In 2012, YP!'s Board of Directors envisioned a conference modeled after the college experience. They directed the Executive Director to make this vision a reality within five years. On July 28, the University of YOUTH POWER! opened its doors on the campus of the College of Saint Rose to over 35 students ages 18 - 30 from across New York State. Students declared majors in either Peer Advocacy or Systems Advocacy. 

Students participated in classes related to their major. During the registration process, applicants filled out a pre-evaluation to measure existing educational competencies related to the objectives of their selected major. Students were then matched with classes based on their areas for development. Following conclusion of the event, students completed post-evaluation to measure growth. 

We want to send a special shout out to our professors. Classes included leadership development and styles, disability history, recognizing signs of addiction, transition services, cultural competency and peer support. The image to the left is a picstitch of various classes through out the University.

An important part of the college experience are the co-curricular activities. On Tuesday evening, we held a Student Fair that convened different agencies and organizations in a venue to engage with young people and share resources. A special thanks to The Mental Health Association of New York State, The Autism Society of the Capital Region, ACCES-VR, the New York State Disability Voter Rights Network, Families Together in New York State and the Coalition for Multiple Pathways to a Diploma participated in the fair. 

Black Mountain Symphony, an alternative rock band from Albany donated their time to perform at the Student Fair on Tuesday night. YOUTH POWER! is very grateful to have such amazing support from our partners in the community.

The network held its 7th Annual Leaders Dinner at UYP!. This is a tradition we carried over from our Statewide Youth Leadership Forums. The Leaders' Dinner brings senior level staff and commissioners from New York's child serving agencies and young leaders together to discuss issues of significance over dinner. This opportunity allows state leaders to hear directly from young people in state systems. This selfie to the left was taken at the Leaders' Dinner. Pictured to the left is YP! Board President Caitlin Neuman and New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan.

The event culminated with a graduation ceremony on Thursday. There were elected class speakers and a professor who delivered remarks. The ceremony was complete with cap and tassle. 

If you want to see posts for UYP!, search social media sites for #UYP14. You can see pictures from the event on the YP! Facebook page.

 Interested in attending next year? Does your organization want to be a sponsor? We are beginning to plan #UYP15. For more information, contact Zach Garafalo at zgarafalo@youthpowerny.org or 518-432-0333 ext. 26.

One of the projects YP! Is involved with is the Navigating Multiple Systems initiative. NMS is a statewide, collaborative initiative led by the Council on Children and Families with funding from the DDPC. The project will develop a state of the art, web based information resource designed primarily for parents, caregivers, youth and other family members - all of whom rely on supports and services from multiple child and family serving systems. The initiative is also designed to help inform public policy making and share information on promising practices with children, youth and families. You can learn more about the initiative here.

YP! was asked to create content for the website youth corner. This youth corner will feature, amongst other things, frequently asked questions about the youth serving systems, along with answers to those questions.. This is where YOU come in!

• Foster Care 
• Addiction Recovery
• Juvenile Justice
• Mental Health
• Transition services
• Employment services
• Physical Health
• Independent Living

To volunteer to write questions and answers, or for more info, contact Zach Garafalo (zgarafalo@youthpowerny.org) or Melanie Hecker (mhecker@youthpowerny.org).
 

YP! is co-sponsoring the Transition Age Youth Institute "Knowledge is Power: Living, Learning and Earning." 

Other sponsors include the New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA), the Mental Health Association of New York State (MHANYS), Learning Disabilities Association of New York State (LDANYS) and the Coalition for Children's Mental Health Services. The Institute will take place at the Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, NY on September 9 and 10. 

There will be a poster session and resource fair on September 9 from 4:30 - 5:30. The Poster Session and Resource Fair is intended to provide attendees of the Institute with the opportunity to learn about a wide range of new programs and initiatives, best practices, process/quality improvement projects available for transition aged youth in New York State. If your organization is interested in participating in the poster session and resource fair, contact Zach Garafalo at zgarafalo@youthpowerny.org or 518-432-0333 ext. 26 or register here.

To learn more about the Institute including information on how to register, click here.  

Stephanie Orlando, Executive Director and a founder of YOUTH POWER! will be keynote the NYAPRS and Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York conferences this September. Stephanie will also moderate panels at the the Transition Age Youth Institute.

