How Did We Get Here? The Past, Present, and Future…

Katheryn Preston

Executive Director

Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc

Invitation in August 2001 to Governors and Chief Executives to apply to participate in these sessions.

Help states better coordinate access to mainstream health and human services for people experiencing homelessness

Georgia’s Involvement in Homeless Policy Academy Opportunities

Application guidelines and criteria must include…

1)Letter of Support from Governor.

2)List of proposed State Team Members.

3) Include local level stakeholders.

4)Prepare a narratives that explains why the State is seeking to participate.

5)Clearly defined problem and roster of team participants.

Georgia’s Policy Applications Include

Improving Access to Mainstream Services for “Chronically” Homeless Persons

April 9-11, 2002 - Boston, Massachusetts Georgia’s Team of 12 Members

Terry Ball - Dept of Community AffairsWayne Bland - Recovery Place SavannahCraig Burnette - Project CHALLENG for VeteransJuanita Blount Clark - Division of Family and Children’s ServicesDebra Elovich – Dept of Human ResourcesScott Frederking – Office of Planning and BudgetEarnestine Pittman – Fulton Regional Board, Division of Mental HealthKarl Schwarzkopf – Division of Mental HealthMark Trail – Division of Medical AssistanceKatheryn Preston – Georgia Coalition to End HomelessnessPaul D. Bolster – Commission on Homelessness

Guiding Principles and Values First Policy Academy Team

No wrong door, with the full service meal available at entry.

Efficient use of resources…what can we do with what we have.

Expand access to mainstream services. Supportive housing for homeless individuals and

those at risk. Common definition of homelessness and capacity to

collect data on homeless clients served.

After We Left Boston…Next Steps

Determined Technical Requests– On example was a site visit from Baltimore Medicaid

Outreach Program– Medicaid eligibility waivers

Engagement of the State Leadership– Department Heads, Governor, State Legislature– Resurrect State Interagency Council on Homelessness

Identify and Establish Key Strategies for Homeless Action Plan Outline

Identify additional Policy Team Members

Key Strategies

Expand access to mainstream services Execute Memorandum of Agreement between key state agencies

(DHR/DCH/DCA) Develop a local planning model of integrated housing and service

delivery strategies Double the State Housing Trust Fund Appropriations Redirect some eligibility workers to include Medicaid eligibility work High quality data collection and analysis reporting capacities Explore recuperative center approach Explore Mental Health/Behavioral Health Treatment Courts Examine discharge plan processes Training program for local providers on integrated service delivery

model

First StepsHomeless Action Plan

Assign Office of Planning and Budget cost/benefit analysis of current housing programs

Re-affirm the functions of the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination council by Governor’s Executive Order

– Changes in Administration Delayed Process– Governor Sonny Perdue’s Executive Order on February 11,

1004– Co-Chairs of Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination

Council Commissioner Mike Beatty, DCA and Commissioner B.J. Walker,

DHR

State of Georgia Homeless Action Plan Vision

Homeless persons have increased their independence and been restored to the mainstream of society because State and local resources have

ensured optimal opportunities through the creation of an integrated and seamless system of quality

services. As a result of these actions, the State of Georgia will have the resources to prevent

homelessness, to transition homeless families back to self sufficiency and to end chronic homelessness

within ten years.

To Accomplish this Vision…

The State of Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council (GIHCC) has six

strategies/goals and accompanying activities of a Plan of Action.

See Policy Academy Notebook

Tab 2

Presentation of Plan

Governor Sonny Perdue acknowledged the work of the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council on November 29, 2004

Challenged the Council to continue your work and begin implementation phases called for in the Homeless Action Plan

Members of the Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council Include

Representatives from:– Georgia Department of Community Affairs– Georgia Department of Human Resources– Office of the Governor– Georgia Department of Education– Georgia Department of Labor– Georgia Department of Community Health– Georgia Department of Corrections– Georgia Technology Authority– Georgia Association of Primary Health Care– Union Mission, Savannah– Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness– Criminal Justice Coordinating Council– Etc., etc., etc.

Policy Academy Opportunity #2Co-occurring Disorders

Georgia sent a second team of experts– Cherry Finn, Adult Mental Health Program– Bruce Hoopes, Division of Mental Health– Khari Hunt, Research & Development, DHR– William Kissell, Georgia Dept of Corrections– Pierluigi Mancini, Ph.D. Treatment & Prevention of

Addiction, Inc.– Mark Trail, Department of Community Health– Becky Vaughn, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse– Ken Whiddon, American Work, Inc.

Focus on what you want to build, not what you want to change

Given Georgia’s currentEnergy and interest in this issue,Opportunity of new leadership,Lack of meaningful data,Unlinked services,Desire to get as much “bang for our buck,”

We propose to build consensus around the following issues:

We propose to build consensus around the following issues

Enhance workforce Capacity and DevelopmentEnhance workforce Capacity and Development Standardize Screening and AssessmentStandardize Screening and Assessment Incorporate Evidence and Consensus Based Incorporate Evidence and Consensus Based

PracticesPractices Improve the System of Entry and AftercareImprove the System of Entry and Aftercare Maximize Financing OptionsMaximize Financing Options Standardize Data CollectionStandardize Data Collection Share Information Across AgenciesShare Information Across Agencies

Focus on what you want to build, not what you want to change

So that Georgia will have

Integrated, effective, compassionate, and culturally competent services

for those with or at risk for co-occurring disorders

Next Steps:

1. Expand team to include Governor’s Office State Representative Public Provider Homeless AP Representative Parole Division Director

Next Steps Continued…

Schedule an all-day meeting Update new members Complete action steps and responsibilities

