Virtual Resource Center

Youth Network Council supports community-based organizations serving youth and families throughout Illinois and on a national level by providing capacity building resources and opportunities. The Virtual Resource Center is designed to contain up-to-date information and alerts in the areas of funding, state and federal policy and legislation alerts, upcoming conferences and events and helpful links relevant to youth serving community-based organizations. Know of information that should be added? Email Rebecca George at rgeorge@youthnetworkcouncil.org, subject line: Virtual Resource Center.

Policy and Legislative Alerts--View History of Illinois State Office Alerts 2008

ILLINOIS STATE OFFICE ALERT-Release Date: July 17, 2008

On July 16, 2008, the House overrode some of the budget cuts the Governor had made in his veto message on HB5701 which contains the DHS budget among others. The core youth service lines ended up with a 2% across the board cut. There were no override motions introduced to override these cuts. We understand there was a decision made not to override cuts that were 3% or less.

There was a motion to override the $1million line item veto of transitional shelters and employment assistance for homeless youth but that motion lost.

Substance abuse prevention did not take a cut in its lines but the treatment programs took significant cuts. Addiction treatment for special populations took a $9million cut. Increasing addiction treatment statewide took a $3million cut. Administrative expenses related to the Welfare Reform Project took a $2.7million cut. The House tried to override these cuts in motion #7 to HB5701but it failed to pass. The House did override the Governor's reduction veto of community based addiction services from $86,599,700 to $43,299,850 in motion #8 to HB5701. However, any of the overrides the House made would have to be also voted on in the Senate, which has 15 days to act on the vetoes. Unfortunately, the Senate isn't scheduled to come back into session until November 12th.

The House only had 89 of its 118 members present to vote on the override motions of which there were 33. The House needed a 3/5 majority to override line item vetoes and a simple majority to override reduction vetoes. The results may have been different if more members were present. We will Illinois Collaboration on Youth members a sample roll call on one of the override motions next week to show you which House members were present and which were absent.

H. Res. 1296 National Child Awareness Month

House of Representatives Resolution 1296 was passed by the House on July 24, 2008 by a vote of 404-0.

House of Representatives Resolution 1296, the designation of a National Child Awareness Month was considered on July 23, 2008 and debated. Due to the late hour, further proceedings on the motion were postponed. They resumed on July 24, 2008 as unfinished business.

The resolution is designed to promote the awareness of children’s charities and youth-serving organizations across the United States and recognizing their efforts on behalf of children and youth as a positive investment for the future of our Nation.

Illinois Collaboration on Youth

The ILLINOIS COLLABORATION ON YOUTH (ICOY), a statewide membership organization and program of Youth Network Council, advocates on behalf of young people and their families, and provides support for organizations and individuals that serve them within their communities.

FEDERAL ALERT-Release Date: July 31, 2008

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008

On July 31, 2008 the Senate Judiciary Committee passed S. 3155 the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2008. This act reauthorizes the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), which has provided states and localities with federal standards and supports for improving juvenile justice and delinquency prevention practices and contributed to safeguards for youth, families and communities for more than 30 years. Also passed with the bill are two noteworthy amendments.

Senator Cardin's amendment to strengthen the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenders (DSO) was passed 11-7. The amendment phases out value ordered judgment exceptions for status offenders being put in juvenile detention. It gives states 3 years to get in compliance, with a one year extension if needed. States must come up with alternatives for status offenders to be in compliance with the law, as it was intended to do in its original passage in 1974.

Senator Feinstein's amendment to require mental health screening of young people before they enter detention was passed with only one nay from Senator Sessions. Young people requiring care need to be attended to by a psychiatrist and not placed in detention. Senator Coburn proposed allowing a substitution of a psychologist due to the lack of psychiatrists. They agreed to work out the specific language at a later date.

For more details, please visit THOMAS at the Library of Congress at: http://thomas.loc.gov, and use the bill number ‘S 3155’in Search Bill Text.

RFP Release Alerts-FEDERAL/NATIONAL

The Family and Youth Services Bureau

is now ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for the

FY2009 Transitional Living and Maternity Group Home Programs

Deadline for applications: August 25, 2008

Questions? Contact the National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth at (301) 608-8098 or info@ncfy.acf.hhs.gov.