The 32nd NYAPRS conference takes place September 17 - 19 in Kerkhonkson, NY. The theme is "Recovery Moves to the Mainstream." A copy of the program can be found here. Register for the conference here.

Stephanie will keynote the Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York presents their 18th Annual Conference. 

The conference will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2014 from 9AM - 4PM at the

Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center, 1010 East and West Road, West Seneca New York.

As we transition into conference season, be prepared to see YP! leaders out in the community presenting and attending various conferences and workshops.
 

Families Together in New York State is excited to announce our fall event, a special screening of the documentary KIDS FOR CASH.

Please join us September 30, 2014 at 6:30 PM at the Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY. We are hosting the screening at the state-of-the-art GE Theater.

This screening of KIDS FOR CASH will highlight the lost opportunities of a tough-on-crime culture and the negative effects that this practice has on the future of our youth, public safety, and tax dollars. In so doing, we hope to advance a "smart on crime" attitude toward youth involved in the criminal justice system that highlights the need for interventions, alternatives to incarceration, less reliance on detention, and an overall rehabilitative approach to sentencing and corrections.

Details:
September 30, 2014, 6:30 PM
GE Theatre at Proctors
432 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305

After the Film Join us for Q&A with Our Expert Panel.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE and please share the link on Facebook and Twitter! http://gathr.us/screening/8349.

KIDS FOR CASH offers a riveting look behind the notorious scandal that rocked the nation when it first came to light in 2009. A small town in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania elected a charismatic judge who was determined to keep kids in line. Under his reign, over 3,000 children were ripped from their families and imprisoned for years for crimes as petty as creating a fake MySpace page. When one parent dared to question this harsh brand of justice, it was revealed that the judge had received millions of dollars in payments from the privately-owned juvenile detention centers where the kids-most of them only in their early teens-were incarcerated.

For more information, contact Brad Hansen by email at bhansen@ftnys.org or call 518.432.0333 x28 

On July 26, 2014 The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), a historic bipartisan bill that amends and reauthorizes the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) through fiscal year 2020, was signed into law by President Obama. WIOA authorizes key improvements to the nation's workforce development system. It will help workers attain the foundation skills necessary for 21st-century jobs and foster a modern workforce to help American companies be competitive. The law emphasizes the creation of career pathway programs, the integration and coordination of education and training services, and the development of sector-based strategies and streamlined service delivery to individuals-especially those who are under-prepared.

Key provisions, designed to better align employment and training services for youth and adults with adult education and vocational rehabilitation services include requiring states to develop unified plans and use common accountability measures. The new law eliminates the "sequence of services" provisions of WIA and provides the ability to fund training services through contractual arrangements, opening expanded opportunities for community colleges to participate in the federal workforce program. The provisions emphasize regional planning, and sector-based strategies.

The law has implications for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act (Perkins). Under the new legislation, post-secondary CTE programs that receive Perkins funding would be required partners in the WIOA one-stop centers and delivery system. This includes these programs participating in state-coordinated, shared infrastructure costs as well as service delivery coordination. CTE centers or schools are designated, among other institutions, as eligible one-stop centers.

The responsibility of further defining how the transition from WIA to WIOA is carried out, along with guidance on key aspects of the unified plan and single accountability system, will be determined by the secretaries of Labor and Education. 

 The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education (OCTAE) invite you to submit comments and recommendations to help us implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed by President Obama. This new law seeks to maximize opportunities for youth and adults, with and without disabilities, to succeed in postsecondary education and in high-skill, high-wage, high-demand jobs in the 21st century economy. Specifically, we seek your comments to assist us as we begin the process of implementing the amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that were made by Title IV of WIOA and of the new version of the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA), in Title II of WIOA.

You can submit comments at the OSERS and OCTAE Blog site.

Earlier this year, YOUTH POWER! welcomed Emily Ladau to the YOUTH POWER! board.

Emily is a passionate disability rights advocate whose career began at the age of 10, when she appeared on several episodes of Sesame Street to education children about her life with a physical disability. In the years following her time with Big Bird and Elmo, Emily took on leadership roles in several advocacy initiatives. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English from Adelphi University and subsequently interned for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities under the auspices of the American Association of People with Disabilities. Since completing her internship in August 2013, Emily has continued to work and volunteer for multiple organizations to foster opportunities and create resources for the disability community.

