University of Youth Power 2023 |
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We are thrilled to invite you to the 9th annual University of Youth Power (UYP) taking place from July 22 to 24, 2023, at Siena College in Loudonville, New York. This youth-led peer leadership conference is a remarkable event that aims to empower Youth Peer Advocates (ages 18-30) and change agents like you, providing invaluable opportunities to enhance your skills and expand your professional network.
The University of Youth Power offers three exciting tracks for students to choose from: Peer Advocacy, Systems Advocacy, or Recovery Advocacy. Whether you're passionate about advocating for your peers, making a difference in larger systems, or supporting recovery journeys, there's a track tailored to your interests and goals. By attending UYP, you'll gain expert knowledge, practical tools, and strategies to amplify your voice and lead transformative change.
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June 2023
'The Voice' is Families Together in New York State's monthly newsletter with information that is important to families, and youth across the State of New York.
For further information visit our website:
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New York State Youth Mental Health Summit |
Governor Kathy Hochul presented key findings from a summary report on the Youth Listening Tour. The report discusses recommendations for addressing the youth mental health crisis. The Governor unveiled the report at the New York State Summit on Youth Mental Health, attended by experts, advocates, parents, educators, and over 1,000 participants. FTNYS CEO Paige Pierce, Youth Power Director Tiara Springer-Love, and Board Member Isaiah Santiago spoke at the summit. Links to their panel discussions are below.
Read more about the event in the Public Policy section below.
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At Families Together in New York State, we believe in celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity. This month provides a crucial opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals in the realm of mental health and cross systems. Pride Month offers an opportunity to recognize the historical struggles for LGBTQIA+ rights, while also acknowledging the ongoing fight for acceptance, belonging and justice. By celebrating Pride Month, we can promote visibility, educate others, and work towards creating a society where everyone can live authentically without fear of discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Learn more in the DEI section
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FANS Technical Assistance Office Hours
Multiple Dates
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FANS Basic Training
July 17, 18, 19 & 20, 2023
10:00AM-12:30PM
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University of Youth Power
July 22-24, 2023
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New changes at FTNYS!
We are thrilled to announce that FTNYS has been awarded two new infrastructure grants from the Office of Mental Health (OMH). These grants aim to strengthen family and youth peer support, and they serve as a testament to the state's commitment to empowering families and youth through the enhancement of the Youth and Family Support Networks. The grants will not only transform the internal structure of FTNYS but also facilitate growth the Support Networks throughout the state.
As part of the new structure at FTNYS, we have added at least one Youth and one Family Peer to each department, including Public Policy, DEI, Communications, Training & Workforce Development, Community Engagement & Outreach, and, of course, Youth Power. Our updated organizational chart will soon be available on our website.
Within this evolving landscape, several Parent Advisors will transition into new roles within these departments, while we warmly bid farewell to those who are retiring or relocating. These dedicated individuals have played a crucial role in providing invaluable guidance, advocacy, and support to our network and families navigating the mental health system. We forever appreciate their contributions and commitment to empowering families.
Additionally, OMH is actively hiring new Family Peer Specialists and Youth Peer Specialists for each of its five regional offices, recognizing the significance of peer support in the mental health field. These specialists will serve as invaluable resources, connecting families and youth peer support programs within their respective regions. Moreover, they will contribute to an inclusive environment within the regional offices, where families and youth are actively involved in the team and contribute to a culture of inclusivity.
Collectively, these initiatives pave the way for a stronger network, ensuring that families and youth across NY State have greater access to peer support.
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FTNYS at the Youth Mental Health Summit! |
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Governor Kathy Hochul released the key findings of a summary report of the Youth Listening Tour, held in counties statewide earlier this spring, outlining both findings and recommendations on how to best address the youth mental health crisis. The Governor released the summary report at the first-ever New York State Summit on Youth Mental Health at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, where she was joined by national mental health experts, youth advocates and providers, parents and caregivers, law enforcement specialists, educators, and over 1,000 attendees to examine the unprecedented mental health challenges many young people face.
FTNYS CEO Paige Pierce, Youth Power Director Tiara Springer-Love, and Board Member Isaiah Santiago all spoke on panels at the summit. Many other FTNYS members and staff were in attendance as well to make our voice heard.
