Re-introduction of the Emergency Family Stabilization Act

A bipartisan group of senators has reintroduced the Emergency Family Stabilization Act. The act intends to fill in funding gaps in response to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic by providing agencies that serve youth and families experiencing homelessness with flexible funding. National Network for Youth (NN4Y) has created an advocacy page with various resources to allow individuals and organizations to show their support for the Emergency Family Stabilization Act. Take action today by visiting www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/efsa.

"Engaging and Re-Engaging Students Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic": A SchoolHouse Connection Webinar Series

The pandemic has exacerbated the inequities that many students experiencing homelessness face. SchoolHouse Connection is hosting a 30-minute webinar every Thursday in February to discuss ways homeless liaisons and school personnel are working to engage students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar is an interactive, Q&A style, and participants are encouraged to bring questions.  Part II of "Engaging and Re-engaging Students Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic" will take place Thursday, February 11^th at 2:00 p.m. EST and will feature a conversation with Fallon Stewart, School-Based Program Supervisor, Maslow Project, Oregon. Click here to register for this webinar and find information about the rest of the month’s webinars.

Racial Equity Tool Updated

The National Alliance to End Homelessness’s Racial Equity Network (REN) has updated their toolkit. This new update is intended to help providers use the racial equity tool to address inequities in testing, treatment, and service delivery in Black and Brown communities that are contending with the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The tool also includes a section to track and assess who is being vaccinated in a service area. 

Click here to access this tool.

Call to Action for Youth Leaders and Youth-Serving Organizations

The School-Based Health Alliance wants to create a network that allows youth, youth-serving organizations, and school-based health centers from across the country to connect for collaborations and maintain relationships.  

 Whether you are a youth leader, an advocate for a youth group, or a youth-serving organization (e.g., Youth Advisory Council, youth representation on a school health committee, peer education, etc.), please fill out this short 5-minute survey so the School-Based Health Alliance can learn more about you and the work you do. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].  

Request to Endorse the Bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act

In anticipation of the reintroduction of the Emergency Family Stabilization Act, National Network for Youth (NN4Y) is asking organizations to endorse this legislation to support children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness in the wake of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).  

About the Bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act:

• Creates a new emergency funding stream through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide flexible funding for community-based organizations to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness (as defined by the education subtitle of the McKinney-Vento Act) in the wake of the coronavirus. 
• Local agencies that currently receive ACF grants or have experience in serving children, families, and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness would be eligible to receive funds, including community-based, faith-based, tribal, and culturally-specific organizations and local educational agencies.
• Special consideration is given to pregnant women, pregnant and parenting youth, children under age 6, children with disabilities, families experiencing domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault or human trafficking, historically marginalized and underserved communities of color, and families and youth in rural areas.
• Funds may be used for a wide range of housing, health, education, employment, training, and safety-related activities.

Click here to endorse this legislation.