ECO 281

Subsidized Housing Preference and Rental Assistance

Messrs. Eldridge, Donnelly, Rush and Kennedy moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7004-0099, by inserting after the words “any temporary or bridge subsidies provided with state or federal funds” the following additional words:-

, which shall include households receiving rental assistance under item 7004-0108 after July 1, 2013;

ECO 282

HomeBASE Rental Assistance

Messrs. Eldridge, Rush, Donnelly and Kennedy moved that the bill be amended, in Section 2, in item 7004-0108, by striking out the words “ provided further, that a family’s eligibility for rental assistance provided under this item shall not exceed a period of 24 successive months from the date the family first received rental assistance under this item, not including time spent in temporary accommodations; provided further, that a family that is terminated from the program because it has received 24 successive months of rental assistance shall not be able to receive assistance under this item for 12 months from the last date it received assistance through this program;” and inserting in place thereof the following language:-

provided further, that a family’s eligibility for rental assistance provided under this item may be extended for up to 36 successive months from the date the family first received rental assistance under this item, not including time spent in temporary accommodations; provided further, that the department will take all necessary steps to ensure that families reaching the end of their time limited rental assistance shall not become homeless again, including, but not limited to: (1) extending rental assistance from 24 to 36 months; (2) transitioning families to long-term subsidized housing, including but not limited to assistance given through housing authorities, the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, or rental assistance under item 7004-9024; and/or (3) providing families with assistance through short-term household assistance and assistance under item 7004-9316; provided further, that, notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the department shall ensure that any such family who does become homeless again shall be provided access to emergency shelter under item 7004-0101 so long as such family meets the requirements of the family’s housing stabilization plan and all other options of housing assistance have been exhausted; provided further, that on the first day of each month beginning on September 1, 2013, the department shall provide a report to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and of the joint committees on housing and children, families, and persons with disabilities detailing how many families reached the end of the 24 month period in the preceding month and each family’s current housing status, including what additional forms of assistance are being provided to ensure that the family does not become homeless again;

And further amended by inserting at the end thereof the following language:-

, the number of households transitioned into federal funded public housing or rental assistance, the number of households transitioned to item 7004-9024, the number of households that exited the program into alternative housing, the number of households exiting the program and unaccounted for; provided further, that the report shall include, the number of families served who required further assistance at a later date, the type of assistance later provided, and the current housing stability of each family who received assistance within the prior 12 months, including transitional housing or short-term housing assistance, and any obstacles encountered with the administration of this program.

Lots of thanks to Chairman Eldridge and the other sponsors for their leadership and support on this issue!

-Rita Dove

Hearings and listening sessions provide the perfect opportunity to do just that.  Lucky for us, we have some opportunities:

DTA Listening Session

Monday, May 13 from 4-5:30 p.m.
Carter Auditorium
35 Northampton Street
Boston

Joint Committee on Housing Hearing: DHCD

Tuesday, May 14^th from 10am-2pm

Massachusetts State House

Hearing Room B-2

Boston

 Bills of relevance:

An Act relative to home and healthy families

An Act relative to revitalize state public housing developments

An Act relative to moving to economic opportunity housing

An Act establishing a special commission to make an investigation and study of the feasibility of a pilot program for accreditation of alcohol-and drug-free housing

An Act relative to affordable housing

Click here to see the full list of bills that will be discussed at the hearing

Joint Committee on Housing Hearing: homelessness

Tuesday, June 4^th from 10am-1pm

Massachusetts State House

Hearing Room B-2

Boston

Topics: Motel use, Expiring Use, Foreclosure

Click here for more information

We were surprised and disheartened not to see the HomeBASE amendment get passed.  The amendment contained critical language to protect families in HomeBASE from becoming homeless again.  We had key legislators sponsoring the amendment; data backing up the need; agreement on some parts of it from DHCD; a unified voice from the advocacy community;  and compelling and logical arguments. But it was not enough.  Politics can be brutal.

As I sat processing the defeat, I received the following message from a family:

So I want to ask a question, you might think I’m dumb for this, but things have not been too clear for me. I’m currently on Homebase; my lease is up in August and I’m due to give birth in July. I am currently married and was able to keep a job until I got really sick. They are telling me pretty much I’ll be on the street with a 1 month old, and have been paying rent on time on the first every month. Is it true there is no money left for Homebase? Are we looking at people with Homebase to be homeless again?