Department of Health & Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Program Office:
Family and Youth Services Bureau

Funding Opportunity Title:
Support Systems for Rural Homeless Youth: A Collaborative State and Local Demonstration

Announcement Type:
Initial

Funding Opportunity Number:
HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CX-0065

Due Date for Applications: 08/25/2008

Summary:

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) is accepting applications for a five-year Demonstration project targeted to young people ages 16-21, in rural areas (including Tribal lands and other rural Native communities) who are approaching independence and young adulthood, but have few or no connections to a supportive, family structure or community. For purposes of this announcement, "rural" is defined as any geographical area that: (a) has a population under 20,000; and (b) is located outside a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area.

This collaborative Demonstration project, funding States to work with local community-based organizations, is intended to influence policies, programs and practices that affect the design and delivery of services to runaway and homeless youth in Transitional Living Programs (TLP), as well as to homeless youth aging out of State child welfare systems and into Independent Living Programs (ILP).

Department of Health & Human Services

Funding Opportunity Title: Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program
Funding Amount: $375,000 over a 3 year period

Due Date for Applications: 10/16/2008

Summary:

This program encourages the development of new and innovative health care delivery systems in rural communities that lack essential care services. The emphasis of the grant program is on service delivery through collaboration, requiring the grantee to form a consortium with at least two additional partners.

United States Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Community Capacity Development Office
Funding Opportunity Title: CCDO FY 09 Weed and Seed Communities Competitive Program
Modification 1

Due Date for Applications: 9/9/2008

Summary:

The Weed and Seed strategy aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, criminal drug-related activity, and gang activity. The Weed and Seed initiative is a community-based, comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. It is designed for neighborhood with persistent high levels of serious crime and corresponding social problems. A Weed and Seed Community (WSC) must be developed in partnership with a variety of key local organizations and the local United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents in a community primarily through the redeployment of existing public and private resources into the community. A WSC also helps to address related social problems that without proper intervention often lead to violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity.

RFP Release Alerts-STATE OF ILLINOIS

Illinois Department of Human Services
Department of Community Health & Prevention

AmeriCorps * State RFP

Due Date for Applications: 10/31/08

Summary:

The Illinois Department of Human Services and the Serve Illinois Commission (Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service) announce the availability of AmeriCorps*State funds for the period 2009-2012. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations to recruit, train, and manage AmeriCorps members who address identified community needs. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who is enrolled in an approved national service position and engages in community service activities. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members receive an education award from the National Service Trust.

Grants Information Conferences will be held in Mt. Vernon (September 8, 2008), Springfield (September 10, 2008), and Chicago (September 11, 2008). Applicants are required to attend a conference at one of the three offered dates/locations.

Illinois Procurement Bulletin - This Bulletin contains all procurement announcements, including solicitations and awards, published to meet the requirements of the Illinois Procurement Code. [30 ILCS 500]. This includes procurements of supplies and services by executive branch agencies under the jurisdiction of the Department of Central Management Services as Chief Procurement Officer. You must register on the Bulletin in order to take full advantage of all of its features.

Illinois Department of Human Services Grant Alerts System (GAS)
A High Octane Site for Funding Opportunities in Human Services

Illinois Department of Human Services Truancy RFP: Due September 2, 2008 by 4:00 PM CST

Grant Opportunities with Ongoing Deadlines

Health, Education and Welfare of Children
The Office Depot Community Relations program provides
Find funding and in-kind donations to programs that impact the health, education and welfare of children offered by Office Depot. Deadline: Ongoing
http://www.community.officedepot.com/local.asp

Hunger Prevention and Youth Activities
The Kroger Foundation funds a variety of youth programs including hunger prevention, youth activities and local education efforts. Deadline: Ongoing
http://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_charitablegiving_foundation.htm

Promoting Tolerance
Mix It Up grants are $500 grants to support youth-directed programs and projects that address social boundaries in schools or communities. Youth must serve as decision-makers in the project, and create and implement them. Grants are sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Study Circles Resource Center. Deadline: Ongoing
http://www.tolerance.org/teens/grants.jsp

Sponsorships for Literary-Based Organization
Literary-based sponsorships and partners with organizations that focus their core businesses on higher learning, literacy and the arts are eligible for grants from the Barnes & Noble Corporate Contributions Program. Deadline: Ongoing
http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our_company/sponsorship/sponsorships_national/donations_national.html

Conferences

Introduction to Federal Grants: A One-Day Conference for Non-Profit Faith and Community-Based Organizations

Friday September, 12th, 2008
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

This free event is a collaboration between Illinois ResourceNet*, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Administration for Children and Families.

