Links between child protection services and youth homelessness up for discussion

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TORONTO, April 4, 2013 – Connecting the dots between child protection services and homelessness among youth will be the discussion topic at the third session of the Responding to Youth Homelessness Learning Series: A Systems Approach speaker series, Friday, April 5.

A York University and United Way York Region joint project, the series seeks to expand the focus toward prevention with a move away from an emergency only response.

Keynote speaker Naomi Nichols, an Applied Social Scientist in the Learning Institute at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and an Adjunct Professor in the Queen’s−Trent Concurrent Education Program, will examine child welfare policy and practice from the perspective of homeless youth.

Nichols will share the stories of four young people who were homeless at the time of her research on the topic as a student of York University’s Graduate Program in Education, in 2008. She will also speak in response to the recent Ontario government announcement on new services and support for young people living in care, following the 2012 Youth Leaving Care Working Group report.

In her two-part presentation, Nichols will also talk about a knowledge-to-action project to improve inter-professional learning and planning that she spearheads at SickKids, and how it may be used to address the problem of service integration for youth at risk.

“One of the things we know about youth homelessness is that many who have been involved with child protection services wind up on the streets once they leave care,” says York University Professor Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN), who is leading the Learning Series project. “Nichols’ research speaks to the problems young people face in transitioning from care, and how many wind up slipping through the cracks. If we want to effectively deal with youth homelessness, we need to support better transitions from care.”

The learning series was organized to “unpack the many issues relating to homelessness”, says Jane Wedlock, Knowledge Mobilization Officer, United Way York Region. “We’re trying to connect to all sectors. We’re trying to go upstream to understand issues and do preventative work.”

At a United Way York Region − York University conference in November, leaders in the field concluded that it makes sense to focus on  preventing youth homelessness where possible and providing appropriate accommodation and supports for young people who become homeless, thereby reducing the focus on an emergency response model.

WHAT:       Responding to Youth Homelessness Learning Series: A Systems Approach, Session 3: Joining the dots: understanding the links between child protection services and youth homelessness

WHO:       Naomi Nichols, Applied Social Scientist, Learning Institute, Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); Adjunct Professor in the Queen’s−Trent Concurrent Education Program

WHERE:      Markham Convergence Centre, 7271 Warden Avenue, Markham

WHEN:       Friday, April 5, 2013, 9am to 11am

York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York’s 11 faculties and 28 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.

United Way York Region serves nine municipalities: Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. In addition to its traditional role of supporting agencies to meet urgent needs, United Way is working to tackle the root causes of social issues. To help strengthen York Region’s quality of life, United Way is uniting people and resources on three priorities: moving people from poverty to possibility, helping kids be all they can be, and building healthy people and strong communities.

Media Contacts:
Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 22094, suhasini@yorku.ca
Adriana Suppa, Director, Communications, United Way York Region, 905 474 9974 ext. 358 asuppa@uwyr.on.ca