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IN EVERETT
<br /> WASHINGTON
<br /> Program Components and Structure:
<br /> Housing Hope offers a comprehensive program designed to assist parents aged 16 to 24,who are homeless upon entry and
<br /> experiencing poverty,to gain the competencies,assets,and confidence to transition to their adult roles and responsibilities,
<br /> maintain housing, and increase levels of self-sufficiency. Family Support Coaches in this project focus on helping these
<br /> parents complete their basic education, establish a strong foundation of employment,acquire life skills,and parent their very
<br /> young children. The primary role of the Family Support Coach is to provide a trusting, consistent,and supportive adult
<br /> relationship that becomes the launching point from which these teens and young adults build connections with the
<br /> community and gain the confidence to view themselves as capable individuals.Family Support Coaches support these
<br /> parents to create a vision for their adult lives and to develop an Individualized Family Plan,outlining long and short-term
<br /> goals for permanent housing and self-sufficiency.Through in-home services and connections to community services,Family
<br /> Support Coaches help families learn new skills,change attitudes,and complete activities that move them progressively
<br /> towards the achievement of their goals. The type,frequency, and amount of services provided are tailored to meet the unique
<br /> needs of each family.
<br /> Adult Education and Employment Services are offered on-site for all program participants.Housing Hope employs Education
<br /> and Employment Specialists,who provide one-on-one support to assist parents in the development of educational and
<br /> employment skills. Employment offers these individuals the opportunity to increase their sense of self-worth and is critical to
<br /> sustaining permanent housing and increased levels of self-sufficiency.A continuum of employment services assist
<br /> participants to move to job readiness and then towards a career with a livable wage.Housing Hope collaborates with
<br /> Worksource,Depa,lrnent of Social and Health Services WorkFirst,Workforce Snohomish,Depaitinent of Vocational
<br /> Rehabilitation,Everett and Edmonds Community College.Refugee and Immigrant Services Northwest,Washington State
<br /> Employment Security Department,and Service Alternatives.
<br /> Housing Hope provides weekly,on-site teens and young adult life skills classes to help participants to learn the skills they
<br /> need to be successful adults:budgeting,nutrition,mental health,time management,etc. Parenting education classes are a
<br /> critical component and include topics like positive discipline and de-escalation. Child and Family Specialists also assist these
<br /> very young parents to learn child development concepts,relevant community resources, and parenting skills through one-on-
<br /> one,real-time coaching. Childcare is essential for these parents to achieve their goals. Housing Hope's Tomorrow's Hope
<br /> Child Development Center provides a supportive environment that specializes in the development of high-risk children.
<br /> Tomorrow's Hope provides transportation to and from their home.
<br /> Housing Hope's program design is consistent with current research regarding the needs of homeless teen families and
<br /> effective program components and approaches.
<br /> • Comprehensive services are critical for teen and young adult parents experiencing homelessness. These young parents often
<br /> have childhoods of abuse and neglect. They suddenly find themselves in a position of having to grow up very quickly.
<br /> Programs for homeless teen parents need to include a range of services: affordable housing,Family Support Services,life
<br /> skills training, support groups,emotion management training,child development,parent education,childcare,school
<br /> completion,employment services,and basic needs.
<br /> •Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Emerging research indicates that families experiencing
<br /> homelessness benefit greatly from a strength-based approach that is tailored to their unique needs. Motivational Interviewing
<br /> and Dialectical Behavior Therapy are collaborative,person-centered, and evidence-based approaches that elicit and
<br /> strengthen personal motivation for change. Both Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavior Therapy are identified
<br /> as best practices by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA).
<br /> •Housing Hope utilizes a tailored approach to supportive services,which is believed to be effective in assisting families to
<br /> shift from crisis to stability and to acquire and retain safe, affordable,permanent housing.
<br /> •Trauma-informed services require that all aspects of programming are offered within the context of trusting relationships
<br /> and purposeful interactions that help participants heal and develop personal and interpersonal skills to successfully achieving
<br /> adult roles and responsibilities. Research indicates that trauma-informed practices have a positive impact on program
<br /> outcomes such as housing stability,substance abuse recovery,mental health,self-esteem,etc.
<br /> • Substance Abuse Recovery: Research suggests that a parallel approach(multiple services provided simultaneously in a
<br /> coordinated fashion)to chemical dependency treatment,mental health services.and housing is most beneficial for homeless
<br /> families.
<br /> •Employment: Teen and young parents need opportunities and support to build employment readiness skills and to
<br /> successfully engage in job training and vocational certification programs. These services must occur within the context of
<br /> comprehensive services that provide affordable housing.promote family stabilization, and offer positive, supportive
<br /> relationships.
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