The message is making the sting of defeat hurt a little more. But the fight for this expecting mother is not over.  We need the Senate to understand that there are over 5,000 households with the same questions, the same self doubts and the same fears. We need every family, every provider, every landlord and every advocate to work together to help assure that this mother is not on the streets with her 1 month old.

I do not want to make light of the situation, but the issue needs to be simplified and sometimes the best way is through song and a message that everyone can understand. Apparently some people don’t get the fact that, the rent is too damn high. Maybe this will help clear it up so we can move toward solutions and maybe it will just help with the sting:

Random acts of violence are extremely scary for all of us and can be re-triggering to families in crisis, especially those with previous traumas and from countries where bombings and conflict are a way of life. Communal living, such as shelters, can be an extra challenge when fears are heightened…but they can also provide comfort and a needed sense of community.  We would be happy to collect and share any resources, ideas or approaches that you are finding helpful in your program.

We thank all the caring people in the homelessness field and beyond for all you are doing today, during this time of uncertainty, and every day to assure safety, provide comfort and support to families overcoming homelessness and other traumas.   

There is a lot of information out there, but the following lists seemed quite exceptional:

Here are some resources compiled by the Provider’s Council from the Children’s League of Massachusetts:

• How to Talk to Your Children about Boston Marathon Bombs – WBUR CommonHealth
• Media Coverage of Traumatic Events – National Center for PTSD
• 5 Tips on Talking to Children About Scary News – CNN
• Helping Children Cope with Tragedy Related Anxiety – Mental Health America

And thanks to Jane Doe for posting these helpful links on their website:

The resources listed below were provided by the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response.

In addition, we are sharing two documents prepared by the Child Witness to Violence Project at Boston Medical Center:

• Talking to Kids About the Boston Marathon Tragedy
• Tips on Talking To Kids About the Boston Marathon Tragedy

Highlighted Resources for Children, Parents, and Educators on Terrorism and Disasters
Provided by the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness & Response

Children and Youth—SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series installment

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/dbhis_children_intro.asp

This SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series installment focuses on the reactions and mental health needs of children and youth after a disaster and contains resources from both the child trauma and disaster behavioral health fields. The collection includes an annotated bibliography and a section with helpful links to organizations, agencies, and other resources that address disaster preparedness and response issues surrounding children and youth.

·         The annotated bibliography is found athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/dbhis_children_bib.asp

·         Helpful links are found athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/dbhis/dbhis_children_links.asp

Tips for talking with and helping children and youth cope after a disaster or traumatic event: A guide for parents, caregivers, and teachers

http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/KEN01-0093R/KEN01-0093R.pdf

This tip sheet helps parents, caregivers, and teachers to recognize and address stress responses in children and youth affected by traumatic events such as automobile accidents and disasters. It describes stress reactions that are commonly seen in young trauma survivors from various age groups and offers tips on how to help as well as resources.

Cultural Awareness: Children and Youth in Disasters Podcast
http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/podcasts/cultural-awareness/register.asp

The goal of this 60-minute podcast is to assist disaster behavioral health responders in providing culturally aware and appropriate disaster behavioral health services for children, youth, and families impacted by natural and human-caused disasters. Featured speakers include April Naturale, Ph.D., of SAMHSA DTAC and Russell T. Jones, Ph.D., of VirginiaTechUniversity.

·         This podcast has been archived athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/podcasts/cultural-awareness/register.asp.

·         The transcript has been archived athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/podcasts/cultural-awareness/transcript.pdf.

·         The presentation has been archived athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/podcasts/cultural-awareness/presentation.pdf.

Psychosocial issues for children and adolescents in disasters

http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Psychosocial-Issues-for-Children-and-Adolescents-in-Disasters/ADM86-1070

This booklet includes resources for people working with children after a disaster. It covers child development theories in relation to how youth respond emotionally to disasters. It also features suggestions, case studies, and a resource guide.