The Summit on Youth Mental Health convened leaders, experts, and youth themselves to discuss the findings in the Youth Listening Tour summary report, which included several overall themes such as:
- The impact of the pandemic varied among youth and over time.
- Youth keenly understand the benefits and risks of social media and potential strategies to support healthy use.
- Developing positive peer relationships and social skills is challenging, and youth are calling for multiple school and community-based approaches to assist in the development of interpersonal skills and friendships.
- Youth highly value confidentiality, and why they perceive privacy and confidentiality has been violated it deters youth from developing connections with adults and seeking help.
- Youth prefer mental health interactions with trusted adults who are like them (age, demographics) and reported an overall perception of a lack of empathy and cultural sensitivity in adults.
- Youth want increased accountability for other students, teachers, and school policies.
We look forward to continuing to work with the governor's office to bring family and youth voice into this process and to improve the ongoing mental health crisis in New York State.
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NYS Legislative Session Summary
Although not technically over, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for this longer-than-usual legislative session. We have a mostly complete picture of what bills were moved through the Assembly and Senate. A full summary can be found below, but here are some highlights in terms of FTNYS's legislative goals.
Passed
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S5900 (Brisport)/A5960 (Solages) – The bill establishes a ten-member task force on adverse childhood experience (ACEs) to examine, evaluate and accept public comment and prepare recommendations for creating trauma-informed policies
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S1861 (Brouk)/A1510 (Jean-Pierre) – Establishes a black youth suicide prevention task force to study the current mental health practices and suicide prevention of black youth aged 5 through 18 years
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S7551-A (Myrie)/A1029-C (Cruz) – Known as The Clean Act, the bill authorizes the automatic sealing of certain conviction misdemeanor and felony records after a specific period of time for individuals that have completed their sentences and meet certain eligibility requirements.
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S5327A (Brisport)/A4986A (Hevesi) -the bill amends section 410-x of the social services law by adding a new subdivision 9 which states that a family eligible for child care assistance based on the parent's or caregiver's employment, training, educational program, or other approved activity, shall be eligible for a full-time child care slot regardless of the hours of the activity of the parent's or caregiver's reason for care, provided that the amount to be paid or allowed shall be the actual cost of care but no more than the applicable market-related payment rate.
Not Passed
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S1040-A (Jackson) /A 5691 (Solages) - Known as the Solutions Not Suspensions, the purpose of this bill is to reform school discipline policies to ensure the application of fair and equitable school discipline for all students. The Senate bill was amended at the 11th hour with changes not supported by the advocates.
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S901 (Brisport)/A1980 (Walker) – Known as the Miranda Bill of Rights, the bill amends the Social Services Law to require a child protective services investigator to orally and in writing inform parents of their rights as it relates to the investigation.
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A7395 (Darling)/No Same As – The bill amends Section 1.03 of the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) to add new definitions of Adult Mental Health Peer, Family Mental Health Peer and Youth Mental Health Peer, as well as definitions of Certified Mental Health Peer, Credentialed Family Peer and Credentialed Youth Peer.
Uncertain
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S2237-A (Rivera)/A3020-A (Gonzalez-Rojas) – Referred to as “Coverage for All,” the bill directs the Commissioner of Health to modify the1332 waiver program request to seek coverage for certain undocumented individuals that are residents of New York State through the Essential Plan.
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S902 (Brisport)/A2479 (Hevesi) – Known as the Anti-Harassment Bill, the bill requires that when a call is made to New York's Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Mistreatment (SCR) the caller's name and contact information shall be included in the information Recorded and transmitted to the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and to the appropriate local child protective service.
FTNYS will monitor both of these bills to see if they are up when the Assembly returns later in June.
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Josie Carter (Birthdate unknown - 2014) was an early Milwaukee LGBTQ drag performer and unsung hero for over five decades.Born as male (Joseph), Josie always said she was "more of a personality than a performer." She didn't identify with the word transgender, although she (by today's standards) would seem to have lived an almost complete transgender life as a female.
While still using her given name, Joseph she started living her truth at the age of 15 in 1950s Milwaukee.
Given affirmation from her Mother, Josie was empowered to advocate. Josie served in Navy and became a parent to a son, worked, loved and created her chosen family and support system.