The workshop will include:

Basic information on how to apply for federal grants
Tips on organizational development and grant writing to make your application more competitive
A plan of federal grant-making agencies
A panel of non-profit organizations that have won federal grants
Opportunities for discussion and individual consultation with agency representatives

For more information or to register for the conference, please visit Illinois ResourceNet.

National Runaway and Homeless Youth Grantee Conference in St. Louis, MO: November 19-21, 2008

This conference will be held in St. Louis and convene over 300 professionals from across the country for the First National RHY Grantee Conference! This ground breaking event is a significant opportunity for the Runaway and Homeless Youth serving community to come together, honor the past and look toward the future of our young people. Join us as we gather together to share knowledge, experiences, and creativity in order to pursue our common goal of providing effective services to the country’s runaway and homeless youth. Learn more...

What’s New!

New Youth Development Master’s Program - The University of Illinois at Chicago has launched a new Master's of Education program in Youth Development. The purpose of the program is to prepare individuals to work with young people in realizing their full potential as human beings and citizens. The curriculum has been designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to create and administer programs that support youth in meeting the challenges of developing their emotional, physical, social and intellectual selves and in gaining a voice and place in society.
The program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2008 cohort of students. We are specifically interested in individuals who aspire to or currently work with youth in urban contexts. Questions can be answered by Stacey Horn, program coordinator, at sshorn@uic.edu; Allison Tingwall, program assistant, at atingwall@gmail.com or Ana Valenta, M.Ed. Advisor at agarci5@uic.edu.

GIVEN HALF A CHANCE: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males
The 2008 edition, Given Half a Chance: The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males, details the drastic range of outcomes for Black males, especially the tragic results in many of the nation’s biggest cities. Given Half a Chance also deliberately highlights the resource disparities that exist in schools attended by Black males and their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. The 2008 Schott report documents that states and most districts with large Black enrollments educate their White, non-Hispanic children, but do not similarly educate the majority of their Black male students.
For more details on the national study, as well as reports by state, please visit http://blackboysreport.org/.

Annual Events at the National Level

Global Youth Service Day 2009 is April 24-26, 2009
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is organized by Youth Service America with the Global Youth Action Network as its key partner and a consortium of international organizations and over 120 national coordinating committees in participating countries. GYSD is an annual global event that highlights and celebrates the contributions of youth to their communities through volunteer service.
For more information, please visit: http://ysa.org/GlobalYouthServiceDay/tabid/254/Default.aspx

Helpful Resource Links

National Youth Development Information Center

National Youth Development Information Center-- www.nydic.org -- is a one-stop website for youth workers with interest in any and all of the following areas: funding, programming, research, policy, job and training opportunities. NYDIC also provides current news to the youth development field and has one of the largest online libraries, providing practice-related information at low-cost or no cost. NYDIC provides constant opportunities for practitioners to share knowledge and experience, enabling them to build the best practice in the field of youth development.
NYDIC is an initiative of the National Collaboration for Youth.

National Collaboration for Youth

The National Collaboration for Youth (NCY) is a coalition of the National Assembly member organizations that have a significant interest in youth development. Members of the National Collaboration for Youth include more than fifty national, non-profit, youth development organizations. The mission of NCY is to provide a united voice as advocates for youth to improve the conditions of young people in America, and to help young people reach their full potential.
http://www.connectforkids.org/node/3236

Do Something

At Do Something.org, they believe young people have the power to make a difference. It is their aim to inspire, support and celebrate a generation of do-ers: people who see the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Their website is a community where young people learn, listen, speak, vote, volunteer, ask, and take action to make the world a better place. Currently, only 23% of this generation actively volunteers. Our hope is to create a do something generation: a world where more than 51% of young people are involved with community action.
http://www.dosomething.org/

National Safe Place

Safe Place is the first step to help for any youth in crisis or at risk. This community collaboration program, operated by youth shelters or youth serving agencies make it possible for any youth to access help at locations including fast food restaurants, convenience stores, fire stations, libraries and city buses which display the Safe Place sign. Youth can easily find help at Safe Place sites in their own neighborhood whenever they need it. Safe Place connects youth to immediate help and safety and offers supportive services to both youth and their families.

http://www.nationalsafeplace.org/

Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Centers

Training and technical assistance services are directed at assisting Runaway and Homeless Youth grantees (Basic Center, Transitional Living, Maternity Group Homes, and Street Outreach) to engage in continuous quality improvement of their services and to build their capacity to effectively serve our nation's runaway and homeless youth.

http://www.rhyttac.ou.edu/default.html