Supplemental research bulletin: Children and disasters

http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/bulletin/SAMHSA_DTAC_Supplemental_Research_Bulletin.htm

This Research Bulletin from SAMHSA examines the emotional impact that natural and human-caused disasters have on children and youth. Developed in July 2012, this bulletin examines five recently published research and literature review articles and provides a discussion of the risk factors linked to children’s responses to disaster, protective factors, and resilience. It concludes with suggestions about policy and practice.

Resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network

·         It’s okay to remember
http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/traumatic-grief/what-childhood-traumatic-grief
This video provides information regarding traumatic grief in children, addresses the three main types of trauma reminders, and illustrates how families can experience the pain of loss and then heal. It features physicians and experts in the field and is appropriate for parents and others who care for children.

·         Parent Tips for Infants and Toddlers

This document offers a grid to help parents with infants and toddlers understand how their child may be feeling—it also offers an in-depth list of how parents can help their young children cope with disaster.

o        [English]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/appendix_e4_tips_for_parents_with_infants_and_toddlers.pdf

o        [Chinese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/chinese/appendix_e3.pdf

o        [Japanese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/janpanese/appendix_e4.pdf

o        [Spanish]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/spanish/apendice_e4_bebes.pdf

·         Parent Tips for Preschoolers

This document provides information for parents including reactions and/or behavior that may occur after a disaster including suggestions for what to say and do once the disaster is over.

o        [English]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/appendix_e5_tips_for_parents_with_preschool_children.pdf

o        [Chinese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/chinese/appendix_e4.pdf

o        [Japanese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/janpanese/appendix_e5.pdf

o        [Spanish]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/spanish/apendice_e5_preescolar.pdf

o        Parent Tips for School-age Children

This document offers information on common reactions after a disaster and how parents can respond to their school-age children.

o        [English]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/appendix_e6_tips_for_parents_with_schoolage_children.pdf

o        [Chinese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/chinese/appendix_e5.pdf

o        [Japanese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/janpanese/appendix_e6.pdf

o        [Spanish]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/spanish/apendice_e6_escolar.pdf

o     Parent Tips for Adolescents

This document will provide parents with tips for how to respond to their adolescent child after a disaster. The tips include possible reactions, responses, and examples of things to do and say.

o        [English]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/appendix_e7_tips_for_parents_with_adolescents.pdf

o        [Chinese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/chinese/appendix_e6.pdf

o        [Japanese]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/spanish/apendice_e7_adolescentes.pdf

o        [Spanish]http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/spanish/apendice_e7_adolescentes.pdf

·         Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/tips_for_parents_media_final.pdf
This tip sheet provides information for parents on how to limit a child’s exposure to disturbing media images after an earthquake.

Additional Resources for Children, Parents, and Educators

After a loved one dies—how children grieve; And how parents and other adults can support them

http://www.newyorklife.com/newyorklife.com/General/FileLink/Static%20Files/New%20York%20Life%20Foundation%20Bereavement%20Guide%20-%20After%20a%20Loved%20One%20Dies%20.pdf

This 26-page booklet is for parents and other adults to help children who have suffered the loss of a parent or loved one to get through their grief.

Helping students cope with media coverage of disasters: A fact sheet for teachers and school staff
http://www.oumedicine.com/docs/ad-psychiatry-workfiles/school_disaster_media_factsheet_2011.pdf?sfvrsn=2
According to this fact sheet, it “provides an overview of how media coverage of a disaster may affect students and suggests strategies that people working in schools can use to address these effects. The strategies described in this fact sheet can be used by teachers, school counselors, school social workers, other school staff members, and school administrators.

Helping your child cope with media coverage of disasters: A fact sheet for parents
http://www.oumedicine.com/docs/ad-psychiatry-workfiles/parent_disaster_media_factsheet_2011.pdf?sfvrsn=2
According to the document, this fact sheet “provides an overview of how media coverage of a disaster may affect your child and suggests strategies that parents can use to address these effects.

Responding to stressful events: Helping children cope
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/oes-bsu-02/pdf/helping-child-cope_e.pdf
This packet contains information on helping children cope after a stressful event. It provides information on common reactions and coping techniques.

Talk, listen, connect: When families grieve
http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/grief
This collection of resources addresses the difficult topic of the death of a parent and helps families cope with complex emotions, honor the life of a loved one, and find strength in each other. There are components for military families and nonmilitary families.

