RUNAWAY TEENS amp Street Youth LGBTQ YOUTH IN TROUBLE WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ANSWERING NEEDS OPENING DOORS www1800RUNAWAYorg 1800RUNAWAY 18007862929 RUNAWAY STATISTICS 28 Million youth run away from home each year ID: 769301
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RUNAWAY TEENS& “Street Youth” LGBTQ YOUTH IN TROUBLE!WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? ANSWERING NEEDS. OPENING DOORS. www.1800RUNAWAY.org 1-800-RUNAWAY 1-800-786-2929
RUNAWAY STATISTICS 2.8 Million youth run away from home each year1.6 Million youth spend at least one night on the streets1 out of 5 youth runaway from home at some point in their livesOf those, roughly half run away multiple timesEqual numbers of males and females run awayFrom all socio-economic & ethnic groups
WHY LEAVE HOME? #1 Reason is Family Conflict LGBTQ Youth feel RejectedEconomic Distress of Family is an Increasing Factor 70% report abuse or threat of abuse prior to leaving
FOSTER CARE YOUTH Teens in foster care have a difficult time adjusting to out of home placementNo matter how bad the home of origin and how good the foster home, teens often favor their biological parentsIndependent Living program offered by CDS helps foster youth age out of care successfully
LGBTQ FOSTER CARE YOUTH LGBTQ youth may be rejected by their own families due to their sexual orientationLGBTQ youth may disrupt foster care placement due to insensitive foster familiesSome foster parents try to impose their beliefs on youth which may include that homosexuality is “sinful”
LGBTQ Foster Youth in Trouble! Youth who are rejected by family due to sexual orientation are:3 times more likely to use illegal drugsAt increased risk for contracting HIV/STDs6 times more likely to experience depression8 times more likely to attempt suicide
RUNAWAY or THROWAWAY? Roughly 1/3 of teens on the streets consider themselves runaways Roughly half of street teens say they were kicked out of home The rest describe their leaving as a combination Up to 40% of street youth describe themselves as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning)
HOMELESS KIDS runaway throwaway s treet youth homeless prostitutes panhandlers dropouts delinquents orphans victims criminals l ocked out squatter traveler vagabond addicts
HOMELESS IN ALACHUA COUNTY SUMMARY OF COUNT 2012 2011 20102009 200820072006 SHELTER COUNT 543571365336352 278 330 UNSHELTERED COUNT 1235 816 672 740 616 395 540 Street Count (1107) (658) (575) (626) (465) (325) (446) Jail Count (117) (129) (72) (80) (115) (51) (50) Hospital Count (11) (29) (25) (34) (36) (19) (44) SCHOOL SYSTEM COUNT 316 394 234 518 397 279 321 TOTAL 2094 1781 1271 1594 1365 952 1191
How Runaways Survive Friends & RelativesPersonal SavingsPanhandling StealingSelling DrugsSex Industry Employment(Arrows indicate trends over past ten years – panhandling has increased most dramatically with sex, drugs, and stealing also used to support oneself. Runaways supporting themselves by employment has decreased) Females are more likely to ask for help, call hotlines, & go to shelters
LGBTQ Employment Federal Government Prohibits Discrimination in Employment:RaceColorGenderReligion National OriginAge Disability There is No Federal Protection Against Discrimination Due to Sexual Orientation
WHERE DO THEY SLEEP? More than half have stayed at a friend’s or relative’s house for at least one night Some spend the night in parks, beaches, hospitals, rooftops, abandoned buildings, & public transportationHalf eventually end up staying at shelters (Story about foster child who took crystal meth to stay awake all night)
STREET YOUTH DANGERS 1 in 3 youth are lured into prostitution within 48 hours of being on the streetsHomeless youth are: 2-3 times more likely to be raped or assaulted18 times more likely to use crack cocaine 16 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV7 times more likely to die of AIDS 32% have attempted suicide
CHILD PROSTITUTION Average age to become a commercial sex worker in USA is 13-14.In Florida, the age is 11-12¾ of prostituted children were “lured” into it ¼ of are taken by force
SEXUALLY EXPLOITED Super Bowl event attracts 10,000 commercial sex workers – no one knows how many are under age 18Life expectancy is 7 years from time of entry into prostitution California, Texas, Florida, and New York are primary destinations states for sale of commercial sex workers
HUMAN TRAFFICKING 56% of human trafficking victims are sexually exploited (down from 79%)There were 5 million slaves in 1850 Now there are 21.8 million slaves (down from 27 million)
LGBTQ Youth Runaway Risk #1 risk factor for becoming a domestic minor sex trafficking victim: RUNNING AWAY
TOP 3 CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES Drug SalesHuman TraffickingWeapons Sales LGBTQ YOUTH AT GREATER RISK!
