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Community Education Digest
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Welcome to our Community Education Digest! As a refresher, the aim of Ozone House's Community Education Digest newsletter is to connect our community's resources and services with the youth and families who need them most. Each month, the Community Education Digest highlights an Ozone House program along with related resources in our community. Many of these resources can also be found in the Ozone House Info Cards shown below.
This month we highlight our Youth Employment Opportunities.
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Youth Employment and Leadership
Opportunities
At Ozone House our goal is to empower youth and support them in accessing their skills and cultivating their potential. We offer a number of youth employment opportunities to help our youth gain independence and a greater sense of self-worth. The three primary programs to support employment are Peer Outreach, WorkZone and our Leadership Institute.
Peer Outreach: Each year a Street Outreach Team of approximately 5-8 trained Peer Outreach Workers (POW's) is chosen. This group is made of up youth, ages 15-19, that demonstrate leadership qualities. They provide homeless and high-risk youth with on-the-street support and information. POWs are selected through the Peer Outreach Worker Institute held each fall. Read below to learn more about our current POWs and how to apply!
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March WorkZone graduates |
WorkZone: An employment training and paid internship program so homeless or at-risk youth, ages 18-20, can prepare for their first job. WorkZone also partners with Food Gatherers to extend internship opportunities youth age 16-18. WorkZone consists of a two week training portion followed by a 100-hour paid internship at a local business, nonprofit or company. Training is offered 3 times a year with the next WorkZone session starting in late October. Look for applications to be out in late September or early October!
The Leadership Institute: A one week program, offered twice per year, based at the Drop-In Center. This program offers young people an opportunity to participate in workshops on topics like public speaking, personal finance and credit management, creative expression, team building, community resources, and education. Through participation in the leadership institute, youth have the opportunity to connect with to the youth public speaking group, SpeakOut and other roles within the agency.
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Meet the Peer Outreach Workers
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Although their year as POWs is almost over, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the young people who have supported the drop-in center and outreach efforts for the past year!
Our team of young people, DeQuanne, JeJuan, Thomas, Will, Jocelyn and team leader Darius have spent countless hours walking through the streets of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, attending community fairs and events, to create awareness for Ozone House and educate young folks about the services available. The POWs are also integral to maintaining the drop-in center space. They support programming and act as models for their peers in space.
To become a Peer Outreach Worker, youth must attend peer outreach institute.
POW Institute
4-6pm: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
4-8pm: Tuesday & Thursday
If you know a young person interested in becoming a Peer Outreach Worker, please email Scott Phillips at
sphillips@ozonehouse.org or have them fill out the
POW application to join the institute and apply for a Peer Outreach position.
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Resources for Youth in our Community
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Corner Health Youth Employment Opportunities
Corner Health's mission is to provide judgement-free, high-quality, affordable health services to young people aged 12 through 25.
Corner wants to get youth involved in every aspect of their health care. Programs, services and the community is stronger when youth are engaged.
Youth Leadership Council:
The YLC is a diverse, youth-led group that stands to uphold leadership, promote change, and raise awareness about community health issues. The YLC's goals are to:
- Research community health and safety issues;
- Use media and the arts to advocate for change; and
- Partner with youth, adults, and other organizations to make the Corner Health Center and its surrounding community a healthier and safer place for young people
Theater Troupe Peer Educators:
Theatre Troupe is a peer health education program that uses theatre as a tool to teach others how to be healthy. Young people, ages 14-18, get to use their ideas and talents to teach others about important health issues.
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826michigan Educational Support
826michigan is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Services are structured around our belief that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Although dedicated to writing, 826Michigan offers support in any subject area to students, including math and foreign languages.
Programs:
- Tutoring
- Workshops
- Drop-In Writing
- Field Trips
- In School Programs
- Publishing
To learn more check out
or their fall
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The Education Project Updates
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WE HAVE BACKPACKS!
We have been overwhelmed with the support from the community and have plenty of supplies to distribute to youth identified under the McKinney-Vento Act. If students in your schools or programs need backpacks, school supplies, socks or underwear, please connect with the Education Project for supports.
As a reminder there is a new Education Project referral available for fall 2016. The referral is intended to be filled out by school staff or community partners with the students or families in need of support. Once a referral is completed, the information should be shared with the Education Project staff as well as the Local Liason.
Click here to obtain a copy:
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The Education Project, sometimes known as the Education Project for Homeless Youth, is designed to ensure that students experiencing homelessness or unstable living situations enroll, regularly attend, and succeed in school. Under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, students who are homeless must have equal access to free and appropriate public education.
The Education Project works closely with Liaisons in the school districts, Allies within each school, community partners, and families to identify and serve all youth affected by homelessness.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Education Project
Who is Homeless?
Homelessness does not always look like a family living in a car or on the street; it exists in many different versions. The primary criteria we consider are: Is their housing Fixed? Is it Regular? And is it Adequate?
Fixed: Is it permanent or not subject to change? For example, is the person staying somewhere that they have a right to live? Are they not on the lease? Could they be asked to leave?
Regular: Are they staying the same place every night? Do they have to switch locations frequently?
Adequate: Is the residence sufficient? Do youth staying in the home have a bed to sleep in? Are there health risks and unsanitary conditions in the home? Does it meet the physical and psychological needs of a child?
Although we all hope that homelessness is very temporary, it can be a perpetual experience for many families and unaccompanied youth. It is important to ask these questions and understand each family and youth's situation.
How can I access the Education Project?
The education project is housed in the Washtenaw Intermediate School District. The website is
http://www.washtenawisd.org/services/k-12-student-services. Here you can find information about who is eligible for McKinney-Vento services, what services are offered and additional links and supports around youth homelessness and education.
How can I help?
The Education Project relies on a combination of grant support from the state and donations from members of the community. Many of the items provided to families, like toiletries and school supplies, are supplied through donations. This allows the Education Project the ability to fund other school related expenses like field trips, sports/activities, tutoring services and temporary transportation for students. Additionally, the program is always looking for volunteers to help pack up supplies for youth as well as deliver supports to schools within the districts. By having a team of volunteers ready to disperse supplies, EPHY will serve families more effectively. Click here to learn about ways you can help:
The Education Project Volunteer Flyer
The Education Project office is staffed regularly Monday - Thursday from 9am - 3:30pm.
Any questions regarding a young person's McKinney-Vento status and the supports available can be direct to
ephycontact@washtenawisd.org, or by phone at (734) 994-8100 x1518.
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If you know a youth or family who could benefit from Ozone House services,
please have them call our 24-hour Crisis Line:
734.662.2222
There is always somebody here to listen.
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Need More Information About Ozone House?
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| Ozone House Poster |
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We will come to you!
We provide educational presentations to middle and high school classrooms or assemblies, as well as organizations throughout Washtenaw County.
To order free printed education materials, or to schedule a presentation,
contact Dawn Espy at
call (734) 994-8100 x1518
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Ozone House Outreach Card |
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To learn more about all of our crisis intervention, housing or support services, or to get involved with Ozone House,
please visit our website at
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