Understanding child traumatic stress

http://nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/understanding_child_traumatic_stress_brochure_9-29-05.pdf

This document discusses the cognitive response to danger as it relates to traumatic experiences or traumatic stress throughout all developmental stages, particularly in children. It provides an overview of posttraumatic stress responses and their severity and duration, as well as posttraumatic stress after chronic or repeated trauma.

Resources on Trauma and Mass Violence:

• Coping with Violence and Traumatic Events—This SAMHSA website has a variety of resources for first responders, schools, adults, and families for coping with violence and traumatic events. http://www.samhsa.gov/trauma/index.aspx

• Dealing with the Effects of Trauma: A Self-Help Guide—This SAMHSA guide provides more in-depth information on recovering from a traumatic event and is geared for those whose reactions may be lingering.
  http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Dealing-with-the-Effects-of-Trauma-A-Self-Help-Guide/SMA-3717

• Effects of Traumatic Stress after Mass Violence, Terror, or Disaster—Developed by the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this publication provides information regarding normal reactions to abnormal situations. It includes descriptions of common traumatic stress reactions, problematic stress responses, and symptoms of PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder.
  http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/pages/stress-mv-t-dhtml.asp

• In the Wake of Trauma: Tips for College Students—This fact sheet helps college students cope with the mental health effects in the aftermath of trauma. It explains normal reactions, emphasizes the importance of talking about feelings, and offers tips for coping. Includes resources for more information.
  http://store.samhsa.gov/product/In-the-Wake-of-Trauma-Tips-for-College-Students/KEN01-0092R

·         Mass disasters, trauma, and loss

This brochure explains stress reactions individuals may experience after a disaster, what they can do to recover, and when they should seek professional help.

http://www.istss.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=PublicEducationPamphlets&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1464

• Mental Health and Mass Violence: Evidence-Based Early Psychological Intervention for Victims/Survivors of Mass Violence—This report is targeted to those who deliver psychological interventions to emotionally distressed persons following mass violence, to those who research these issues, and to employers who want to help workers who have experienced this type of emotional trauma. It is also intended to aid officials who must decide what mental health help to include in the local, state, and national responses to survivors of mass violence and terrorism.
  http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/massviolence.pdf

• Mental Health Care for Ethnic Minority Individuals and Communities in the Aftermath of Disasters and Mass Violence—This paper reviews research that indicates that ethnic minorities (African American, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latinos) may suffer more adverse psychological consequences after disasters and mass violence than do white Americans. Guidelines are provided so that disaster behavioral health services can become more culturally responsive and traditional barriers are reduced.
• Mental Health Response to Mass Violence and Terrorism: A Field Guide—This SAMHSA publication is intended for mental health and disaster workers; first responders; government agency employees; and crime victim assistance, faith-based, healthcare, and other service providers who assist survivors and families during the aftermath of mass violence and terrorism. Please let us know if you would like additional free copies.
  http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Mental-Health-Response-to-Mass-Violence-and-Terrorism-A-Field-Guide/SMA05-4025

• Responding to Victims of Terrorism and Mass Violence Crimes—This booklet describes the relationship between the Office of Victims of Crime and the American Red Cross and provides guidance about crime victims’ rights and needs as well as how to assist victims of terrorism and mass violence crime.  It provides a comparison of how natural disasters are similar to and different from disasters caused by criminal human behavior and notes the psychological effects of each.

• Violence and Mental Illness: The Facts—This SAMHSA website discusses the importance of understanding mental illness and promoting social inclusion.
  http://www.samhsa.gov/MentalHealth/understanding_Mentalllness_Factsheet.aspx

Resources on Retraumatization and Chronic Stress:

Addressing the Traumatic Impact of Disaster on Individuals, Families, and Communities

http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/hsem/behavhealth/documents/atc_white_paper.PDF

Presented at the After the Crisis Initiative: Healing from Trauma after Disasters Expert Panel Meeting. This white paper addresses healing from the trauma induced by a disaster, especially in terms of regaining normalcy and offering and receiving peer support. In addition, the paper focuses on restoring communities with the supports necessary to be sensitive to the recovery from trauma by individuals, children, and families.

