Youth And Family Alliance

YOUTH AND FAMILY ALLIANCE (DBA LIFEWORKS) IS A FEARLESS ADVOCATE FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES SEEKING THEIR PATH TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY AND A RELENTLESS FOCUS ON ACHIEVING REAL, SUSTAINABLE AND MEASURABLE RESULTS FOR THE CLIENTS WE SERVE.

HOUSING AND HOMELESS PROGRAMS:STREET OUTREACH IS THE ONLY PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN AUSTIN PROVIDING OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO HOMELESS, RUNAWAY AND STREET DEPENDENT YOUTH. YOUTH MAY ACCESS: EDUCATION, GED PREPARATION, HYGIENE SUPPLIES, WASHER AND DRYER SERVICES, EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, MEDICAL CARE, FOOD, CLOTHING, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, IMMUNIZATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 315.AFTER CARE TRANSITION SERVICES (ACTS) WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH CASEY FAMILY PROGRAMS. LIFEWORKS' HOUSING DIVISION AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO TRANSITIONING FOSTER CARE YOUTH IN A 30-COUNTY AREA. ACTS PROVIDES INCREASED DEPTH OF SERVICES TO FOSTER YOUTH, INCLUDING CASE MANAGEMENT, CRISIS INTERVENTION, RESOURCE REFERRAL AND LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 186. LIFESKILLS TRAINING (PREPARATION FOR ADULT LIVING) - LIFESKILLS TRAINING IS A HANDS-ON COURSE DESIGNED TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 15-19 WHO ARE IN THE CONSERVATORSHIP OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AS ADULTS. TRAINING, ROLE-PLAYING, AND FIELD TRIPS FOCUS ON BUDGETING, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH ISSUES, AND OTHER RELEVANT TOPICS. LIFEWORKS OPERATES THE ONLY WALK-IN EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR YOUTH IN TRAVIS COUNTY. THIS SHELTER PROVIDES RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH, AGES 10 TO 21, A SECURE PLACE TO SLEEP, FOOD, CLOTHING, AND CASE MANAGEMENT TO COORDINATE FAMILY REUNIFICATION, MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, TUTORING, AND COUNSELING. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 42.LIFEWORKS YOUNG PARENTS PROGRAM PROVIDES HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WITH A SAFE AND STABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH APARTMENT-BASED HOUSING. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON INCREASING INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS, BASIC PARENTING, AND HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES. YOUTH ATTAIN EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT SKILLS, INFORMATION AND COUNSELING TO PREVENT, TREAT AND REDUCE SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE. RESIDENTS ACCESS OTHER SERVICES, (MEDICAL/MENTAL HEALTH, BASIC NEEDS, HOUSING) THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN LIFEWORKS' CONTINUUM OF SERVICES AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS. THE PROGRAM GIVES YOUNG RESIDENTS A SAFE AND STABLE HOME WHERE THEY CAN FOCUS ON BUILDING A FUTURE. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 20.PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OFFERS LONG-TERM CASE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT ARE CENTERED AROUND HOUSING STABILITY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE HOMELESS AND AGES 24 YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER AND WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF FOSTER CARE, THOSE WHO ARE CARING FOR A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, AND PERSONS WHO MEET THE RHY CRITERIA FOR HOMELESSNESS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 244.SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM IS AN APARTMENT-BASED INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDING SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS WITH PAID UTILITIES AND FURNITURE/HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND ON-SITE MANAGEMENT WITH STAFF AVAILABLE 24/7. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING ADVOCACY AND CASE COORDINATION, INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS TRAINING, AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE ASSESSMENT AND LINKAGE TO NEEDED SERVICES SUCH AS CHILD CARE, MEDICAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 30.RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM PLACES YOUTH AGES 18 TO 24 WHO ARE EXPERIENCING LITERAL HOMELESS INTO SCATTERED SITE RAPID RE-HOUSING APARTMENTS. YOUTH ARE OFFERED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR UTILITY PAYMENTS AS WELL AS INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, BASIC NEEDS, AND CONNECTIONS TO OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ALLOW YOUTH TO DEVELOP THE TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS, SENSE OF SELF-EFFICACY, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT HOUSING AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 317. LIFEWORKS' TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM IS A 24-HOUR RESIDENTIAL FACILITY THAT PROVIDES SECURE HOUSING AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS TO HOMELESS YOUTH TRANSITIONING INTO ADULTHOOD. TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM IS A COED PROGRAM WHICH HOUSES 7 RESIDENTS RANGING IN AGE FROM 16-21. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM OFFERS RESIDENTS INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS CLASSES, AFTERCARE SERVICES, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND 24-HOUR ON-SITE ASSISTANCE. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 9

