Improving Life Outcomes for Foster Youth
Learn what you can do to help prepare your youth for vocation and trade school programs, and two-year and four-year degrees. Connect youth to important support services and resources while in care and after emancipation. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008
9:30 am—2:00 pm
Breakfast and lunch provided
SSA Auditorium, 333 W. Julian St., San Jose, CA 95110

RSVP by Friday, April 11 to Veronica Garcia at veronica.garcia@ssa.sccgov.org or 408-975-5641