Have You Ever Asked A Youth Why they Will Not Go Home?
This Washington Post article may give you some answers-Sasha Bruce confronts the dark, painful reasons some kids run away from home
Category Archives: D.C.
Playtime Project’s Health Fair For DC’s Largest Homeless Shelter
On August 27, 2016, The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project hosted a health fair for D.C. General’s Family Homeless Shelter. Playtime Project’s mission is to “nurture healthy child development and reduce the effects of trauma among children” who live in short-term housing programs in Washington, D.C.
The shelter holds way over 200 families and provides residents with a rooms to stay with their families, three meals a day, a place to wash clothes, and a playground for children where they can play safely under supervision.
While the shelter has gone through many problems in the past, with the help of Playtime Project, they have made some improvements.
Many organizations who aim to promote and give accurate health information came out to help the D.C. General community. Among the many organizations at the fair was The Latin American Youth Center (LAYC). At the fair, LAYC conducted engaging demonstrations of child birth that kept the interest of parents, as well as children.
Surprisingly, Street Sense, a D.C. newspaper dedicated to uplifting the homeless and providing them with sales experience, were there to give information to the residents at the fair on how to become a Street Sense vendor. As a newspaper, Street Sense is unique in that the funds for the paper sales go directly to the homeless who sale them.
As an intern at The Young Women’s Project (YWP), I had the opportunity to represent the organization at the fair. YWP focuses on youth poverty issues, as well as sexual health.
At the fair, I presented health information as well as gave instructions on how to properly use condoms and other barrier contraceptions.
Towards the end of the fair, Playtime Project held a giveaway for expecting mothers. The prizes included training toilets for toddlers and many other things mothers may need for their child. Playtime Project also distributed diapers, baby wipes and other items for small babies.
The fair provided a lot of information and connections in D.C. for families to take advantage of and lead healthier lives.
Reminder: Aging Out of the Foster Care System
Please help this single mother who is nearing emancipation:
“I have been in the foster care system for four and a half years now. I entered the system at fifteen and I will age out when I am twenty-one. My name is Olivia Alexander, I am currently nineteen so I have about a year and a half before I am out and completely on my own. I will have to provide for not only myself but my daughter as well. I am the main provider for us now but it is hard trying to provide what we need with the small stipend I get. It was a little easier when I was working but now that I am not it is difficult. I also attend college full time so trying to balance being a mother, a student, and trying to get a job can be a bit overwhelming. I am doing the best that I can to make sure my daughter and I will be alright when I age out. I love my daughter more than anything in the whole galaxy! I just want to be the mother she desrves and provide her with a happy life. I don’t want to have to worry about where we will be laying our heads when I have to leave the system. That is why I started this campaign, to raise additional money that will go towards us moving. I know a year and a half seems far off but it comes sooner than thought sometimes and I want to be prepared for when it comes. My goal is to reach at least $3,000 but anything we get will be greatly appreciated!! A little help goes a long way, especially with my situation. Please give any help that you can even if it is only a dollar, it will be of so much help. I want to thank anyone in advance who will lend a helping hand..”
Aftercare is Failing Emancipated Youth
In the Summer of 2015 the CASA aftercare program for emancipated foster youth came to an end, as it should have due to its lack of support. Thinking back to when I was preparing for emancipation, I received little support from my unpaid CASA. With emphasis on “unpaid,” I thought that this was the reason I received little to no support. I appreciated the times my CACA took me to lunch, but lunch didn’t solve my anxiety towards emancipation.
When I really needed her, I could not get in touch with her. She was way to busy with school, and she was having housing problems-she was living out of the basement of her parents home. So how could someone like her possible be in a position to assist a youth nearing emancipation?
The current aftercare program is no better. At this time, I cannot go into full details about my current living situation due to a future blog that will be published elsewhere, but let me just say that it’s nothing like it was described. The idea of Program X ( I will refer to it as Program X) was great, but underdeveloped and probably underfunded, as it seems.
Program X is not realistic to the lives of the older youth who are there. Their idea is to provide independence, but a successful program cannot provide independence to older youth in one area, and cripple them in another.
I do not wish for the closing of Program X, but if something is not done soon it will close and many youth will be homeless.