COUNSELING PROGRAMS:YOUTH AND ADULT COUNSELING ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN DEALING WITH THE STRESS OF DAY-TO-DAY LIVING BY IMPROVING AND UTILIZING THEIR EXISTING COPING SKILLS AND CREATING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS. FOCUSING ON STRENGTHS, THE PROGRAM HELPS IDENTIFY GOALS FOR SHORT-TERM THERAPY AND WORKS WITH EACH CLIENT TO EXPLORE ISSUES AND CREATE EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 701.RESOLUTION COUNSELING IS DEDICATED TO CREATING A SAFE COMMUNITY BY ENDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ADVOCATING FOR RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON EQUALITY AND RESPECT. IT OFFERS PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL GROUPS FOR ADULTS (MALE/FEMALE) WHO HAVE BEEN ABUSIVE TOWARD THEIR PARTNERS. GROUP GOALS INCLUDE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR VIOLENT AND ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR, UNDERSTANDING POWER AND CONTROL, LEARNING ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS, AND MANAGING EMOTIONS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 632.SHARED PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES (SPS) PROGRAM ASSISTS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO TIMELY PSYCHIATRIC CARE TO REDUCE DISRUPTIONS IN SCHOOL AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING. CLIENTS ARE REFERRED TO SPS FROM THREE COLLABORATING AGENCIES: COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS, LIFEWORKS, AND SAFEPLACE. LIFEWORKS PROVIDES PROGRAMMATIC AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT OF THIS PROJECT. SERVICES INCLUDE: CASE COORDINATION, VISITS WITH PSYCHIATRISTS, CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSLATION, COUNSELING, MEDICATION AND LAB WORK, AS WELL AS FORMAL LINKAGES TO MEDICAL HOMES. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 351.COMMUNITY-BASED PEER SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SERVES TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH, AGES 16-21, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMATIC LIFE EVENTS, FREQUENTLY EXACERBATED BY INVOLVEMENT IN THE FOSTER CARE OR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS, HOMELESSNESS, GROWING UP IN EXTREME POVERTY, OR COMING FROM A MILITARY FAMILY. PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS PROVIDE OUTREACH AND ONGOING SUPPORT AS WELL AS LINKAGE TO COMMUNITY-BASED COUNSELORS. BOTH PEER SUPPORT AND COUNSELING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT CONVENIENT LOCATIONS SUCH AS HOME, SCHOOL, HEALTH CENTERS, RECREATION CENTERS, OR WHEREVER IT MAKES SENSE TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO SERVICE. OUR PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS HAVE "LIVED EXPERIENCE" THAT FOSTERS CONNECTION WITH THE YOUTH SERVED AND ENCOURAGES HOPE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS:LITERACY SERVICES: GED - THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUTH WITH GED PREPARATION, ACADEMIC TUTORING, AND CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS/JOB SKILLS TRAINING. THE TARGET POPULATIONS OF THIS PROGRAM ARE YOUTH AGES 16 TO 26 WHO HAVE NOT COMPLETED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND WHO ARE OFTEN DEALING WITH CHALLENGING LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH AS BEING HOMELESS, PREGNANT, PARENTING, OR INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 120.WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (WFDP) - THE GOAL OF THE WFDP IS TO HELP YOUTH WHO HAVE AGED OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TRANSITION TO THE WORKFORCE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AREA PARTNERS, LIFEWORKS PROVIDES TRAINING, EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE IN EMPLOYMENT TO HIGH-RISK AND TRANSITIONAL FOSTER YOUTH. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 235.TEEN PARENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO EXPECTANT/PARENTING TEENS IN AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY TO ENCOURAGE TEENS TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND TO PREVENT SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCIES. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO HELP TEENS ACCESS RESOURCES AND TEACH POSITIVE PARENTING SKILLS. TOTAL SERVED EQUALS 41. SUPPORTED EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES ONE ON ONE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH SEEKING EDUCATION OUTSIDE OF THE LITERACY AND GED PROGRAMS OFFERED. EDUCATION SPECIALISTS ASSISTS YOUTH IN CREATING AN EDUCATION PLAN; LEARNING ABOUT EDUCATION OPTIONS, SUCH AS COLLEGE OR TRAINING PROGRAMS; CONNECTS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO RESOURCES; ASSISTS WITH SCHOOL APPLICATIONS, COST OF TUITION, AND BOOKS; AND SUPPORTS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AS THEY REACH THEIR EDUCATION GOALS. SHARED CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OFFERS CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ENROLLED IN EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. A CASE MANAGER SUPPORT YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS AS THEY WORK ON GOAL TOWARDS SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND ASSISTS YOUTH IN SETTING GOALS, SECURING HOUSING, AND ACHIEVING SELFSUFFICIENCY.

CENTRAL INTAKE & EVALUATION:THE CENTRALIZED INTAKE TEAM (CIT) PROGRAM AT LIFEWORKS PROVIDES INTAKE SERVICES ACROSS ALL LIFEWORKS SERVICES. CENTRALIZED INTAKE PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT FOR ALL NEW LIFEWORKS CLIENTS AS WELL AS CLIENT'S CURRENTLY SERVED BY LIFEWORKS AND REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITHIN ANOTHER LIFEWORKS PROGRAM. ALL CLIENT'S SCHEDULED FOR SERVICES HAVE A SELF SUFFICIENCY MATRIX BASELINE ASSESSMENT COMPLETED THAT ASSISTS IN DETERMINING LEVEL OF NEED. THIS TOOL IS AN EVIDENCED BASED ASSESSMENT TOOL MODELED AFTER THE ARIZONA SELF SUFFICIENCY MATRIX.