On August 5, 1961, four party-going sailors entered Black Nite, a popular St. Paul Avenue gay bar in Milwaukee and started a fight with the bouncer, only to be chased out of the bar by gender-nonconforming Black “queen” Josie Carter.
Josie left her mark as one of the trailblazers within the Pride movement. She predated Stonewall and remained until her death in 2014 UN-apologetically herself, a wife, mother and unsung hero within the ongoing movement for change!
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Yolo Akili Robinson is an award-winning writer, healing justice worker, yogi and the founder and Executive Director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective). Yolo has worked primarily in three areas: Batterers intervention/family counseling with Black men and boys, HIV/AIDS, and healing justice/wellness. Yolo was awarded the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Health Equity Award" for his work. His writings and work have appeared on Shondaland, GQ, Women's Health, USA Today, Vice, BET, Huffington Post, Ebony, Everyday Feminisms and more. He is the author of "Dear Universe: Letters of Affirmation & Empowerment for All of Us" (Michael Todd Books, 2016) and a contributor to Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown's anthology on Black vulnerability and shame resilience, "You are Your Best Thing" (2021, Random House Books).
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Julio Salgado is a Queer Mexican born artist, filmaker and activist using is creativity to shine a light on the plight of undocumented LGBTQIA lives. He is the cofound of DReamersAdrift and manages The Center Fultural Power and is co-creator of the Disruptors Fellowship, whish assists emerging media writer of color who are trans, non-binary, disabled, undocumented, His art evokes empathy and a call to action. Check his work out at https://www.juliosalgadoart.com
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The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC), the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), and the Avellaka Program’s Rainbow of Truth Circle of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians Summary of Conversations to address the unique needs of Native 2-Spirit+ and LGBTQ survivors of gender based violence. |
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is an organization that offers information designed to help students take action and initiate changes in their schools and communities. Students who are interested in starting a Gender and Sexuality Alliance in their school can register to find resources and learn more about how student-led movements can help foster more inclusive schools for all students. Learn more here.
GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality is an organization that works to connect people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender with welcoming healthcare providers. You can visit the site to search their provider directory to find healthcare professionals in your area.
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Juneteenth is a 155 years old celebration of the liberation of African Americans from slavery in the U.S. The reason for it being celebrated on June 19 is because, on this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Texas to announce that slavery was abolished by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, two years earlier. Granger’s arrival at Texas was to enforce this decree for more than 250,000 slaves in Texas. Juneteenth is an American celebration and one that must be acknowledged. Our country is facing a movement that serves to remove rights, promote censorship, control and ban creativity and legally control the bodies of women, LGBTQIA and other identities. It reminds us that our country that was built on the backs of those whose history is being erased, as educational curriculum and children can no longer explore their identities with support affirmation and love. Juneteenth reminds us that while change is possible, we must not relax because the fight for equal rights, systems change and equity belongs to each and every one of us. Let Juneteenth propel us to stay woke, pay attention and advocate!
"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."
John Lewis (1940 - 2020) Civil Rights Hero, Icon and Member - House of Representatives Georgia's 5th District 1987-2020)
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BEAM BLACK EMOTIONAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH COLLECTIVE
New virtual Offerings
Black Healing Remixed is an interactive community program that creates conversations and events that provide mental health education while centering Black folks' unique healing practices and approaches.
Heart Space: Peer Support Healing Circle
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Serving Nonbinary, Maternal Health, Mental Wellness, Parenting, Peer Support across Identity, Gender, Ethnicity and Experience. Click |
LEEP! Lead Love Elevate Empower
Healing Peer Support Affinity Space for Fathers of Color parenting Nuerodivergent youth.
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National Queet & Trans Therapist of Color Network
The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color (QTPoC). We work at the intersection of movements for social justice and the field of mental health to integrate healing justice into both of these spaces. Our overall goal is to increase access to healing justice resources for QTPoC.
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Reach out to the
DEI Department
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Kim D. Kaiser
Simcha Weinstien
Justice Walcott
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UYP Scholarships are Open! Apply Now! |
Apply now for a chance to attend
UYP for FREE!
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Sponsor Youth & Exhibit at UYP |
Exhibit at UYP's Student Resource Fair
The resource fair is an opportunity to network and interact with UYP students and share your resources. The Resource Fair will take place on July 23rd at Siena College in Loudonville, NY
There is NO COST to table.