Coping with Stress

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandlingStress/

This webpage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides clear concise information on coping with stress related to a traumatic event.
Lessons Learned from School Crises and Emergencies

http://rems.ed.gov/docs/LL_Vol5Issue3.pdf

This publication from the U.S. Department of Education Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools discusses retraumatization at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) following the 2007 campus shooting of 32 individuals.

Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event: Managing Your Stress
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/NMH05-0209R/NMH05-0209R.pdf

This tip sheet outlines the common signs of stress after a disaster and provides stress reduction strategies.

Trauma and Retraumatization
http://www.witnessjustice.org/violence/docs/trauma_retraumatization.pdf

Presented at the After the Crisis Initiative: Healing from Trauma after Disasters Expert Panel Meeting, this resource paper presents an exposition on the types of trauma and its cumulative and intergeneration effects. It speaks particularly to the continued retraumatization that results from experiencing a disaster.

Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event: Managing Your Stress—
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/NMH05-0209R/NMH05-0209R.pdf
This tip sheet outlines the common signs of stress after a disaster and provides stress reduction strategies.

Resources for Disaster Response Professionals:

A Guide to Managing Stress in Crisis Response Professions
http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA05-4113/SMA05-4113.pdf
This manual aids crisis response workers in stress prevention and management before, during, and after a public health crisis. It describes the stress cycle and common stress reactions and offers tips to promote a positive workplace and to monitor and minimize stress.

Guidelines for working with first responders (firefighters, police, emergency medical service and military) in the aftermath of disaster
http://www.agpa.org/events/clinician/Guidelines%20for%20Working%20with%20First%20Responders%20in%20the%20Aftermath%20of%20Disaster.html
This online tip sheet lists common characteristics of disaster responders, suggests interventions for working with disaster responders, and provides additional resources in working with this population.

Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders Podcast
http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/selfcareDBHResponders/selfcareDBHResponders-presentation.pdf
SAMHSA DTAC recently released a Self-Care for Disaster Behavioral Health Responders Podcast. The goal of this 60-minute podcast is to provide information, best practices, and tools that enable disaster behavioral health (DBH) responders and supervisors to identify and effectively manage stress and secondary traumatic stress through workplace structures and self-care practices.

You can read a transcript of the podcast athttp://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/selfcareDBHResponders/selfcareDBHResponders-transcript.pdf

Tips for managing and preventing stress: A guide for emergency response and public safety workers
http://www.nd.gov/dhs/info/pubs/docs/mhsa/disaster-tips-managing-stress-for-emergency-response-public-safety-workers.pdf
This fact sheet gives organizational and individual tips for stress prevention and management for emergency response workers and public safety workers. It describes normal reactions to a disaster, signs of the need for stress management, and ways to handle stress.

Trauma, tragedy and crisis is overwhelming, no doubt…but let’s not forget how overwhelming and emotional it is helping others in times of strife.  Helpers- please take care of yourselves and each other.

LH

-Albus Dumbledore 

Inspired by a follower on Twitter, this post will be Harry Potter themed, in hopes of conjuring up support for our champions in the legislature to work their magic on amendments to the house budget.

Looking for an overview of the budget in relation to family homelessness?

Presto!:

HWM allocated 106.5M to EA, which is consistent with the Governor’s proposal and adequate to cover current expenditures, however there were no changes to the FY13 categorical eligibility regulations. The transferability between the EA line item and motel line items is eliminated, meaning that DHCD cannot borrow money from EA to pay for motels.  As for shelters, no more than $91,476,700 will be expended to establish a single contract per service provider for the entirety of FY 14, to include all contracted and supportive program expenses. The HWM budget proposal did not include language that would require DHCD to shelter families who are otherwise eligible and are at imminent risk of staying in places not meant for human habitation.

As for HomeBASE, the 32 week time limit to access the program was eliminated, although the three year language was not restored. Another change was in eliminating the 12 month bar which will allow families to access household assistance if the third year is not honored.

