Alameda County Foster Youth Association

The Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance Bulletin

Weekly Bulletin — 11/23/05

Visit us on the Web at www.fosteryouthalliance.org!

(If the bulletin displays poorly, view it on our website at www.fosteryouthalliance.org/bulletins/)

To submit an announcement to the FYA Weekly Bulletin, email Amy Freeman: bulletins@fosteryouthalliance.org. Announcements received on Wednesday morning will be included in the Thursday Bulletin.

If you can not view this bulletin clearly, click here to read it at http://www.acfya.org/bulletin/index.htm

Thank You

Reminder: No FYA Trainings in December

Openings at Coolidge Court

Attn: Former Foster Youth & Youth Advocates

Chronic Homelessness NOFA On the Street

More SF Chronicle Foster Care Coverage

New Leadership Development Program for Women of Color

Alameda County Mental Health Services Holds Public Hearings

Request for Proposals from OFCY

First Place Fund for Youth: Economic Literacy Class

Thank you

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is time to pause and consider all of the things for which we are grateful.

Fortunately, there is much in my life that falls in that column, not the least of which are the readers of this bulletin. Thank you to the members and friends of FYA who dedicate their lives to ensuring that foster youth’s needs are met and that opportunities and services are available to assist them in their transition to adulthood. Your work is an inspiration.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving.

--Amy Freeman, Executive Director

Reminder: No FYA Trainings in December

We will resume FYA Professional Development Trainings in January, with the January 10th training on Crisis Management and De-escalation Communication.

Openings at Coolidge Court

Coolidge Court, a supportive housing program for low-income youth with chronic mental illness, has two openings. Ideal referrals are 18- or 19-year-olds with the ability to live independently in a supportive community. For more information or to make a referral, please contact Charles Houston at charleshouston@fredfinch.org, 510-339-9250.

ATTN: FORMER FOSTER YOUTH & YOUTH ADVOCATES

From The Children’s Roundtable:

ILP OPPORTUNITY PROJECT is a new project assisting “mobile” former foster youth who no longer reside in their county of last jurisdiction to access independent living program (ILP) benefits. This program was developed in response to a growing trend where “out of county” former foster youth have been denied access to ILP services, housing stipends, education assistance, and other benefits and programs because of their “out-of-county” status.

IF:

 You have had difficulties obtaining ILP services because you are considered “out-of-county” former foster youth

 Your “county of residence” ILP excludes “out-of-county” former foster youth

 Your “county of residence” has housing or educational assistance programs that exclude “out-of-county” former foster youth

 You know of other counties that exclude “out-of-county” former foster youth from ILP services & benefits

 You know former foster youth who have been denied ILP service because they are considered “out-of-county”

CONTACT  Karen Prosek, JD, MSW, ILP Opportunity Project
Coordinator at (619)260-4600 ext. 8702 or
karenprosek@hotmail.com

Chronic Homelessness NOFA On the Street

From the Housing California Capitol Recorder:

The Initiative to End Long Term Homelessness's first Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is on the street. The NOFA will provide funds for supportive housing that serves chronically homeless people, defined to include singles and families. Look for the NOFA next week on The Department of Housing and Community Development's website. For more info, visit: http://www.hcd.ca.gov/fa/

More SF Chronicle Foster Care Coverage

Click here to read an editorial about foster care and the new Assembly Select Committee in yesterday’s Chronicle.

new Leadership Development Program for Women of Color

CompassPoint is pleased to announce a new leadership development program created to support women executive directors in underserved communities funded by The UPS Foundation, The Missouri Foundation for Health and the Walter & Elise Haas Fund. This project will be conducted in two locales: San Francisco Bay Area and rural Missouri.

This year-long pilot program (January to December 2006) will provide leadership training, peer support, and professional development funding for women executives of color leading nonprofit agencies with a goal of increasing leadership and management skills, addressing issues and barriers WEDOCs often face, and creating a sustainable learning community for women executives.

For more information and the application form, please visit CompassPoint's website at: http://www4.compasspoint.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=734&Profile_ID=232015

Twelve women from the San Francisco Bay Area will be accepted into the program. The application deadline for the San Francisco Bay Area is Monday, November 28, 2005.

If you have any further questions contact Cristina Chan at cristinac@compasspoint.org.

Alameda County Mental Health Services holds public hearings

Click here for the dates and locations for the County of Alameda Mental Health Services Act public hearings. The purpose is to review the Community Services & Supports plan to be submitted to California Department of Mental Health.

Request for Proposals from OFCY

Oakland Fund for Children and Youth (OFCY) has announced a Request for Proposals. Nonprofit and public agencies may apply.

Download an application and instructions at www.ofcy.org. Proposals are due January 9, 2006, 5:00 p.m.

The four RFPs are:

1. Comprehensive After School for ages 6-10 & 11-14 (pre-proposal required.)
2. Early Childhood Strategies for ages 0-5 (pre-proposal required.)
3. Youth Leadership & Career and College Readiness, ages 15-20.
4. Physical and Behavioral Health (all ages) and Summer Enrichment Programs for ages 6-14.
Printed copies of the RFP’s can be obtained beginning November 17, Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the OFCY office, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 4216, Oakland, 94612.

For Bidders’ Conference pre-registration, call 510-238-6379.

Bidders must pre-register to attend a Mandatory Bidders’ Conference held at the times listed below at Oakland City Hall, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, 94612.

Tuesday, November 22nd: Hearing Room #2, 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Early Childhood Focus.

Tuesday, November 29th: Hearing Room #1, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Comprehensive After School Focus.

Thursday, December 1st: Hearing Room #1, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Physical and Behavioral Health, Youth Leadership, College & Career, and Summer Enrichment Focus.

FIRST PLACE FUND FOR YOUTH: Economic Literacy Class

First Place Fund for Youth is recruiting for their next Economic Literacy Class and Housing Class.

At the First Place Housing Orientation on Monday, December 12th, 2005 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm., youth will learn about the Emancipation Training Center and Supported Housing Program. The orientation will be held at 1755 Broadway, Suite #310, Oakland.

Interviews for the Supported Housing Program will begin December 13th and class will begin January 17th, 2006.

Fax intakes to (510) 272-9303 or drop by and complete an application at
1759 Broadway Oakland, CA 94612. Contact Tawanda Gilbert, Housing Advocate at (510) 272-0979 x 34 for more information.

A coalition of youth, service providers, and community organizations, Foster Youth Alliance is dedicated to empowering foster youth as they transition to adulthood. FYA promotes a seamless system of care in Alameda County, California, through maximum coordination, strong advocacy and strategic resource development.

To submit an announcement to the FYA Weekly Bulletin
email bulletins@fosteryouthalliance.org

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