Room for 2Room for 2 Supporting Supporting

Pregnant and Pregnant and Parenting YouthParenting Youth

HOMESPACEHOMESPACE A A Supervised Supervised

Independent Living Independent Living ProgramProgram for youth ages 17- for youth ages 17-21 that are in the care and 21 that are in the care and custody of the department custody of the department of social services. of social services.

The housing/apartment The housing/apartment community has 12 community has 12 townhomes with 2-3 townhomes with 2-3 bedrooms each.bedrooms each.

Each unit also has a private Each unit also has a private kitchen, bathroom, dining kitchen, bathroom, dining room and living room.room and living room.

In addition there are shared In addition there are shared laundry facilities, a laundry facilities, a monitored courtyard and a monitored courtyard and a community room. community room.

The facility has 24 hour on The facility has 24 hour on site staffing. site staffing.

SECOND CHANCESECOND CHANCE A A group homegroup home for youth for youth

ages 14-21 years old that ages 14-21 years old that are in the care and custody are in the care and custody of the department of social of the department of social services. services.

Residents must be pregnant Residents must be pregnant and/or parenting.and/or parenting.

A congregate-style A congregate-style traditional dwelling with traditional dwelling with eight bedrooms and four eight bedrooms and four bathrooms.bathrooms.

The home also has a The home also has a community living room, community living room, kitchen, dining room, indoor kitchen, dining room, indoor children’s playroom and fully children’s playroom and fully fenced backyard playground fenced backyard playground provided by Fisher-Price.provided by Fisher-Price.

The group home is staffed The group home is staffed 24 hours per day 7 days per 24 hours per day 7 days per week.week.

Program StaffingProgram Staffing

““A Youth’s Perspective” – A Youth’s Perspective” – what was your first what was your first impression of the impression of the

program?program?

““A Youth’s Perspective” – A Youth’s Perspective” – how has Homespace been how has Homespace been

helpful to you as you helpful to you as you prepare to live on your prepare to live on your

own?own?

““A Youth’s Perspective”A Youth’s Perspective”““Staff helped me with getting a job and fixing my Staff helped me with getting a job and fixing my attitude”attitude”

““I love that y’all take care of us” I love that y’all take care of us”

““I love having my own space to be able to relax I love having my own space to be able to relax with my son”with my son”

““I like feeling safe and that my son doesn’t live like I like feeling safe and that my son doesn’t live like I used to”I used to”

““I like having someone to talk to when I feel alone, I like having someone to talk to when I feel alone, upset or sad”upset or sad”

““I like the support that staff and case planners give I like the support that staff and case planners give to me”to me”

““I like having a place I can call home”I like having a place I can call home”

What are other needs What are other needs of pregnant and of pregnant and

parenting youth????parenting youth????

““A Youth’s Perspective” – A Youth’s Perspective” – what are some the needs what are some the needs that you have had as a that you have had as a

young parent?young parent?

Common NeedsCommon Needs

Childcare Positive Supports

Parenting Skills

EducationSupport

Meeting the Need of Meeting the Need of ChildcareChildcare

Collaboration with Early Head Start. Collaboration with Early Head Start. Offering internal childcare so residents can attend Offering internal childcare so residents can attend

Independent Living Groups and other workshops.Independent Living Groups and other workshops. On-site childcare at group home – used on a On-site childcare at group home – used on a

minimal basis for SILP residents as well minimal basis for SILP residents as well (emergencies, job training, etc.).(emergencies, job training, etc.).

Use of Childcare Coalition for daycare listings in Use of Childcare Coalition for daycare listings in the area that provide the type of daycare needed the area that provide the type of daycare needed by the resident.by the resident.

Childcare “co-op” at Homespace – residents are Childcare “co-op” at Homespace – residents are encouraged to assist in the Childcare Center encouraged to assist in the Childcare Center during group and also to assist other residents during group and also to assist other residents with occasional childcare needs. with occasional childcare needs.

Payment for childcare through Preventive Daycare.Payment for childcare through Preventive Daycare.

Meeting the Need of Parenting Meeting the Need of Parenting SkillsSkills

Parent Educator on-Parent Educator on-site 4site 4 nights per week.nights per week.

Routines in the group Routines in the group home including the “3 home including the “3 B’s” – Bath, Book and B’s” – Bath, Book and Bed.Bed.

Accepting residents Accepting residents who are working on who are working on reunification efforts reunification efforts with their children.with their children.

Collaborations with Collaborations with “home-based” “home-based” services.services.

Doula available for Doula available for pregnant residents.pregnant residents.