MRVP, otherwise known as the HFF horcrux, was funded at 46.5M, consistent with the Governor’s proposal.  While this number is an increase from FY 13’s 42,5M, the number of vouchers distributed the FY will require the magical number of 46.5M to annualize. SO- although there is an increase in funding, it will NOT result in an increase of vouchers- quite the Legerdemain.   The decrease in motel numbers is largely attributed to the increase in MRVPs to families, so if the Administration wants to actualize this:

without additional MRVP vouchers, they are going to have to strategize faster than you can say  “Evanesco”!, or at least gain access to the Room of Requirement within the next year.

Next Steps:

We have identified the following state representatives as a Patronus for the people, and we urge you to use the Expectro Patronum spell to encourage your own representatives to sign on to their amendments:

• Emergency Assistance (line item 7004-0101)

Representative Kay Khan will file an amendment requiring DHCD to shelter families who are otherwise eligible to EA and who are at imminent risk of staying in places not fit for human habitation.

• Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (line item 7004-9024)

Representative Paul Donato will file an amendment to increase funding for MRVP to $50 million.

Representative Gloria Fox will file an amendment to increase funding for MRVP to $60 million.

Representative Linda Campbell will file an amendment to restore the administrative fee to its current level.

• HomeBASE (line item 7004-0108)

Representative Byron Rushing will be filing an amendment that would allow access to HomeBASE for the originally designed 3 years, allow EA access to families who are unable to maintain their market rate placements, allow access to RAFT and other prevention programs and would allow families enrolled in HomeBASE to maintain a homeless priority for state-funded public housing.

Please click here to find your representative, then call or email them to ask them to look into the Mirror of Erised and support amendments being filed on behalf of the programs that we advocate for.

Simply provide the program name and line item, the purpose of the amendment and the name of the representative who is the lead sponsor. Don’t forget to use the magic word (in this case, the magic word is please).

Unfortunately, we are mere muggles who cannot fight boggarts with spells like “Alohomora” or “Budget, engorgio!” and we cannot look to Professor Trelawney for Divination 101 to foresee the future for families across Massachusetts. The magic we use to fight for vulnerable families throughout the Commonwealth must be pure and the charms must be cast now until the end of the budget debates in order to truly make a difference.

( I know, not Dumbledore, and not even the same actor (Thanks to Gabi, our board co-chair, for that clarification)  But still…too good to pass up.)

  TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: Would you like to be trained on using the MLMC Exploitation Prevention Curriculum?

What: Preventing the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Adolescent Girls: A Training for Providers on Using the My Life My Choice Curriculum
When: April 30, 3013, 9:30am-4:30pm
Where: The Family Justice Center 989 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Cost: $300.00
CEUS: 5.5 CEUs available for social workers

Registration: Register with Shannon Smith, scsmith@jri.org/617-232-1303 x203

My Life My Choice is a nationally recognized, groundbreaking initiative designed to reach adolescent girls most vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation. The MLMC Curriculum is a ten-session program created to develop and strengthen your efforts to halt the disturbing wave of exploitation and trafficking in the United States. Created in 2002, MLMC was the first comprehensive curriculum in the country focused solely on preventing commercial sexual exploitation among adolescent girls. For more information, please visit our website:www.fightingexploitation.org.

Participants will have the opportunity to:
•understand the research base behind the My Life My Choice Curriculum;
•learn how to use the curriculum to run psycho-educational groups with vulnerable girls in a variety of settings;
•explore potential challenges that may arise during the group; and
•receive a copy of the “My Life My Choice” curriculum.

Trainers: Lisa Goldblatt Grace, LICSW, MPH, MLMC Director
Audrey Morrissey, MLMC Associate Director

And here are a few articles that may be of interest:

• About one woman who says, “Sometimes, what you’ve overcome makes you stronger.”
• About a victim turned witness in Boston whose struggle continues, “With trafficking victims they don’t have a support base; there aren’t a lot of resources,’’
• Survivors helping inform policies, “no victim’s advocate or policy maker is as good as a survivor.”
• A brief article about the hospitality field, “But perhaps what was most horrifying…was to discover how often US hotels are the venues for such crimes. ”

The group is: 

Presented by THE FAMILY NURTURING CENTER

In collaboration with Associated Early Care and Education, Boston Community Partnerships for Children and the Bromley Heath Collaborative: Boston Housing Authority, Metro Boston Alive, Second Chance, and IBAC, Inc.