MORE DANGERS Increase risk of Teen pregnancyMental illness Dropping out of schoolSexually transmitted diseases Using drugs, drinking alcohol, smokingBecoming ill, malnourished, or injured Dying young
ASKING FOR HELP Homeless youth are afraid to ask for help because they expect repercussions for leaving home70% left impulsively – fear of embarrassmentFear of police/incarceration, foster care system, or being returned to parents. Girls are more likely than boys to ask for help
Resources to Help LGBTQ Youth National Runaway SafelineNational Safe Place RHYTTACCDS Family & Behavioral Health Services Interface Youth Shelters and Family Action Counseling
NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE New Logo to go with New Name – Effective January 15, 2013
NATIONAL RUNAWAY SAFELINE 24/7 Hotline Crisis Counselors speak with kids who are thinking about running away, kids who have runaway, and parents of runaways 2011 Statistics 56% of youth calls were from kids on the streets 43% of youth calls were from kids contemplating running away or were experiencing crisis at home Half the youth calls were teens age 16-18More than half of youth callers called within first week out of home
HOW MANY LOCAL KIDS CALL National Runaway Safeline ? 387 kids spoke with National Runaway Safeline operators from the (352) area code in 2012 245 kids from the (386) area code
HOME FREE by Greyhound NRS Partner Greyhound Bus System gives kids a free ride home. About 8000 youth take advantage of this once in a lifetime privilege each yearThe Ludacris Foundation explains in this PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX3qTC7MI3o&feature=relmfu
NATIONAL SAFE PLACE Original logo was replaced by the new logo in 2013
NATIONAL SAFE PLACE STATISTICS Established in 1983 in a Kentucky YMCANSP is in 39 states1600 communitiesOver 20,000 sitesOver quarter million youth have accessed help through National Safe PlaceOver 10 million youth have attended NSP presentations in classrooms
NATIONAL SAFE PLACEwww.nationalsafeplace.org Mission: Safe Place provides access to immediate help and supportive resources for all young people in crisis through a network of sites sustained by qualified agencies, trained volunteers, and businesses. Vision: Safe Place will be universally recognized and used by youth across America as the place to go for immediate help and safety. (National Safe Place, 2008)
NATIONAL SAFE PLACE Services are coordinated through: Emergency sheltersRunaway shelters Not-for-profit youth-serving agenciesAnd in some rural areas, host homes CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services runs the Interface Youth Shelters and is the agency that coordinates the National Safe Place & National Runaway Switchboard activities in North Central Florida which includes 11 counties.
TXT 4 HELP Text the word “SAFE” and your location to 69866 and you will immediately receive a text response listing the nearest Safe Place location along with a toll-free number to call and an option to “chat” electronically. Most youth have access to a cell phone and may be more comfortable texting than talking over the phone. TXT 4 HELP was established by National Safe Place in 2011 to help kids access help.