Emily maintains a blog, Words I Wheel By, which is focused on challenging people of all abilities to understand the disability experience in new ways. Her work has been featured in numerous places including the New York Times website, The Huffington Post, and Exceptional Parent Magazine. As Emily continues to build her career, her goal is to harness the powers of communication and social media as tools for people with all types of disabilities to harness their inner voices for advocacy. 

Kieran McGovern is a cross-disabilities advocate as well as a member of YOUTH POWER!'s founding advisory board. He believes strongly in activism through literary and artistic expression. He has many hobbies, among which are reading, listening to music, watching hockey and language/cultural studies. 

Kieran recently started a blog, CripSwag. His blog gives his background, struggle with disability and views of the disability community - those in it and those not. Though new to the blogging world, Kieran is anything but when expressing himself and making his voice heard; be sure to read up!

The Ready to Achieve Mentoring Program (RAMP) recently made the trip down to Washington D.C. for the RAMP Annual Meeting on August 13th.  The three day meeting, which is attended by youth, coordinators, mentors and family members from other RAMP sites across the nation, was jam packed with educational opportunities, leadership opportunities, and career exploration. 

Youth were able to participate in peer mentor training, connect with other youth through fun activities, go on a tour of George Washington University, hear from and ask questions of a career panel of young professionals with and without disabilities, and participate in a very educational tour of the nation's capital with stops at the White House, the U.S. Capitol, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

Year after year the greatest highlight of the trip is when youth from each site present their high-tech projects.  This year YP! presented on their partnership with Channel Albany, a public access channel in Albany, that allowed youth to learn about the television studio, equipment use, production and editing, as well as filming their own videos promoting RAMP and youth various talents with staff.  Youth also had the opportunity to work as a production crew for a community member who was filming their television show.  One program youth even got a voice over opportunity as a result of the project. 

As the annual meeting came to a close and participants returned home, one YP! youth participant expressed his gratitude: " Thank you for the opportunity of coming to Washington D.C. with you and I also thank you for all you have done for me throughout my time in RAMP."  

On Thursday, July 17, YP!'s Zach Garafalo was invited to the White House to participate in a millennial briefing with senior administration officials. The event was organized by Generation Progress. Topics of discussion included the school to prison pipeline, college affordability, high quality after school programs and foreign policy. 

YOUTH POWER! empowers young people to be active citizens, aware of their rights and the ability to use their voices to influence policies, practices, regulations and law. YP! is non-partisan; the organization will not endorse any candidate or particular political philosophy. We actively encourage our young members to learn about the issues that matter and then get involved. As we approach the November elections, take this short quiz to learn where you fall on the political spectrum. Also, take the time to register with the New York Disability Vote Network (NYDVR). Educate yourself about the candidates running for local, state and federal office. Take the time to connect to organizations and causes that are important to you. By using your vote and your voice, you can influence change. 

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef and Senator David Carlucci  held a press conference in Albany last month to promote legislation that would modernize the Universal Symbol of Access to be implemented throughout New York State. The press conference introduced  legislation (A.8193/S.6846), a bill that will discontinue the offensive and outdated "handicapped accessible" signs and eliminate the word "handicap". The new icon will feature a person in a wheelchair, the wheelchair in motion rather than the previous icon of the person in a seated wheelchair. 

Assemblywoman Galef expressed, "A picture is worth 1,000 words. We have to be sure the right pictures are depicting the spirit and vitality of New Yorkers with disabilities. Having a disability does not mean that one must nremain stationary and signage across New York State should reflect the energy that those in the disability community exude. In addition, we must eliminate the word 'handicapped' from our vocabulary. This legislation will take positive steps to change this disparaging language to instead read 'accessible'. It is so important that as a legislative body we make certain people are not defined by their disabilities. I look forward to continuing my work with Senator Carlucci, and with my Assembly colleagues so this legislation may become law." 

Westchester Institute for Human Development

20 Hospital Oval West

Valhalla, New York 10595

Tuesday September 16, 2014 from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Join us on September 16th for a discussion on the challenges foster youth face on their pursuit to Higher Education. Studies show that out of 18-20% of youth aging out of care who start college, only 3% earn a college degree. Hear from current and former foster youth about their experiences and providers on what they believe would help make the college transition less challenging for foster youth while ensuring that they succeed throughout their college career. This event is being hosted in conjunction with the Foster College Success Campaign. 

Networking reception begins at 3:00 pm. Panel discussion will begin promptly at 3:30 pm.