 For more information call

John O’Neil 617-474-1143 x251

http://www.familynurturing.org

When: Wednesday April 10th, 11:00am-1:oopm

Where: 14 Beacon Street, first floor conference room Boston, MA 02108

Once again, our monthly community meeting will coincide with the release of the House Ways and Means budget for the upcoming fiscal year.  Timely, as we will be discussing the future, or not, of the HomeBASE program.

As you likely know, Governor Patrick has no plans to extend the program to its original plan of 3 years, and we are yet uncertain if the House or Senate will take measures to protect those families whose subsidies are set to end, yet still haven’t attained economic stability that would allow them to maintain their units. So, it is important that we all learn what the plan of the Administration is to address the immediate needs of these families as the end of their subsidies quickly approaches.

Please join us on Wednesday for this very important discussion, as we welcome Ita Mullarkey from DHCD, Noreen Dolan from MBHP and Joe Diamond from Mass. Assoc. for Community Action to talk about the role their agencies/organizations will play in this potential transition to the end of rental assistance through HomeBASE.

Hope to see you there!

The blogger writes about the need for mothers to take some time for themselves…but also the value of independent play – the need for children to learn how to entertain themselves, negotiate friendships, and solve problems, as these skills will help children become  independent adults. For all the talk about “self sufficiency” we do in this field, it is detrimental that we don’t talk enough about the impact of the system on children and their future.

After working for many years in a congregate shelter, I grew accustomed to children always being in their parent’s eyesight, to being concerned if a toddler was by themselves.  It still takes me a little while to adjust to relaxing with friends as their young children play in their own rooms, which is why the post caught my interest.

Wearing my old shelter provider hat, the thought of “free range kids” gives me a little anxiety. The stairs!!! The bigger kids! That damage unsupervised kids had done in the bathroom that one time. The liabilities…. the hard conversations.   In considering the concept relative to a shelter environment, the following was particularly striking, “Of course, an attitude like this can get you in trouble these days, because there is a huge percentage of people who get all judgy if you’re not staring at your children 24 hours a day.”

Because for parents in shelters or motels, it isn’t just the judgy.  It is also the rules.  It is the risk of living with strangers.  It is the threat of a 51-A. It is the fear of losing even more.   And it is also the judgy.

The article and my anxiety flashbacks made me wonder what providers are doing and/or could be doing more of to support parents to have time for themselves (and by themselves, I don’t mean house meeting, groups or other coordinated activities while the Horizons volunteers come to play with the kids) and so that children get time to explore and do anything. 

We are clearly failing the families in motels in this regard.  And I wonder if shelters are able to do enough- considering the risks, the rules, and the repercussions of wandering wee ones.  What are the short and long term impacts of a child functioning in world limited by their parents eyesight/arm reach? How can shelter programs best support children to explore, to dream, to be independent? How can parents get the space they need without getting a rule violation, neglecting their children’s safety or feeling threatened, guilty or judged?

I strongly recommend (again) the book Parenting in Public by Donna Haig Friedman as required reading for all shelter staff. There are all sorts of books and blogs about parenting that target middle class families- keeping your children quiet on a plane, busy in the car, etc…how can materials be adapted to recognize the lack of resources, the increased stress and pressures, and the challenging environment-without making parents feel more judged?  Families First has some great trainings for shelter staff and can facilitate groups with parents.  Do/can case managers meet with parents at the playground or in the playspaces?  Is there unscheduled time for parents while volunteers are watching children? Do rooms have enough safety features for children to have some “go play in your room” time? Parenting is hard.  Being a single parent, like the majority of families in the system, is harder.  Being a parent while experiencing homeless is…unjust. As one mother wrote to us, “This experience can shatter the confidence of any mother, hurt the potential of any child, and affect the growth of any baby.”  It is our job, as a community, to support parents to rebuild that confidence, unleash the potential of children, and provide a safe and healthy environment for babies to grow and thrive.  Please share ideas, practices, and reactions on we, as individuals, programs, and systems can do more and better.

“ What is the goal of parenting?  To produce an independent adult.  And how does one produce an independent adult?  Well, it’s a process.  But you can start by taking your eyes off your child once in awhile”….or can you?

LH