RHYTTAC The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center, or RHYTTAC, is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) as the training and technical assistance provider for all RHY grantees. RHYTTAC assists recipients of Basic Center Grant, Street Outreach funding, Transitional Living Program funding, & Maternity Group Home grants CDS CEO Jim Pearce is an active board member of RHYTTAC RHYTTAC has identified LGBTQ issues as one of their top priorities
Located in Gainesville, Palatka, and Lake CityAccommodate 500-600 youth per year (Plus 300-400 non-residential youth assisted through outpatient counseling annually)Youth are homeless, runaway, truant, or ungovernable - and 10-17 years oldParticipants learn social skills during stay (Average length of stay is 20 days, 3-5 weeks is ideal) Youth go to school while shelteredCounselors work with youth to resolve issues CDS INTERFACE YOUTH SHELTERS
Truancy & Suspension Interface Central is the Alachua County Truancy CenterCDS is an active member of SARB (Student Attendance Review Board)Interface can help families with children who have been suspended from schoolLife Skills Instructor teaches youth who are not able to attend school
CDS INTERFACE DIRECTORS(central) Cassandra Evans McCray Zeke Whitter
INTERFACE YOUTH SHELTER(Central) 1400 NW 29 Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 244-0618
INTERFACE YOUTH SHELTER (Northwest) 1884 SW Grandview Street, Lake City, FL 32025 (386) 487-0190
INTERFACE YOUTH SHELTER (East) 2919 Kennedy Street, Palatka, FL 32177 (386) 385-0405
CDS Statistics on Sexual Orientation Fiscal Year 2012-2013150 of 753 - No data (didn’t answer)198 of 753 - Heterosexual1 of 753 - Bisexual2 of 753 - Questionable/Unsure402 of 753 - Not known/determinedNone of the youth chose “gay” or “lesbian” as their sexual orientation on intake forms
Youth age 6-17Similar issues as Interface Shelter Youth (runaway, defiant, etc.)Counselors meet youth and families at convenient locationsCounselors work with whole family FAMILY ACTION COUNSELING
FAMILY ACTION COUNSELORS Isaiah Harmon x3828 Kimberli Dawson x3830 (352) 244-0628 www.cdsfl.org
INDEPENDENT LIVING(352) 244-0628 x 3840 or 3836 For youth aging out of foster careAge 13-18Assistance available through age 23 to help youth stay in school or pursue a career
Youth Talk Phone Line TOPICS Alcohol and Drugs Abuse Sex Birth Control & Pregnancy Relationships Feelings Family Problems Rules School , Career, & Life Women’s Issues FREE SERVICE OFFERED BY CDS FAMILY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
What is Being Done? Human Rights Campaign Programs:All Children-All Families Program -Working to improve cultural competency within institutionsFamily Acceptance Program Religion & Faith Program promoting family acceptance among target populations (Latinos, African-Americans, & white evangelicals)Supporting legislation to help homeless youth
HRC LGBT YOUTH SURVEY More than 10,000 LGBT youth surveyed age 13-17LGBT youth identified different concerns than non-LGBT37% of LGBT youth say they are happy now vs. 67% of non-LGBT63% of LGBT youth believe they will have to move to feel accepted compared to 31% of non-LGBT
Foster Parents The Child Welfare Information Gateway offers a free 12 page guide to help train foster parents in cultural competency “Supporting Your LGBTQ Youth:A Guide for Foster Parents”LGBT adults can foster and adopt There are foster homes locally that specialize in LGBTQ youth
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Support all legislation and activities that promote cultural competency and diversity appreciationTalk about issuesFoster or adopt children and teensVolunteer at CDS/Interface Youth Shelter or other youth-serving agency
RESOURCES National Safe Place www.nationalsafeplace.org National Runaway Safeline www.1800runaway.org/ Two Links to other national agencies that help runaways www.1800runaway.org/learn/helpful_links/agencies/ http://nationalsafeplace.org/helpful-links / CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services www.cdsfl.org (Interface Youth Shelters, Family Action counseling, and Independent Living in North Central Florida) National Toll-Free Number to report suspected human trafficking: 888-3737-888National Toll-Free Number to report suspected child abuse: 800-96-ABUSE
CDS Family & Behavioral Health Services Community Outreach/ Safe Place Specialist3615 SW 13 th Street, Suite 4Gainesville, FL 32608 (352) 244-0628 x3865 radha_selvester@cdsfl.org INTERFACE YOUTH SHELTER1400 NW 29 Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 244-0618 Radha Selvester