Team Leader Training [Community and Location] [Date and Time]

Agenda Detail the process for conducting the youth count Outline roles and responsibilities of Guides, Team Leaders, Team Captains and others on the day of the youth count Review data collection forms, protocols and safety Discuss next steps

Introductions Name Organization

Who will we count? UNACCOMPANIED youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability ages 13 through 25 Youth who are living on the street, in shelters, or in transitional housing programs Youth who are doubled up, couch surfing, staying in hotels/motels, living in cars, or who are involved in the sex trade Includes youth counted within county lines on the day/night of the count

Who will help with the youth count? People aged 18 through 25 who have experienced homelessness or housing instability will serve as Guides Service providers and volunteers will serve as Team Leaders Members of the Leadership Team will serve as Team Captains

How will teams be formed? Team Leader Guide Team #1 Guide Guide Team #2 Team Leaders will oversee 1-2 teams comprised of 2-3 Guides each.

What happens on the day of the Youth Count? Arrival Refresher Training Team Assignments Check in (1 hour) Stage 1: Visual Count Stage 2: Brief Youth Survey Field Work (up to 4 hours) Materials check-in Team debrief Guide payment Return and Debrief (up to 1 hour)

CHECK IN: Team Leader Role Assist with the check-in process Waiver and Release from Liability Sign-in sheets Supplies (see next slide) Review team assignments with the Team Captain Map with the list of hot spots where youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability might be found Verify that there are sufficient tally sheets and surveys

CHECK IN: Supplies Before leaving the deployment center, verify you have: Clipboards and pencils Tally sheets Surveys with consent script Envelopes to store and seal completed surveys Gift cards ID badges Resource list Team Captain cell phone number Team Leaders must carry a cell phone and Team Captain contact information at all times and be available for calls during the Youth Count

FIELD WORK: Team Leader Role Transport team(s) to assigned areas and oversee Count and Survey. Remain in the area to: Answer questions from Guides Collect surveys from Guides Hold extra gift cards and supplies Ensure safety and confidentiality Respond to crisis situations Administer surveys if requested

FIELD WORK: Count Area Maps will include a list of hot spots, which will also be marked on the map by location bubbles Teams will be counting in both outdoor and indoor locations, including intersections, parks, libraries, and coffee shops Teams must stay within the boundaries drawn on their maps to avoid duplication If teams are unable to cover a certain area due to safety concerns or access issues, mark the area on the map and let the Team Captains know when you return to the deployment site

Stage 1: Who will Guides Count? Guides will use a tally sheet to record information about any youth in the area who appear to be both: homeless or unstably housed AND aged 13 through 25 Guides should complete this step before they begin surveying people.

Stage 2: Who will Guides Survey? After counting all of the youth in the area, Guides will approach the same youth and ask them to complete the Brief Youth Survey If any youth leave the area or go into a building, Guides should not follow them Team Leaders will survey youth if requested by those being surveyed

What will Guides be asking in the Brief Youth Survey? Birth date and initials Current living situation Characteristics (age, race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation) History of foster care or detention/jail If currently pregnant or parenting Current school enrollment and employment

What do youth get for taking the survey? Each youth who takes the survey will receive a $5 gift card Youth receive a gift card as long as they answer the first 5 questions Each youth can receive only ONE gift card

Stage 2: What will the process look like? Screen to determine whether or not to approach a youth Do not approach a youth who is sleeping or cannot be seen (e.g. inside a tent) Read the consent statement on the top of survey and obtain verbal consent If a youth refuses: Check the refusal box on the survey, thank them, and move on to the next person. Do not give the youth a gift card. If a youth agrees: Move to step 3

Stage 2: What will the process look like? Read the questions aloud in English or Spanish if the youth agrees to take the survey Skip any questions youth do not want to answer Repeat each question only once Team Leaders may survey youth as requested Thank the youth When finished with the survey, give the youth one gift card Completed surveys returned to the Team Leader

Stage 1 and 2: Completed Forms After the Guides have counted and surveyed in a hot spot, Team Leaders: Collect all tally sheets and surveys Make sure the Guides marked where they counted Place everything in the completed materials envelope Keep the envelope with you until it can be returned safely to a Team Captain

Stage 2: What if… A youth who took the survey wants to take it again? Youth cannot take the survey more than once A youth walks away or stops responding in the middle of taking the survey? Check “refused to answer” for the rest of the questions and place the survey into your envelope A youth feels uncomfortable answering a question? Youth can refuse to answer any question they feel uncomfortable answering.

Stage 2: What if… A youth does not respond to a question? Repeat the question once and move on to the next question if the youth does not respond A youth gets upset or emotional while taking the survey? Ask if the youth if he or she would like some help and offer him or her a resource list. Contact the Team Captain with any questions.

CHECK OUT: Team Leader Role Ensure that the whole team returns to the deployment site by the designated time (Team Leaders AND Guides) Participate in the check-out process Collect and organize team paperwork Debrief the youth count experience and what happened the field

Important Reminders

General Reminders Guides will not interact with youth being counted during Stage 1 Guides should use their best judgement when filling out the tally sheet Guides will work as a team to decide whether or not to include a youth – err on the side of inclusion Once the tally sheet is completed it should not be altered

Voluntary Participation Guides must read the consent statement in full for each youth they approach to take the survey during Stage 2 You must get their verbal consent (yes or si) to continue with the survey Guides should never pressure youth to take the survey, answer a question they do not want to answer, or finish the survey.

Respect Privacy Surveys should be completed at a safe distance from others to ensure privacy Never talk with anyone outside of the team or Team Captains about the youth or the surveys Assist Guides if they have any questions about a survey Contact a Team Captain if a question comes up that you cannot answer

Respect Privacy Ensure Guides place each survey in the envelope immediately after it is completed Keep completed surveys safe, covered, and clean Never leave them visible or unattended Return all blank and partially completed surveys to the Team Captain Do NOT throw any surveys away! Inform the Team Captain right away if any materials are stolen or lost

Ensure Safety Teams should stay together and know where everyone is at all times Surveys should only be completed in safe, public places Be aware of the interactions Guides have with other youth; Guides are being asked to immediately return to you if they feel unsafe If a Guide is worried about the safety or well-being of a youth they survey, they have been asked to notify you. You may do the following: If it is a true emergency, call 911 Provide youth with a resource list Contact the Team Captain immediately

Questions?