Resources

Harm reduction includes a range of policies, programs, and practices that meet vulnerable individuals like runaway and homeless youth where they're at. Harm reduction practices are designed to acknowledge and reduce the risks young people face every day by developing youth-centered strategies to enhance safety in ways that work for them. Learn how to embed harm reduction techniques into your work with youth during COVID-19 and beyond to create brave spaces where youth get the care and services they deserve.

This asynchronous Mandated Reporter Training course is designed to provide the most updated information regarding the accurate and prompt identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect. Legal requirements and protections for mandated reporters are discussed in detail, as well as consequences for failing to report.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act provides for the delivery of services that remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youth in schools. This session will be beneficial and provide information to assist school staff in the liaison role.

A proclamation is an official designation within a city, state, or county to honor and raise awareness on a specific day or month about a specific initiative, observance, or issue. This toolkit reviews how to get a proclamation issued in your community/state and use it to bring awareness to the critical issue of youth, young adults, and young family homelessness. The National Network for Youth has successfully requested and gotten many proclamations introduced at the federal level to raise awareness of youth homelessness and human trafficking in America.

During NN4Y’s 2023 Summit, Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) presented on the very important topic of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Youth (CSEY), Homelessness, & LGBTQ+ Youth. Session participants gained a deeper understanding of the unique needs and challenges of youth who are at risk of, currently experiencing, or exiting homelessness, including LGBTQ+ youth.

The NN4Y and the McCain Institute hosted a webinar about our self-paced online Certificate program we developed where you earn NASW CEUs as you learn about the fundamentals of human trafficking, red flags, assessment approaches, impact of trauma, and how to serve at-risk youth.

LGBTQ+ youth disproportionately experience housing instability, making up roughly 40% of the population. This training will center the needs of LGBTQ+ youth in social service RHY programs. Attendees will leave with an understanding of LGBTQ+ youth’s experience, affirming terminology and practices, and concrete tools to working with LGBTQ+ youth in empowering ways.

This toolkit is intended to give you all of the information you need to know about the policymaking process and effective advocacy strategies. In addition, this toolkit will teach you how to effectively build relationships with policymakers and influence their support of your policy recommendations. Finally, this guide also talks about strategies for sharing your personal experiences while ensuring that you choose what and how you share.

These free training resources are part of our collaborative effort to affirm the work of RHY providers and RHY municipal coordinators working on the ground to end youth homelessness.