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August 20, 2009 www.ourfamilyservices.org
 
 skrappysHandoff ceremony celebrates Skrappy's independence
 
Young people, local politicians and the public celebrated Skrappy's long-held dream of independence with a handoff ceremony and open house July 16 at the center's new downtown location.
 
Beginning July 1, Skrappy's ceased to be a program of Our Family. It is now operated by the Tucson Youth Collective, a community group of youth and adults who are forming their own nonprofit corporation.
 
"This is something the kids have wanted for a long time,'' Our Family Executive Director Sue Krahe said.  "We are happy to have supported this program and nurtured these young people long enough for them to be ready to step up and leave the nest. We're proud of them and wish them every success."
 
Skrappy's was founded in 1995 by parents Kathy and Bill Wooldridge, along with youth involved in underground punk bands in Tucson. Skrappy's became a program of Our Family in 2002.
 
Pima County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Elias, as well as Tucson City Council Members Steve Leal and Nina Trasoff, were there to celebrate the persistence and teamwork of Skrappy's youth in reaching their dream. Skrappy's youth also thanked the three for their untiring efforts to secure the center's new space at 191 E. Toole.
 
"Tucson's heart is downtown, and young people should be in our heart," Leal said.
Could C.O.R.E.
work for you?
 
For years, Our Family's Comprehensive Orientation & Required Education curriculum (C.O.R.E.) has provided basic training for staff and volunteers of social service and behavioral health agencies in Tucson.
 
In September, C.O.R.E. will host its first out-of-state trainees, with two staff from a Minnesota nonprofit agency traveling to Tucson to attend. 

C.O.R.E. covers social issues such as homelessness, violence, addiction, domestic violence, child/elder abuse and LGBT awareness. It also includes training in communications skills, conflict resolution, crisis intervention, ethics, boundaries, confidentiality, HIPAA, suicide assessment and intervention, and risk management.
 
Would C.O.R.E. work for your organization? For details and fees, contact Kathy Schlitz at (520) 323-1708 x 211.
Mediation training set for October
 
Our Family's next 40-Hour Mediation Training course will begin October 22. Classes will be held downtown at 52 W. Congress. There are no prerequisites for the class, which is open to adults 21 and over. Class fee is $400; $350 if paid by October 9.
 
The course prepares participants to mediate a variety of workplace, community and personal conflicts and is required for anyone interested in working as a mediation volunteer with Our Family's Community Mediation program.
 
Mediation is also an excellent skill for people involved in neighborhood groups and community organizations, or for human resources and customer service professionals.
 
Email [email protected] or call (520) 323-1708 x 121 for details.
TNT adds more shelter for youth 
  
Our Family's Teens in Transition program has increased its service delivery capacity this year with the addition of two transitional living apartments for homeless youth.
 
Made possible through a grant obtained by our longtime partner Open Inn, one of the apartments will be reserved as an emergency shelter for youth waiting for services or housing. Because funding for hotel vouchers is severely limited, this will be a consistent, cost-effective solution to help meet the emergency shelter needs of Tucson's homeless youth.
 
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