The Power of Peers and the Do's and Don'ts of Youth Guided Practice. 

Through the SAMHSA-funded NYS Success project, YOUTH POWER! partnered with Youth Fx to create two new videos: The Power of Peers and the Do's and Don'ts of Youth-Guided Practice. These videos amplified the voices of youth across the state and explored the importance of youth peer support, as well as tips on how to strengthen youth-adult partnerships to foster youth guided practices. Thank you to all who participated and assisted in the development of these videos and stay tuned in 2017 for more!

What is youth peer support and why is it important? These young leaders explore their experiences in giving and/or receiving support, the impact it had, and advice for those looking to incorporate youth peer support into their work or lives.

The Do's and Don'ts of Youth Guided Practice

Subscribe to our channel on YouTube by visiting bit.ly/YPvideos.

ATTENTION MEMBERS: Want to help create YP! original videos this year? Join the Outreach working group! Contact Brianna Valesey at [email protected] or 518-432-0333 ext. 31 for more information.

Questions? Contact [email protected] or 518-432-0333 ext. 31.

Call for Presentations

The Families Together in New York State Annual Conference is attended by families of children and youth with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges, services providers, educators, policymakers, advocates, and youth. They are currently accepting workshop proposals for the 2017 Conference - Building Strong Roots for Success: Growing a Movement.

Presentations must be strength-based, innovative, informational, interactive, offer effective strategies to empower participants, include a peer or family member (a youth with social, emotional and/or behavioral challenge or a family member of a child with social, emotional and/or behavioral challenge). Presentations are 75 minutes long and should include 15 minutes for questions and answers. Printed handouts (for 50 people) must be included with your presentation.

This conference has four tracks: 

• The family and advocate track for parents, caregivers, educators, staff and advocates; 
• the leadership track for individuals who are in leadership roles and who work in the local, regional and statewide network; 
• the partners track for youth and adults together and learn in a collaborative and interactive environment; 
• and the youth track which is delivered by young people ages 12-25 to help build self-help and advocacy skills.

YP! is currently seeking qualified applicants for the following positions:

PURPOSE: To engage in the leadership team of the system of care expansion and ensure youth-guided practice in all aspects of NYS Youth and Families ACHIEVE (Advancing Care through Health Integration and Evidence-based Effort) 

The State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) is working on a campaign to increase access to driver's licenses and state IDs for young people in foster care. Before they begin to develop their policy strategy they want to hear from young people in foster care to better inform their work.

To complete the survey, visit  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T35WMF6

• NYS Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa
• NYS Regent Roger Tilles
• Christopher Suriano, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Special Education, New York State Education Department
• Assemblyman Brian Curran
• Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer - Chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Students with Special Needs

FEDCAP is offering FREE Occupational Training leading to certification and job placement in a choice of (1) Home Care (2) Food Services and (3) Information Technology; HSE preparation classes; career-based mentorship; and comprehensive support/case management services (i.e., Legal Advisement, Housing Referrals, etc.) to young adults, ages 16 thru 24, who are not working and not in school.

Located in the Bronx, their Youth Training Network Program (YTNP) is designed to assist young adults with developing life skills, character building, career readiness and accomplishing their life goals. They focus on empowerment through personal and professional advancement. At YTNP, we provide occupational training (Health Care, Food Services, and Information Technology) to out-of-school youth/young adults, ages 16 to 24. They also provide one-year of comprehensive case management/support services to young adults in at-risk conditions (such as homelessness, foster care, low-income, juvenile justice experience) followed by one-year of aftercare services to ensure that young people are fully supported.

For more information, contact: 
Eric Fernandez, Career/Job Development Specialist

Tel: 917-477-2895

E-mail: [email protected]

by Elijah Fagan-Solis

Over the summer I had the opportunity to visit a zoo in Athens, Georgia.  It housed an alligator, deer, otters, and a bear among other wildlife, but my favorite was the bald eagle.  I never had the opportunity to view one up close, and I almost didn't as there was a case of vandalism a week before where an owl had escaped.  But this eagle named Honovi couldn't escape if he tried; he was housed in an open enclosed environment as he had an injury to a joint in one of his wings and no longer could fly or soar.  As I stood in awe of this symbol of the American dream, I thought about how majestic of an animal he was, and the circumstances that led to his life being dramatically changed.  Was this real life?