Use of Ages and Use of Ages and Stages Developmental Stages Developmental Assessment Tool.Assessment Tool.

Resources on-siteResources on-site regarding healthy regarding healthy pregnancies, pregnancies, childbirth, etc. childbirth, etc.

Use of the Child Use of the Child Activity Center for 1:1 Activity Center for 1:1 parenting support.parenting support.

Meeting the Need of Meeting the Need of Parenting Skills Continued…Parenting Skills Continued…

Linkage to Early Head Linkage to Early Head Start, Buffalo Prenatal Start, Buffalo Prenatal Network, Parent-Child Network, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Interaction Therapy (PCIT), EPIC (Every (PCIT), EPIC (Every Parent Influences Parent Influences Children), etc.Children), etc.

Age appropriate and Age appropriate and family friendly family friendly activities including activities including Disney on Ice, Elmo, Disney on Ice, Elmo, trips to the Zoo, park, trips to the Zoo, park, etc.etc.

Support/monitoring of Support/monitoring of mother’s with “high mother’s with “high risk” of CPS risk” of CPS involvement including involvement including feeding schedules, feeding schedules, increased supervision, increased supervision, etc.etc.

Meeting the Need of Meeting the Need of Positive SupportsPositive Supports

Peer mentoring Peer mentoring program.program.

Adult mentoring Adult mentoring program. program.

Staff link.Staff link. Use of permanency Use of permanency

pacts.pacts. Tutoring Program.Tutoring Program. Collaboration with YIP Collaboration with YIP

(Youth in Progress). (Youth in Progress). Collaboration with Collaboration with

Independence Bound for Independence Bound for educational and educational and vocational support.vocational support.

Collaboration with Collaboration with MOPS (Mothers of MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers).Preschoolers).

““Graduated” residents Graduated” residents invited to speak at invited to speak at groups. groups.

Aftercare services Aftercare services offered.offered.

Linkage with CATS IL Linkage with CATS IL Services. Services.

Allowing sibling Allowing sibling overnight visits up to 5 overnight visits up to 5 nights per month nights per month (SILP).(SILP).

Meeting the Need of Meeting the Need of Educational SupportEducational Support

• HOPE Center: On-Site tutoring services with HOPE Center: On-Site tutoring services with childcare.childcare.

• Linkage to Independence Bound – assistance Linkage to Independence Bound – assistance with college applications and financial aid with college applications and financial aid paperwork. paperwork.

• Referrals to Erie 1 BOCES, Americorp, Youth Referrals to Erie 1 BOCES, Americorp, Youth Build and other vocational training programs. Build and other vocational training programs.

• Weekly IL groups and an on-site IL Coordinator.Weekly IL groups and an on-site IL Coordinator.• Use of Casey Life Skills Assessment – helps Use of Casey Life Skills Assessment – helps

identify where support is needed. identify where support is needed.

““A Youth Perspective” – A Youth Perspective” – what services have you what services have you

taken advantage of?taken advantage of?

We We Must Must Work Together – Work Together – Outside Supports and Outside Supports and

CollaborationsCollaborations

SEFCU – local credit union SEFCU – local credit union that all residents are linked that all residents are linked with.with.

Adolescent Clinic – health Adolescent Clinic – health care that is focused on teen care that is focused on teen health and infant/toddler health and infant/toddler health.health.

Ford Friendship Van – Ford Friendship Van – provided so residents can provided so residents can participate in group outings.participate in group outings.

Child and Adolescent Child and Adolescent Treatment Services (CATS) – Treatment Services (CATS) – agency that provides agency that provides counseling and IL groups.counseling and IL groups.

Linen Pantry – free Linen Pantry – free household items.household items.

Rich Products – local Rich Products – local agency that supports the agency that supports the program with donations program with donations and financial support. and financial support.

Wegmans – cooking and Wegmans – cooking and nutrition classes.nutrition classes.

Belmont Housing – Belmont Housing – assistance with finding assistance with finding housing, fixing credit housing, fixing credit reports, tenant rights, etc.reports, tenant rights, etc.

CASH Program – free tax CASH Program – free tax preparation.preparation.

Outside Supports and Outside Supports and Collaborations Continued…Collaborations Continued…

Food Pantries – bi-weekly Food Pantries – bi-weekly trips to help residents trips to help residents “stretch” their food “stretch” their food budgets.budgets.

Harvest House – free Harvest House – free children’s clothing and children’s clothing and infant/toddler items such infant/toddler items such as cribs, strollers, etc. as cribs, strollers, etc.