Build a team to begin working on strategies and expected outcomes

Action Plan for Families with Children Experiencing

Homelessness in GeorgiaApril 20-22, 2005

Houston, TX

Action Plan for Families with Children Experiencing

Homelessness in GeorgiaApril 20-22, 2005

Houston, TX

And Then There Was Policy Academy Opportunity #3And Then There Was Policy Academy Opportunity #3

Action Plan for Families with Children Experiencing

Homelessness in Georgia

Action Plan for Families with Children Experiencing

Homelessness in Georgia

Somewhere Over the RainbowSomewhere Over the Rainbow

Homeless Children and Families Team Roster

Homeless Children and Families Team Roster

David Davidson, Department of Education Cliff O’Connor, DHR, Division of Family and Children Services Alex Ortiz, Office of the Governor Rep. Judy Manning, Chair of Children and Youth Committee Dawne Morgan, C&A Systems of Care, Div of Mental Health Mary Ellen Brown, Division of Family and Children Services Cynthia Davis, Georgia Dept of Labor Beverly DeVoe-Payton, Dept. of Public Health Paul Bolster, Regional Commission Diane McCants, Metro Atlanta United Way Joyce Dorsey, Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority Mary Hudson, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Katheryn Preston, Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness Michael Elliott – Union Mission-Savannah Ann Howard – Division of Family and Children Services

David Davidson, Department of Education Cliff O’Connor, DHR, Division of Family and Children Services Alex Ortiz, Office of the Governor Rep. Judy Manning, Chair of Children and Youth Committee Dawne Morgan, C&A Systems of Care, Div of Mental Health Mary Ellen Brown, Division of Family and Children Services Cynthia Davis, Georgia Dept of Labor Beverly DeVoe-Payton, Dept. of Public Health Paul Bolster, Regional Commission Diane McCants, Metro Atlanta United Way Joyce Dorsey, Fulton Atlanta Community Action Authority Mary Hudson, Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence Katheryn Preston, Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness Michael Elliott – Union Mission-Savannah Ann Howard – Division of Family and Children Services

A Home for All Georgians

A Home for All Georgians

“There’s No Place Like Home!”

“There’s No Place Like Home!”

How do we accomplish our Goal?

How do we accomplish our Goal?

“Just Click Your Heels Together”

“Just Click Your Heels Together”

Priority #1: Build public and political support for improving access to mainstream services for families and youth experiencing homelessness.

Priority #1: Build public and political support for improving access to mainstream services for families and youth experiencing homelessness.

Strategies Secure the support of the Governor’s

Office Build an inclusive and strong

infrastructure to ensure plan implementation

Create and disseminate a compelling case statement

Engage in and promote public policy advocacy

Strategies Secure the support of the Governor’s

Office Build an inclusive and strong

infrastructure to ensure plan implementation

Create and disseminate a compelling case statement

Engage in and promote public policy advocacy

Priority #2: Develop a comprehensive data collection and analysis reporting capability that strengthens families with

children.

Priority #2: Develop a comprehensive data collection and analysis reporting capability that strengthens families with

children.

Strategies Identify existing systems to determine

available data Create a profile of homeless families

with children Develop a comprehensive information

system Utilize data to tell success stories

Strategies Identify existing systems to determine

available data Create a profile of homeless families

with children Develop a comprehensive information

system Utilize data to tell success stories

Priority #3: Propose and advocate for systems that ensure access to mainstream services for individuals and families at

risk for homelessness.

Priority #3: Propose and advocate for systems that ensure access to mainstream services for individuals and families at

risk for homelessness.

Strategies Provide resources for individual

transitioning out of institution/system to prevent homelessness

Provide resources to strengthen families at risk of homelessness

Strategies Provide resources for individual

transitioning out of institution/system to prevent homelessness

Provide resources to strengthen families at risk of homelessness

Priority #4: Expand accessibility and availability of affordable housing for homeless individuals and families in

Georgia.

Priority #4: Expand accessibility and availability of affordable housing for homeless individuals and families in

Georgia.

Strategies Examine capacity and practices of

housing that enable affordability and access

Consider promising models to ensure best practices

Identify funding sources for gaps and expansion of housing option

Develop resources for housing stability

Strategies Examine capacity and practices of

housing that enable affordability and access

Consider promising models to ensure best practices

Identify funding sources for gaps and expansion of housing option

Develop resources for housing stability

Priority #5: Homeless families will have services and support designed for their individual needs.

Priority #5: Homeless families will have services and support designed for their individual needs.

Strategies Inventory available services and fill

gaps Access all homeless families Streamline enrollment for benefits Connect families to jobs

Strategies Inventory available services and fill

gaps Access all homeless families Streamline enrollment for benefits Connect families to jobs

Technical Assistance Needed

Technical Assistance Needed

Use of technology to gather data Use of technology to coordinate

services and access Need assessment tools Copies of RFPs

Use of technology to gather data Use of technology to coordinate

services and access Need assessment tools Copies of RFPs

Next StepsNext Steps

Draft Action Plan for review by full team

Briefing of Agency Sponsors Presentation at In-State Policy

Academy Presentation to Interagency

Homeless Coordination Council

Draft Action Plan for review by full team

Briefing of Agency Sponsors Presentation at In-State Policy

Academy Presentation to Interagency

Homeless Coordination Council

Some where over the rainbow, you will see, There’s a place for the homeless, somewhere that’s safe and free. Some where over the rainbow, Georgians care, And if you need assistance somebody will be there. Our children need stability, to learn and grow up happily, with family, Some place that they can call their own, away from shelters in a home, will make us happy! Some where over the rainbow, you will see, our team working together, a strong community. When all of us in this great land, have homes to live in, it will be so grand!

“Over the Rainbow”“Over the Rainbow”