This dialogue is sponsored by the Youth in Care Coalition, Children's Aid Society, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Family Ties of Westchester County. 

To register or for more information click here.

The National Disability Institute is proud to announce the launch of its fourth annual My American Dream - Voices of Americans with Disabilities Video Contest!

Like all Americans, people with disabilities strive for and are working tirelessly toward realizing their American dreams. That is why we want to hear from individuals with disabilities across America about their dreams and the steps they are taking to achieve them. Whether it's landing a dream job, owning a home, going to college, starting and running a business or taking steps toward financial independence, we encourage people with disabilities to share their goals and show that all Americans want the same thing - a piece of the American dream.

Read More 

On June 22, 1999, in Olmstead v. L.C., the Supreme Court affirmed the rights of Americans with disabilities by ruling that the unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. On Friday, September 19, 2014 we will be joined by senior public officials from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York City and New York State, as well as disability rights advocates and expert panelists in examining the court's decision, its impact, and its future. 

On September 19 we will be joined by senior public officials from the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, New York City and New York State, as well as disability rights advocates and expert panelists in examining the court's decision, its impact, and its future.    

To RSVP please visit: http://www.jjay.cuny.edu/olmstead15/

Where: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
When: Friday, September 19, 2014
Time: 8:00am - 2:30pm
Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Kathleen Martinez, U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy

YP! members from NYC are planning to attend. Contact Pauline Gordon at pgordon@youthpowerny.org if you are interested in joining the group.

OPWDD will convene Community Dialogues to solicit feedback from families, providers and self advocates on next steps related to implementation of the Employment Transformation Plan which was finalized on May 1, 2014.  The employment plan is available on OPWDD's website:

• Funding and/or programmatic strategies that could assist in the successful implementation of the Employment Transformation Plan.
• Strategies that could support delivery of the new Pathway to Employment service which is designed to assist individuals receiving OPWDD services with the successful transition to integrated competitive employment.
• Models of integrated employment that promote opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to be employed in the community.
• Strategies to assist individuals with significant behavioral or medical needs who are interested in obtaining integrated competitive employment.
• Strategies to engage individuals, who will not be transitioning to competitive employment, into other meaningful community activities.
• Strategies to better coordinate and/or provide transportation that will enable individuals to travel to employment opportunities.
• Technical assistance that could help providers in transitioning to business models consistent with the Home and Community Based Settings (HCBS) Waiver regulation definition of "community settings."

Registration
To register, contact Allyson Fregeau at allyson.b.fregeau@opwdd.ny.gov.  If you are unable to attend but would like to provide written comments, please email Allyson Fregeau or send mail to:

Allyson Fregeau
44 Holland Ave 4th floor
Albany, NY 12229

For general information on the Community Dialogues please contact the Office of Employment and Meaningful Activities at 518-473-9697.

Community Dialogues on Employment 
Dates and Locations

Region 2
October 1st Binghamton- Classroom 6  (3:00pm-6:00pm) 
October 1st Sunmount via Video Conference-Bldg 3, 2nd floor Conference Room (3:00pm-6:00pm)
October 6th Syracuse- Regional Training Room (3:00pm-6:00pm)

 
Region 3
September 9th Hudson Valley- Jervis Gymnasium 11 Wilbur Rd (3:00pm to 6:00pm)
September 12th Taconic- Wassaic 2nd floor Conference Room (3:00pm-6:00pm) 
October 7th  Capital District- OD Heck Room 2 (3:00pm-6:00pm)

Region 4
August 26th Staten Island- 12G Conference Room (3:00pm-6:00pm)
September 17th Bernard Fineson- VC Room (3:00pm-6:00pm)
September 18th Metro Beaver St- Large Conference Room 3100 (3:00pm-6:00pm)
September 18th Metro Bronx- Video Conference (3:00pm-6:00pm)

Region 5 
September 22nd Long Island Oser Ave- Multi Purpose Room (3:00pm-6:00pm)

We are assisting the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (NYS DDPC) to distribute the survey below.

Additionally, the DDPC is interested in learning more about potential solutions to these barriers, with a specific interest in identifying and prioritizing technological solutions. To access the survey, please use the following link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TVD9PLQ

DDPC is seeking responses through September 1, 2014 and is likewise grateful for help in distributing the survey to your networks!

