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Community Education Digest
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Welcome to our Community Education Digest! 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 Safe Stay Program.
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Safe Stay
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Safe Stay is Ozone House's emergency shelter program for youth ages 10-17 years old. Safe Stay offers a welcoming place for young people when they need a safe place to stay or a break from conflict at home. When young people and parent/guardian agree to participate in Safe Stay, youth engage in a 2-3 week program that involves daily therapy and skills groups along with a continuation of the youth's educational plan. If possible and safe, Parents or Guardians often engage in family therapy to move toward better communication and family reunification. During a young person's stay they can expect to participate in:
- Individual & family therapy
- Group therapy
- Life Skills workshops
- Educational support
- Safe recreational activities
When leaving Safe Stay, Ozone staff help youth return to a safe home with a personalized action plan and ongoing therapy and services. If you know of a young person who might be in need of emergency shelter please contact Ozone's Crisis Line at 734-662-2222.
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Kayla joined the Ozone House team as a Clinical Case Manager in summer of 2018 and jumped right into work. Originally from the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area, Kayla attended Pioneer High School and graduated with her BSW from Eastern Michigan University. She then went on to complete her Masters in Social Work at The University of Chicago. Although relatively new to Ozone House, Kayla is not new to the field of social work. Over the past nine years, she engaged in work around trauma, behavior therapy, substance abuse as well as work within the autism community. She is passionate about working with children and youth and supporting them as they navigate through their past and present experiences with trauma. Kayla sees her role as helping a young person build a bridge toward telling their own story narrative.
As the Clinical Case Manager, Kayla is helping young adults work toward independent living by supporting housing transitions, building life skills and examining the role that mental, physical and emotional health plays in their lives. She comes into her role with an understanding of how tricky it is to navigate systems and an appreciation of the need for support in this process. Kayla enjoys that her role combines the opportunity to engage and have a genuine personal connection with youth while utilizing various therapeutic models to work toward their collective goals. Kayla likes working at Ozone House because of the focus on youth, particularly those that may not be served in other spaces. While only here a short time, Kayla already values the community that is fostered within the staff at Ozone and is excited about the opportunity to grow professionally within it. When not working, Kayla enjoys relaxing at home with a good book, her husband and animals. She is also known to get pretty invested in some competition cooking shows.
Kayla can be reached through email at klajoie@ozonehouse.org or through the Ozone House business line 734-662-2265.
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Resources for Youth in our Community
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January Resources
This month we are highlighting free events that celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King and his fight for social justice and equal
opportunity.
January 21, 2019, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
33rd Annual Keynote MLK Memorial Lecture: Tim Wise and Julia Putnam
Auditorium Hill Auditorium
825 N. University Ave. Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Every year the symposium features a keynote memorial lecture. This year will feature two speakers, Tim Wise, author and scholar, and Julia Putnam, Detroit principal and writer. Each will give a brief lecture before sitting down together for a structured dialogue.
January 21, 2019, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM
One family's story: People, Policy, & the Politics of Deportation
1120 Annenberg Auditorium Weill Hall
735 S State Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-3091
- Join Rachel Woolf, artist; Emilio GutiƩrrez Soto, Knight-Wallace Fellow, Mexican journalist and asylum seeker; Laura Sanders, co-founder of the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights; Ann Lin and Fabiana Silva, faculty of the Ford School of Public Policy for an interdisciplinary discussion on the recent history, impact, and ramifications of current American immigration policy.
January 21, 2019, 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
MLK Children and Youth Program
MLB 1200 Modern Language
Building
812 E. Washington Street Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- K-12 grades enrolled in school communities throughout Southeastern Michigan are invited to participate in a day filled with rich and engaging activities commemorating the legacy and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Participants will experience Dr. King's legacy through musical performances, guided discussions, storytelling, group projects, planned lessons, and more...Free Lunch! RSVP https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/mlk/
January 21, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Martin Luther King Day Keynote Speaker: Keith Boykin
Student Center Auditorium Eastern Michigan University
900 Oakwood St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
- Keith Boykin is a CNN political commentator, New York Times best-selling author, journalist, actor and public speaker. He also teaches at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University in New York.
January 21, 2019 6:30 pm
Ypsilanti Public Library MLK Day Celebration: The Power of Words
YDL-Whittaker
5577 Whittaker Road
Ypsilanti
,
MI
48197
United States
- Join Akili Jackson for an evening of interactive music and spoken word to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kids can take a turn at the mic to share their voices and be part of the conversation about creating positive change in Ypsi through music.
- "I Have a Dream" Collaborative Sculpture. People are invited to come and help construct a community sculpture. This collaborative project offers the space to share dreams for the future, much like King had a dream. All ages and levels of artistic skill are welcome.
January 21, 2019 2:00pm to 3:00pm
- Filled with the West African sounds of GOREE Drum & Dance (Giving Others Resources, Education and Empowerment through Drum and Dance.) The concert is in the lobby, so patrons can linger and listen to the music, or take the energetic spirit with them through the rest of their day.
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SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
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The Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED) and the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County (SAWC) announce the opening of winter warming centers for those experiencing homelessness during severe cold weather.
Jointly funded for the fourth year by the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County and lead by SAWC; thewinter weather response provides expanded winter shelter services for the homeless.
Expanded services include an:
- overnight warming center at the Delonis Center from 7pm - 7am accommodating up to 50 people in the shelter's dining room and common areas; and
- daytime warming centers at area churches that will be available to the homeless population throughout the winter.
A current list of daytime center locations and hours are available here.
For individuals needing to escape adverse cold conditions (real or wind chill air temperature at 20 degrees or below) before continuing on their destination; temporary weather havens are also available. These sites are for all Washtenaw County residents and will be activated when the weather reaches extreme temperatures, requiring public school closings. A current list of weather haven locations and hours are available here.
The Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development is committed to ensuring that all Washtenaw County residents are protected during severe weather condition
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The Education Project Updates
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Education Projects Supports and Services
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Below is the 2018 - 2019 referral. Please use this referral when working with students and families this school year.
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 Liaison.
Any questions about the referral or referral process can be directed to or call us at 734-994-8100 x1518.
Click here to obtain a copy:
If you have new staff or want to provide current staff with a refresher around the McKinney-Vento Law and how to support students in your school, please let us know. We will come trainings for teachers, administrators, school counselors, social workers or anyon
I
e in the community.
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Coats, Hats and Gloves!!
Coats: We continue to distribute coats as they come in. We have many of your requests and are filling them as quickly as possible. If there is a student you feel needs to be prioritized, please let us know!
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THE EDUCATION PROJECT
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The Education Project is a joint program of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) and Ozone House. The Education Project 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 serves children & youth, ages 0-21, from the 9 school districts and thirteen public school academies (PSA) in the county.
Each district and PSA has a McKinney-Vento liaison and we work directly with them as well as allies within each school to provide support to students and families experiencing homelessness.
The Education Project works closely with community partners: Hospitals, clinics, shelters and other non-profits to make sure that students get the wraparound support they need.
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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
https://washtenawisd.org/services/ephy/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.
The Education Project office is staffed regularly Monday - Thursday from 9am - 4pm.
How can I help?
- Volunteer to pack backpacks and organize supplies
- Host a supply or gift card drive for:
- Back-to-School
- Holiday
- Graduation
- Or any time!
- Donate funds, gift cards or in-kind donations from our wish list, including: clothing, hygiene items, school supplies, bus tokens and more.
- Advocate to your federal legislators to keep the McKinney-Vento Act funded
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,text,or chat 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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