NEW HYTS LEADERSHIP TEAM
The New HYTS (Housing for Youth in Transition to Self Sufficiency) Leadership Team is a group of youth providers who are meeting monthly to create a strategic plan to address the needs of transition aged youth. Through a generous capacity building grant from Charles Schwab, awarded in June of 2011, NYEP has convened youth-serving organizations, other key stakeholders, and youth representatives in Washoe County to develop an actionable plan to support vulnerable youth (ages 18-21) in making a successful transition to adulthood. A primary expected outcome of the project will be the development of transitional housing for youth to fill an unmet need in this community and ensure stability for youth during the critical juncture of going from teen to adult.
This planning process will leverage the considerable work, collaboration and investment of resources already in place or underway in Northern Nevada. It is designed with the recognition that no single system has the sufficient perspective, capital or capacity to comprehensively address the needs of vulnerable youth. In fact, a secondary outcome anticipated from the project will be the creation of partnerships that are formalized by memoranda of understanding and supported by recognized advisory bodies with the charge to address service gaps and create a seamless care system.
In order for this plan to succeed, the project will be conducted from a youth-centered (rather than system-driven) perspective that is both strengths-based and practical in the current economic and policy environment. This approach incorporates valuable lessons learned from previous capacity building efforts both locally and across the country, which underscore that strong leadership and meaningful collaboration are foundational to success. Most importantly, it allows Washoe County to move smoothly from planning to implementation by building on the current knowledge base and strategic planning activities already underway related to this population by RAAH, the Washoe County Children’s Mental Health Consortium, and others.
If you are interested in learning more about New HYTS, please contact NYEP’s Executive Director at monica.nyep@gmail.com.