What We Do at the Broadway Youth Center Imani Rupert Director, Broadway Youth Center

THE SAFETY NET Who we serve What we offer at BYC Who we are How we do what we do

Sources: thetaskforce.org | hrc.org | nationalhomeless.org | Chicago Public Schools WHO WE SERVE While only 10% of youth identify as LGBT 40% of LGBT Only 250 beds available 1.7 Million Adolescents experience at least one episode of homelessness 1 IN 3 Trans Youth Will be turned away from shelters because of their gender identity 98.3% of the city’s homeless youth are children of color There are 2,000 youth experience homelessness Youth experience homelessness In Chicago…

Our integrated approach to harm reduction includes: Client-centered practices Trauma-informed practices Anti-oppressive frameworks HARM REDUCTION

Drop-In Food Obtain basic supplies Mail pick up Phone calls/access to voice mail Provide space for respite Laundry Youth-led workshops Counseling/Therapy services Resource advocacy GED classes Documentation support Birth certificates State ID card Name change Gender marker change Referrals for housing/shelter Support obtaining employment Obtain clothing vouchers Health services Basic medical care Benefits enrollment HIV/STI testing & treatment Counseling Outreach tabling and testing Health Ed. Workshops/presentations BYC SERVICES

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Our day-to-day impact: Drop-In 577 participants Health/Medical 1,811 medical visits 100% linkage to care rate for all positive HIV/STI results Resource Advocacy 4,033 one-on-one sessions At least 42 youth found more stable housing BYC served as a warming station for youth during the cold Providing extra hours of service When CPS and HBHC is closed Responsive support:

THE BYC TEAM Kylon Hooks Manager Maya Petitucci-Cruz Lead Worker Benjamin Hart Drop in worker Adrianna Collis Manager Sadie Baker Lead RA Sarah Doaud RA LaTonya Maley Manager Edwin Ervin Health Educator Liz Franco Registered Nurse Erica Gaddy Nurse Practitioner Femmily Robison Health Educator Drop-In Resource advocacy Health education & services Carnesha Johnson Health Educator Aiden Harrington Nurse Practitioner Cassie Warren Benefits counselor Imani Rupert BYC Director Zahara Bassett BYC Receptionist BYC Administration Amy Nicole Miller Associate Director TBD GED Coordinator

A trampoline and a safety net, while serving different purposes, are similar. The difference between helping someone absorb a downward impact as opposed to propelling them upward is simply a tightening of existing systems. At the BYC, we continue to tighten and strengthen the systems that help us do the work we do. Create stability Nurture collaboration Invest in staff TRAMPOLINE

A PLACE TO CALL HOME Special use permit New friends, neighbors, allies Good neighbor agreement Special use permit New friends, neighbors, allies Permanent location KEEPING OUR DOORS OPEN

BUILDING COMMUNITY Nurture communication and collaboration with: Neighbors Local government Large funders and individual supporters External community partners Howard Brown

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Training Provided for staff, interns volunteers & Peer Advocates Trainings on harm reduction, trauma informed care, and transformative and restorative justice

FUTURE OF BYC Continue to create linkages to health care Continue to connect youth to education outcomes Continue to create interruptions to the results of poverty Support a holistic approach to health care

THANK YOU For you dedication to this life-saving work