Information Related to Graduation Requirements for Students with Disabilities
Information is available on both high school diploma and nondiploma exiting credential options available to New York State students with disabilities. Information is provided on the course work, credit and assessment requirements students must successfully complete to earn a Regents or local high school diploma, including the various safety net options available to assist students with disabilities to earn a local diploma. Requirements, model forms, guidance, and questions and answers for the Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential and the New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential are also provided are also available.

To view the information and site: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/gradrequirements/home.html

It's time we are heard

When this year's State Legislative session ended in June, people with disabilities were left with very little to cheer about. After months of fighting with the Assembly, we were ultimately abandoned by the Senate after the Governor made some remarks while accepting a political nomination. At the same time, a state-wide union announced that it would only be giving political contributions to one party's candidates in the Senate and not the other.

Meanwhile, 17 disability advocates were arrested in Albany trying to get the Community First Choice (CFC) option in New York. CFC would have brought $350 million to New York every year while freeing thousands of people with disabilities from institutions and allowing them to live in their own homes.

The Disability Community continues to be ignored when it comes time to making decisions in Albany.  Whether it's health care, housing, transportation or employment, we end up having to show up in Albany each June to yell, scream and holler (and even get arrested).  Yet, each year we still face cuts to the supports we need to be independent in the community.

Frustrated, yet?

We are, too. That's why with the aid of ACCES-VR, we started a project known as the New York Disability Vote Network (NYDVN) in summer of 2013. NYDVN is a non-partisan effort to bring people with disabilities and their allies together, not to throw money around Albany, but to make our voices heard and our votes count. The four main parts that make up the NYDVN:
1. The steering committee
2. Partner organizations
3. Voters with disabilities
4. Allies/volunteers

Together, we work to build, solidify, and unify a large disability voting block in New York. We do this by growing and maintaining a database of voters with disabilities (goal: 5,000 sign-ups) and informing them of important voting-related information via several means. We also connect with dedicated, like-minded organizations and share resources

We don't care who wins the elections as long as they work to help people with disabilities.

Sign up at: http://nydvn.org/individual-signup.

To learn more about the NYDVN: http://www.nydvn.org

After you are done, do "like"/follow us on social media!
http://www.facebook.com/nydisabilityvote
http://www.twitter.com/nydvn 

Title of Position: Youth Ambassador 

Up to eleven youth ambassadors hired statewide. These positions are solely for youth who currently or previously resided in out of home care. Qualified Youth will be hired on a part-time basis as regional ambassadors throughout New York State. These ambassadors will mentor and deliver presentations to youth in care (foster and juvenile justice youth) in each of the OCFS geographic regions on issues related to education and college preparation, and orientation.

Youth ambassadors will also conduct site visits to local departments of social services, voluntary agencies, and OCFS facilities to orient and educate staff and youth on the issues faced by at-risk youth and techniques to help make college a viable option for them. 

PDP will facilitate regularly scheduled meetings with the regional youth ambassadors to provide a foundation in the identified areas of college and financial aid, and to build platform skills in order to relay this information to their peers and adult support systems. The regional youth ambassadors will also use Regional Youth Education Forums to disseminate the information to youth, foster parents, and service providers. 

PDP will have ongoing communication with youth ambassadors that may include videoconferencing, teleconferencing, e-mail, mailings, and any other necessary communication in order to coordinate and support their activities. PDP will provide and assist with logistical arrangements and travel costs for youth ambassadors. This will include travel and per diem costs, in accordance with OCFS Travel Guidelines.

Terms of Employment:
Through 6/30/15
$12.00 hourly rate
Part-time
Upon receipt of a Bachelor's Degree, the position will term after 4 weeks
 

Qualifications: 

• Youth in at least their second semester in college (currently or previously in care)
• attending a post-secondary institution full or part-time in pursuit of an Associate's or Bachelor's Degree
• Submission of resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation
• Computer skills including Microsoft Word, email, and Internet
• Willingness and ability to travel

PLEASE SEND resume, cover letter and letter of recommendation to: 

Osei Agyeman
Senior Education Specialist/Youth Ambassador Coordinator
At-Risk Youth College Access Challenge Grant Program
Professional Development Program, Department of Child Welfare
University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue UAB 423, Albany, NY 12222
Phone: 518-956-7900 Fax: 518-956-7876
Email: oagyeman@albany.edu