Homelessness Questions on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey: News from CDC and Tools from Advocates April 22, 2016

NAEHCY National membership association dedicated to educational excellence for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood through higher education.  Local Youth Task Forces, State Higher Ed Networks, Early Childhood Committee Technical assistance on policy implementation. Policy advocacy in Congress, administrative agencies and state legislatures. Youth leadership and support. 2

Housekeeping: Hiding the Control Panel 3

Housekeeping: Showing the Control Panel Also: We are recording this webinar and will make it available on-line. 4

Housekeeping: Using the Questions Pane We’ll only be taking written questions via the Questions pane. We will either respond by typing a message in the Questions pane or will answer your question when we break for questions. 5

Our Presenters J.J. Cutuli, Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University, NJ Sarah Slautterback, McKinney-Vento State Coordinator, MA Joe Willard, Vice President for Policy, People’s Emergency Center, Philadelphia Mary Haskett, Professor of Psychology, NC State University Christine Gendron, Executive Director, TX Network of Youth Services 6

Our Agenda What is the YRBS? What are the homelessness questions the CDC will include in its optional questionnaire? What has the impact of YRBS homelessness data been in communities that have collected it? What are strategies and considerations in advocating to have homelessness questions included in your YRBS? 7

What is the YRBS? Administered with TA and funding from the CDC  Originally designed in 1990; Revised multiple times Self-report survey  High school students, 9 th – 12 th grade  Administered biennially during odd years, usually in spring Monitors health-risk behaviors among youth  Unintentional injuries and violence  Risky sexual behaviors  Alcohol and other drug use  Unhealthy diet  Inadequate physical activity  Obesity and asthma

Where are the YRBS’s? 1.National (no housing Q) 2.47 individual states 3.5 territories 4.23 individual districts 5.2 tribal governments

YRBS Sampling and Weights National Survey  NOT a combining of the states/districts  See YRBS website for details Non-national surveys (states/territories/tribal/districts)  Two-stage, cluster sampling 1)Schools selected with probability based on enrollment size 2)Classrooms selected randomly  Population weights  Adjust for non-response, grade, sex, race/ethnicity  Only available for places with >= 60% response

What is the YRBS? Standard set of questions set by the CDC Localities able to add questions  CDC provides a list of ‘optional’ questions  Encouraged to use provided wording when available  Allows comparisons across locales

Adding questions: How? National YRBS – Only by action of the CDC Local YRBS  Understand who administers the YRBS locally  CDC has a list of local contact people  Negotiate  May be a fee; Varies widely from place to place

Homelessness Questions CDC has added two homelessness questions to the optional questionnaire for Since they are optional, advocates must work to have their states include them. Having consistent questions across the country will greatly enhance national data on youth homelessness.

CDC Homelessness Question 1 1. During the past 30 days, where did you usually sleep? A. In my parent’s or guardian’s home B. In the home of a friend, family member, or other person because I had to leave my home or my parent or guardian cannot afford housing C. In a shelter or emergency housing D. In a motel or hotel E. In a car, park, campground, or other public place F. I do not have a usual place to sleep G. Somewhere else

CDC Homelessness Question 2 2. During the past 30 days, did you ever sleep away from your parents or guardians because you were kicked out, ran away, or were abandoned? A. Yes B. No

Massachusetts YRBS 2005 Massachusetts asked a nighttime residence question. Responses mirrored the McKinney-Vento definition of homelessness released a report on homelessness in MA public schools.  Looked at protective factors and risk behaviors  Compared to annual enrollment data Biannual summaries are posted on our webpage MA used two new questions Report of the 2015 data will include a page dedicated to homelessness MA will use the two CDC recommended questions.

Using YRBS Data to build awareness… YRBS data is used in trainings and outreach  Different risks and protective factors engage different stakeholders  CDC collaboration supports the validity of the data  Provides a broader picture of homeless students’ experiences YRBS date is used when collaborating with other stakeholders  encouraged state nutrition staff to work with USDA on summer feeding programs in hotels used for shelters.

Using YRBS data for state policy 2010 advocates start working with the legislature to build awareness of unaccompanied homeless youth 2011 first youth homelessness bill filed 2012 Unaccompanied homeless youth and young adult special commission established 2013 Special commission funded at $150, first Youth Count statewide 2015 second Youth Count, definition adopted, commission written into legislation, $2 million budgeted for housing and services 2016 third Youth Count

The experience in Philadelphia Joe Willard, Vice President for Policy, People’s Emergency Center, Philadelphia, PA cares.orgwww.pec- cares.org

Comparing systems identifying youth who experience homelessness in Philadelphia Homeless family housing providers, FY 2011 AHAR (source: Phila OSH) 467 (aged 13-17) School District of Philadelphia, FY 2011 (source: PA Dept of Education Homeless Children’s Initiative Evaluation Report, Program Year 945 (in grades 9- 12)

Collaboration… NOT ! Motivating Philadelphia’s Leadership in 2010…

WHY? City: Not our kids! They are the School District’s! School District: Silence

Youth groups used to advocate for funding in McKinney Vento, EHCY, RHY reauthorization and appropriations “At least one out of twenty youth experienced homelessness” Used in application to U.S. HHS for grant addressing foster care youth Testimony to PA General Assembly that led to statewide task force Youth Counts – Urban Institute cited as one of many ways to learn about youth National Consortium on Homeless Youth & The YRBS But led to success elsewhere …

Reinforced lack of responsibility about who works with youth who are experiencing homelessness Challenging discussion with Youth PIT Used to advocate for funding in McKinney Vento, EHCY, RHY reauthorization and appropriations Family service/housing providers organize youth group to focus on youth in shelter or who have families in shelter; focused on employment and policy of denying boys staying with their families while in shelter Homeless Housing System:

North Carolina Recruit Partners (spring 2014) Community agencies that support homeless families Leading agency serving homeless youth United Way NC Homeless Education Program NC Coalition to End Homelessness National Consortium members Identify contact at NC Dept. of Public Instruction

Process in NC Prepare & submit proposal (May-June 2014)  Rationale for the request  Questions to add  Background (results in other states)  Analysis and dissemination plan  Letters of support  NAEHCY  Coalition, Co-founders  North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness  Ran out of time to recruit other champions

Process in NC, cont. Presented proposal to YRBS committee at Questionnaire Development Meeting, DPI. (July 2014)  Four other groups were present to advocate for adding questions.  DPI had to balance requests to add questions with CDC requirements and the 99-item limit.  No charge for added questions. Informed of decision to add one question (September 2014) Received 2015 data (April, 2016)

TNOYS is the state youth services association in Texas. We worked with NAEHCY, the Texas Homeless Education Office, and one of our Education Service Centers/Regional Offices, to add two questions about youth homelessness to the YRBS last year. The YRBS was not able to be implemented in Texas and we will not be able to get our money back ($5,000!!!). There seems to be a larger challenge with engaging schools in survey research in Texas; we recently implemented a statewide youth count and needs assessment of youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability, and school participation was very limited. We are coordinating meetings with our state education agency and other stakeholders (school board and school administrator associations) for their help addressing these issues.