Aging Out of the Foster Care System
Please help this single mother who is nearing emancipation:
“I have been in the foster care system for four and a half years now. I entered the system at fifteen and I will age out when I am twenty-one. My name is Olivia Alexander, I am currently nineteen so I have about a year and a half before I am out and completely on my own. I will have to provide for not only myself but my daughter as well. I am the main provider for us now but it is hard trying to provide what we need with the small stipend I get. It was a little easier when I was working but now that I am not it is difficult. I also attend college full time so trying to balance being a mother, a student, and trying to get a job can be a bit overwhelming. I am doing the best that I can to make sure my daughter and I will be alright when I age out. I love my daughter more than anything in the whole galaxy! I just want to be the mother she desrves and provide her with a happy life. I don’t want to have to worry about where we will be laying our heads when I have to leave the system. That is why I started this campaign, to raise additional money that will go towards us moving. I know a year and a half seems far off but it comes sooner than thought sometimes and I want to be prepared for when it comes. My goal is to reach at least $3,000 but anything we get will be greatly appreciated!! A little help goes a long way, especially with my situation. Please give any help that you can even if it is only a dollar, it will be of so much help. I want to thank anyone in advance who will lend a helping hand..”
Great Internship Opportunity
Donna Edwards for Senate
Interested in politics?
Want to make history this spring?
If the U.S. Senate looked like America, we would have:
51 female Senators, not 20.
17 Hispanic American Senators, not 3.
13 African American Senators, not 2.
5 Asian American Senators, not 1.
The Donna Edwards for U.S. Senate campaign is seeking internship fellows to join our passionate and experienced team working to make history by electing the nation’s first female African American Senator from Maryland.
No prior political experience necessary. Applicants should be energetic and motivated individuals who are excited to learn about the campaign and make political history.
Fellows will be assigned a variety of tasks in one or more of the following campaign departments: Field, Political, Communications, Digital, and Finance. Accepted fellows will be assigned to departments based on experience, availability, and preference.
Fellows selected to work with us are required to complete a minimum of ten hours per week. Fellowships are unpaid. Access to reliable transportation, a personal laptop, and a cellphone is recommended. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
How to apply
Email your resume to jobs@donnaedwardsforsenate.com.
For questions, contact Sian (pronounced “See-Anne”) at 240-696-2104.
ATTENTION: Job Opportunity
Greetings,
Please read carefully!
The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES), in support of the coming , will host a pre-screening event to assist in recruiting efforts for the Shop House Crew Service Member positions.
The Candidate Information sessions will be held on th to introduce Shop House Restaurants hiring criteria and benefits package at DOES HQ Community room located at 4058 Minnesota Ave NE Washington, D.C. 20019 (Metro side), from 9:30am– 11 :30am, 12:00pm- 2:00pm ,and2:30pm-430pm. Please note, candidates will be interviewed and evaluated on their ability to demonstrate ‘Shop House’ 13 fundamental hiring characteristics which are as follow:
Motivated, Curious, Personable, Respectable, High Energy, Enthusiastic, Happy, Honest, Hospitable, Polite, Smart, Conscientious and Ambitious.
Candidates that demonstrate the above traits will be extended an offer to attend the which will be held Wednesday, January 13, 2016at 4058 Minnesota Ave NE. The job fair will take place in the DOES HQ Community room.
No Food Service skills are needed for this occupation. Training will be provided for all candidates that are on boarded through Shop House, and must demonstrate dependability, a great attitude, and a passion to learn.
Employment opportunities are available for both skilled and unskilled workers.All attendees MUST be registered in www.DCNetworks.org and MUST RSVP via Eventbrite to attend this pre-screening event. The January 11th Shop House Eventbrite scheduling is reserved for the Office of Youth Programs (OYP) only, all other DOES Programs will schedule their customers to attend the January 12th Pre-screening through Eventbrite.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE TO ATTEND THE PRE-SCREENING EVENT!!!
http://shophouse-jan12th.eventbrite.com
This opportunity offers an amazing benefits package which includes following:
Full Health BenefitsEmployee Stock optionsTuition ReimbursementPaid time offCrew BonusSolid career path
Best,
Ayana Williams
Workforce Development Specialist,Private Sector Liaison
Office of Youth Programs |Department of Employment Services
4058 Minnesota Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20019
Direct (202) 698-6019 | Cell (202) 345-4662
ayana.williams@dc.gov |www.DOES.dc.gov
