Our Committees
PH4Y has recognized the following areas as needing unique consideration as we tackle youth homelessness in Philadelphia. If you are interested in joining a committee or receiving updates, please fill out this form.
Communications
Description
The purpose of the Communications Committee is to develop and oversee a strategic marketing plan that promotes the coalition’s mission and expands the coalition’s recognizability. The committee will be responsible for maintaining PH4Y’s online presence; ensuring online content is relevant and current; and advancing coalition news, accomplishments, and press releases.
Goals
1. Develop a marketing strategy and branding message
2. Update the website and create social media accounts
3. Ensure PH4Y’s website and social media accounts are providing current resources to youth and accurate information about member agencies
4. Create and monitor a mechanism for members to share information, resources, and events within the coalition, as well as with the youth-serving community at large
Data Analytics
Description
The purpose of the committee is to recommend policies and practices that are evidence informed to ensure the older youth/young adults obtain needed services that will prevent homelessness and promote the successful transition into adulthood.
The Committee will gather existing data from coalition members, request data from government child welfare divisions… for the purpose of gaining a picture of the current status of youth in Philadelphia who are experiencing housing insecurity.
Goals
1. a) Obtain from each committee measurements corresponding to their goals b)Data from Phila DHS, OHS, School District and YRBS
2. Review national data
3. Convene an information session through PH4Y coalition to discuss gathered Data that can be used to improve services to emerging adults to decrease housing insecurity
Housing
Description
The Housing Subcommittee of PH4Y focuses on short, mid term, and long term goals to end youth homelessness, hoping to help youth to move beyond surviving to thriving with long term access to suitable and affordable housing for all young people experiencing housing instability.
Goals
1. Create a continual feedback loop between young people in current housing programs and experiencing homelessness to improve current housing conditions and support provided by housing programs between youth, OHS, and the housing provider. This will include focus groups and panel discussions centering youth voice.
2. Work with researchers, data, youth, and community to create a realistic, relevant, and youth centered plan to end youth homelessness within Philadelphia.
3. Identify service needs and gaps in services to ensure all youth have a safe and comfortable place to call home.
4. Develop initiatives that encourage out of the box thinking and youth ideas for long term housing programs that will address this crisis.
Mental Health
Description
The experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness profoundly impact young people’s mental health and wellness. Conversely, mental and behavioral health experiences and supports profoundly impact young people’s housing. This vital intersection is the focus of this committee’s work.
Mission
1. CENTER YOUTH VOICE in the provision and transformation of youth housing and mental health services;
2. EXPAND ACCESS to youth friendly, developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, low-barrier mental health supports;
3. PROMOTE INTEGRATION of mental health supports within the youth homeless and housing service systems.
Prevention
Description
In order to advance PH4Y mission to prevent youth homeless the Prevention Committee seeks to identify best practices for serving young adults that are trauma informed, age appropriate, low barrier and high support. The committee will also look at well intentioned practices that may cause undue delay or hardship for young adults to obtain services or housing. The committee will work in partnership with the other PH4Y committees to recommend improvements in systems that serve or come in contact with young adults.
Goals
1. Implementation (Adoption and Self-assessment)of Organizational Operating Principles a)adoption by organizations b) Self-Assessments
2. Advocate for appropriate and effective transition planning for older youth within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
3. Streamlining and adequately resource resumption of care process.
4. Advocate for the funding and establishment of Aftercare for older youth exiting foster care or SIL.
5. Advocate support and funding for 24/7 drop in centers.
6. Seamless transition from one program to another without a lapse in housing or services.
7. Advocate for appropriate supports for youth who are marginalized such as: LGBTQ, parenting youth, immigrant youth, and youth with disabilities or unique needs.
8. Pass available resource on to communication committee to be added to the web site
Special Populations Workgroup
Description coming soon
Youth & Young Adults
Description coming soon
Interested in joining a committee? Please fill out this form.