Exhibitors are encouraged to join UYP Graduation!
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Support Our Youth & Become a Sponsor!
Your sponsorship will underwrite the registration fee for youth to attend UYP, transportation, meals, boarding, activities, swag bags, and more. Your logo will also be on all materials and here on our webpage!
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NYS has Launched a New Youth Mental Health Listening Tour!
Tackling the youth mental health crisis starts with listening to what our young people have to say about the challenges they’re facing. That’s why NYS has launched a Youth Mental Health Listening Tour.
Listen to Kay-Danielle tell her courageous story to Governer Kathy Hochul.
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The NYC Justice Peer And St Francis College Present The Naugural NYS Area Conference! |
Friday, June 30th, Building the Justice Peer Community in NY: Pushing Policy & Progress Forward Conference is taking place!
This Full-Day Conference will show you how you can collectively make policies, learn, heal and advocate for Us By Us! Workshops will focus on strengthening the Criminal-legacy peer Workforce Community. While promoting peer voices as the "Subject" of the conference.
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VOYA (Voices of Youth Advisors) is the youth advisory council of Rensselaer County. As a part of VOYA, you become a part of the Youth Power network, the New York State network of young people who have been labeled and who are seeking change.
Who can join?
- Any young person that wants a chance to make a difference
- Young people between the ages of 14 and 28 who live in Rensselaer County
- Have experience(d) in foster care or have received mental health, juvenile justice, substance abuse, and disability and/or special education services or identifies with an at-risk community in Rensselaer County
- Any young person who wants to get $25 for attending county committee meetings
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Youth Peer Meetings Are Here for You |
Join Our Peer Supervisors Meetings |
Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood |
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FPA Level 2, 4-Day Virtual Training:
1-hour orientation
November 29 @ 9:30am - 10:30am
plus 4-day training:
November 30 & December 1, 4-5
9:30 AM to 3:00 PM each day
A few spots remain!
Email FPACredential@ftnys.org to register today!
YPA Level 2, 4-Day Virtual Training:
November 16-17 & 20-21, 2023
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM each day
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Supporting Transgender Youth in New York State
Thursday, June 22, 2023
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
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Gender identity and expression are central to the way we see ourselves and engage in the world around us. This is really true for transgender and gender - expansive children and teens, for whom family support is incredibly important. In fact, research reflects that gender - affirming behavior on the part of caregivers and other adults (family members, teachers, etc.) greatly improves mental health and well - being. And, the opposite is true too - transgender children are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and are at greater risk of other challenges when their caregivers are hostile or rejecting. It has also been found that transgender youth are at greatest risk of suicide (compared to their non - transgender peers) as a result of rejection, bullying, and other victimization. All young people — regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression — deserve to be safe, supported, and healthy.
In this webinar, participants will learn:
- Brief introduction to terminology
- Differences between sexual orientation and gender identity
- Formation/expression of LGBTQ+ identities in youth
- The impact of discrimination and prejudice on LGBTQ+ communities including trans youth
- The national landscape as it pertains to rising Anti - LGBTQ+ sentiment
- How trans youth can build resilience
- How to support LGBTQ+ communities
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Credential Verification Tool for Youth and Family Peer Advocates |
Do you know your credential expiration date?
Youth and Family Peer Advocates, their supervisors, and agencies can check the current status of any Provisional or Professional Credential using our online verification tools anytime!
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The New York State Office of Mental Health is excited to share the newest educational resource about 988 in New York. The Just the Facts infographic includes several key facts about 988, such as details on who answers 988 calls and how 988 differs from 911.
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Grant Opportunity
Intensive and Sustained Engagement Teams (INSET) are believed to be effective in reaching, engaging and helping people who are experiencing difficulty engaging in care and/or experiencing difficulty accessing care which is equitable, trauma-informed and supportive.
The New York State Office of Mental Health announces the availability of funds for an experienced program administrator, agency or community-based organization to implement Intensive and Sustained Engagement Teams (INSET) in four locations throughout New York State.
A total of four awards will be made in the amount of $800,000.00 per year, per program, for each of five years. Of the $800,000.00 total per program, $600,000.00 will be allocated from the General Fund and $200,000.00 will be provided from the federal Community Mental Health Block Grant.
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EMPOWERING FAMILIES. COORDINATING SYSTEMS.
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