Good morning, Chairman White and members of the Committee on Housing. I’m Rachel White, Deputy Director of Youth Advocacy at DC Action. We use research, data, collective action, and a racial equity lens to break down barriers that stand in the way of all kids reaching their full potential. DC Action is home to the Youth Economic Justice and Housing Coalition, which advocates for policies, funding, and programs that expand access to comprehensive support and services youth experiencing homelessness need to successfully transition into stable and productive adulthood. My testimony today will focus on the importance of providing specific and comprehensive support through mentoring programs for youth who have adverse childhood experiences or youth who are experiencing homelessness, pregnant and parenting youth, youth in the child welfare system, and/or justice involved youth.
I would like to commend the Council for addressing the need for professional mentorship programs that focus on youth who have an adverse childhood experience or who are at-risk. Intentional investments into positive youth development systems throughout the District is critical in efforts to address the specific needs of youth in DC. Research shows that mentoring opportunities for youth, especially youth with an adverse childhood experience, have short and long term benefits that can lead to positive outcomes. The benefits include academic and career support, development of social skills, and improved mental health. Additionally, mentors can provide stability and consistent support, which is incredibly important for youth who may not have a safe person in their life.
The needs of youth who have an adverse childhood experience or who are experiencing homelessness, expectant and parenting, in the child welfare system, and/or justice involved, require consistent support to access additional services. Youth in any of the above situations face unique challenges navigating societal systems. Their connections to school are often tenuous. With limited access to basic needs like showers, hygiene products, and interview attire, it is often difficult to take the steps necessary to secure and keep a job, let alone managing the day-to-day trauma of being homeless. Given the challenges youth face, it’s important for government agencies and service providers to create targeted programs, like the Thrive Mentorship Program, to meet the unique needs of this population of youth.
Following are recommendations for the bill under consideration today.
- Extension of Programs and Services to Reach Youth Disconnected from School
The population of youth outlined above often face significant challenges in maintaining regular school attendance because of frequent relocations, lack of transportation, and the need to prioritize basic survival over education. School aged youth who are disconnected from school are too often screened out from services, such as mentoring programs. This will require targeted outreach efforts to connect with youth who are not attending school. Outreach can occur at family shelters, CFSA placement sites, detention centers, and youth shelters. Youth in need of a mentor should not be isolated from services because they are not able to attend school.
- Update Length of Time with Mentor Requirement
The requirement that says “every mentee shall be paired with a professional mentor at least 3 years or until high school graduation” should be changed. For instance, youth who receive a mentor at the age of 17 should be entitled to that mentor for at least 3 years. High school graduation represents a huge transition for youth where the structure and connection to systems is significantly altered. Graduation should not be the termination of services available to youth through this program. During one’s transition period, mentors can provide key support and guidance regarding employment or higher education opportunities for youth who are navigating the change alone. Moreover, the extension further promotes the importance of forming supportive and ongoing healthy relationships for youth.
- Include Information about Matching Process & How Mentors are Picked
It is incredibly important that youth feel comfortable and safe with their mentor, but the bill lacks information on the matching process itself. A key piece of information missing from the bill concerns the matching process. What the matching process will entail and input will youth have throughout that process?
Additionally, we are interested in understanding how mentors hear about this program and are chosen to participate. Specifically, what efforts will be made to ensure that people with lived experience can become a mentor for youth in this program? It is important that youth have the option to match with a mentor who looks like them or has similar lived experiences.
Research suggests that collaborative mentoring relationships where mentors and mentees have similar characteristics or experiences or where young people are invited to have input in the match are more likely to persevere. While it may be necessary for the implementing program to design the mechanism itself, we are interested in the possibility to legislate that the program include a provision for the matching process to be collaborative and for youth to have agency and input into the relationship. The program should follow research and best practices on empowering mentor matching.
We appreciate the District’s efforts to provide youth who have adverse childhood experiences or youth who are experiencing homelessness, pregnant and parenting youth, youth in the child welfare system, and/or justice involved youth access to mentoring programs. We urge the Council to look carefully at the language in this bill to make sure the legislation effectively addresses the unique challenges faced by this population of youth, as well as provide ample support for these young people.
Thank you for your time, and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.