I thought about Honovi today, January 12th, on National I Am a Mentor Day, a day for volunteer mentors to celebrate their role and reflect on the ways mentees have enhanced their world.  I thought about how some youth face circumstances and situations that lead to their life dramatically changing, such as making a mistake that lands them in front of a judge.  I thought about how Honovi wasn't born with the instinct to fly and hunt but had to learn these skills by observing his parents as an eaglet in a process called imprinting. Likewise, young people today are observing everything around them and developing patterns, skills, and ideas on how to grow into young adults and survive in a cut-throat world.  It is easy to see the importance of our young people needing good role models with so many influences surrounding them.  I understand more than ever that my role as a mentor, in real life, is far more important than I ever realized; what an honor and great responsibility it is to have young eagle eyes watching you.

A fact about eagles I have used before with mentees is how they know when a storm is approaching before it breaks.  Eagles will fly to a higher location and wait for the winds to come, set their wings, and let the winds lift them above the storm.  Although the Eagle doesn't escape the storm, it uses the storm to lift it higher.  While young people, as well us all, are bound to make mistakes or have challenging circumstances enter our lives, it is important for us to learn from them and rise above them so that we can continue to soar towards our dreams and goals.  You wouldn't believe how many times my mentees have reminded me of this message when I needed it the most!

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve as a mentor to people I have intentionally placed under my wings, and those who have nestled under unknowingly.  While there are times where less fortunate circumstances are the topic of a meeting, what a shared opportunity it provides to teach and learn, and even share about our own similar experiences, which not only helps them but also helps us as a mentor.  Remember, it is not the circumstances of life that weigh us down; it is how we handle them.

If you are ready to make the important decision to soar as a mentor or would like to learn more about National Mentoring Month, you can find additional resources online by visiting www.mentoring.org.

Familiar with the Office of Mental Health "Find a Program" portal? This resource has been updated!

This program directory makes it easier to find mental health programs in your community or nearby communities through three search options. This search enables you to find programs based on county, region, whether the program is recipient run, and more. This tool was recently moved to a new platform and has a new link.  It is requested that individuals and organizations who have the old portal link in existing materials (such as websites, bookmarks, or documents) update their materials with the new link.

The portal can be accessed via:   https://my.omh.ny.gov/bi/pd. 

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on how this resource can continue to improve, contact [email protected]

Note: This position will be based in Syracuse, NY, with frequent travel to New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) in New York City. Work location will be 620 Madison Street, Syracuse, New York 13210 (New York State Office of Mental Health office on the Hutchings Psychiatric Center campus).

Foster Youth in Action (FYA) is seeking a Lead Organizer to coordinate all efforts related to FYA's national committee Leaders United.

POSITION TITLE: Leaders United Lead Organizer

FYA PROJECT: FYA's Leaders United 

REPORTS TO: Director of Programs, FYA
COMPENSATION & HOURS: Part-Time, $18-23/hour for up to 16 hours per week

LOCATION: FYA's Office is located in Berkeley, CA but candidates based in other locations will be considered. Some travel is required. 

Leaders United works to identify & amplify national priority issues across FYA's Network, raise up local action, and lead FYA's annual Leaders for Change Conference in Washington, DC. LU Members also receive leadership & professional development training throughout the year. 

• Coordinate bi-monthly Leaders United Leadership and Planning Meetings; including preparing agendas, identifying leadership trainers, & supporting co-facilitation with LU Members and Alumni
• Provide on-going support and community building opportunities for Leaders United Members and Alumni; including LU Member Outreach, Social Media Engagement, and connecting Leaders United to resources through FYA's online learning community
• Provide logistical and planning support for national Leaders for Change Conference, and other youth convenings as directed
• In partnership with FYA Director of Programs and other FYA Staff & Trainers, co-facilitate youth leadership trainings and capacity building services as requested by partners

 To view the full posting, click here.