WIC – supplemental food WIC – supplemental food program for pregnant and program for pregnant and parenting woman.parenting woman.

MAD DADS – local group MAD DADS – local group for fathers; offer for fathers; offer workshops, referrals and workshops, referrals and support. support.

Buffalo Driving School – Buffalo Driving School – free 5 hour course and free 5 hour course and driver’s education lessons.driver’s education lessons.

Planned Parenthood – Planned Parenthood – workshops/groups on workshops/groups on healthy relationships, healthy relationships, sexuality, birth control, etc. sexuality, birth control, etc.

FOY (Focus on Youth) – FOY (Focus on Youth) – Speak Out and Taste of Speak Out and Taste of Independence. Independence.

Adult Learning Center – Adult Learning Center – GED Preparation Classes.GED Preparation Classes.

Early Intervention.Early Intervention. MANY, MANY, MANY MANY, MANY, MANY

MORE…MORE…

What services are What services are available in your available in your community????community????

A Different Approach… A Different Approach… Developing a Mother-Baby Developing a Mother-Baby

ProgramProgram

Staff are trained using Staff are trained using a trauma a trauma informed/CPS model of informed/CPS model of care. care.

Residents are able to Residents are able to transition from group transition from group home to SILP as their home to SILP as their skills increase.skills increase.

The program is near The program is near public transportation, public transportation, hospitals, daycares, hospitals, daycares, etc. to ensure access etc. to ensure access to services. to services.

Staff are trained in Staff are trained in adult adult andand infant/toddler infant/toddler CPR.CPR.

Child-safe home and Child-safe home and community spaces.community spaces.

Therapeutic Crisis Therapeutic Crisis Intervention WITHOUT Intervention WITHOUT the use of physical the use of physical restraints is taught.restraints is taught.

Routines and activities Routines and activities are child-centered/child-are child-centered/child-friendly including friendly including ensuring gatherings ensuring gatherings include age appropriate include age appropriate toys, food, etc.toys, food, etc.

A Different Approach… A Different Approach… Developing a Mother-Baby Developing a Mother-Baby

ProgramProgram Case Planners ensure Case Planners ensure

thatthat residents are filing residents are filing for child support, for child support, custody, visitation as custody, visitation as needed. needed.

Independent Living Independent Living Skills (IL) assessments Skills (IL) assessments include parenting skills.include parenting skills.

Both programs are Both programs are supervised 24/7 to supervised 24/7 to ensure safety at all ensure safety at all times. times.

Room checks at night to Room checks at night to ensure safety of ensure safety of children – no co-children – no co-sleeping.sleeping.

Collaborations with Collaborations with parent-focused parent-focused agencies.agencies.

““Baby-Buck” Program – Baby-Buck” Program – allows residents to allows residents to “purchase” needed “purchase” needed items for their child items for their child without moneywithout money

All rooms/apartments All rooms/apartments have appropriate have appropriate infant/toddler furniture.infant/toddler furniture.

Savings program at the Savings program at the SILP allows residents to SILP allows residents to prepare for prepare for independent living.independent living.

““A Youth Perspective”- A Youth Perspective”- what is different about what is different about Homespace than other Homespace than other

programs you may have programs you may have been in?been in?

Strengths of the Strengths of the Program – “A Youth’s Program – “A Youth’s

Perspective”Perspective”Food Food

Games and OutingsGames and Outings

Help with KidsHelp with Kids

Staff SupportStaff SupportSafetySafety

That was a lot… Any That was a lot… Any Questions/CommentsQuestions/Comments

If you would like to contact If you would like to contact us…us…

Lia Fegley – Case Planner Second ChanceLia Fegley – Case Planner Second Chancelia.fegley@dfa.state.ny.uslia.fegley@dfa.state.ny.us

Jessica Tricarico – IL Coordinator Jessica Tricarico – IL Coordinator jessica.tricarico@dfa.state.ny.usjessica.tricarico@dfa.state.ny.us

Rebecca Sahr – Case Planner HomespaceRebecca Sahr – Case Planner Homespacerebecca.sahr@dfa.state.ny.usrebecca.sahr@dfa.state.ny.us

Julie Bentz – Childcare SupervisorJulie Bentz – Childcare Supervisorjulie.bentz@dfa.state.ny.usjulie.bentz@dfa.state.ny.us

Office # (716) 881-4600Office # (716) 881-4600Address – 1030 Ellicott St.Address – 1030 Ellicott St.

Buffalo, NY 14209Buffalo, NY 14209