MONDAY, JULY 10, 2023
Main Session: 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. PT
Optional Discussion: 4:15 - 4:45 p.m. PT
[Find your local time zone here]
Session 3 of 4 in the "Rising Practices & Policies Revisited" 2023 Learning Series (view series page for full details)
Our region’s families, students, and individuals are experiencing homelessness and home insecurity at a staggering rate (California alone is holding 28% of our nation’s students experiencing homelessness), and inflation, natural disasters, and lapsed pandemic support initiatives have only exacerbated the critical housing shortage. Examining ways in which community-based organizations, mental health systems, and school services are responding to the issues, challenges, and needs of this critical experience offers learning for all participants.
Join us and providers throughout our region as we examine the alarming structural issue of home insecurity and what rising practices and policies are emerging to meet the mental and school mental health needs of people experiencing the impact of structural inequities in our region.
“The afterparty is "awesome!" It allows participants to obtain answers to their questions. It also creates a "safe" nonjudgmental space.”
“Identify the barriers for clients to access services and affordable housing and learn to advocate for them better.”
“The aspect of talking about different strategies to help unhoused youth. I work with foster families and providers. So these strategies will be directly important in my work.”
“How the programs tap into community resources to provide wrap around services.”
Elida SanchezElida is a social worker focused on the field of Education, Community Advocacy, Program Implementation, and Evaluation. She has experience creating support systems and managing programs to serve students, families, teachers, and administrators. She has bridged the gaps between students and families by building partnerships, securing funding, and ensuring a pipeline for future success.
Most recently she has focused on unhoused McKinney- Vento and foster youth, community schools, as well as Women Empowerment Initiatives in the UC system. Elida currently participates in the Continuum of Care Board as a McKinney-Vento and an Education representative, serves in the Transitional Age Youth Committee, Homelessness Providers Forum, and Collaboration to Assist Motel Families. Elida is passionate about leading teams and is dedicated to creating systemic change in multidisciplinary settings.
Hannah Etchison began her role as Special Projects Coordinator, McKinney-Vento & Foster Care Liaison for Carson City School District, July 2022. Previously, Etchison worked at Carson High School as the 21st CCLC Program Coordinator for 3 years. Prior to her time with Carson City School District, Hannah was a Safe School Professional for Washoe County School District at Echo Loder Elementary School for 3 years. She received her Master of Science from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2017 with a degree in Human Development & Family Studies and a Certification in Addiction Treatment & Prevention Services.
Hannah enjoys spending time with her son, friends & family as well as singing/songwriting/recording and performing music. As the McKinney-Vento Liaison, one of Hannah's greatest priorities is to build strong bonds with families, students and community partners through continuous empathy, relatability & genuineness.
Samantha TaitanoSamantha Taitano is the Chairperson for the Guam Homeless Coalition (GHC), Guam's continuum of care (CoC), and the Executive Director of Mañelu, a nonprofit organization that empowers and educates youth and families to make changes that better their lives. She has been with both organizations since 2018 and became Chairperson for the GHC in 2020, leading the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of its programs and partnerships.
Before joining Mañe’lu and the GHC, Samantha attended film school in San Francisco, spent time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa and returned home to hone her marketing skills with a local technology company. Samantha credits her varied background as the driving force that propelled her into positions of leadership and responsibility. In her off time, Samantha lives the self-care she promotes by teaching and practicing yoga, carpentry, and most recently, golf.
Emily ClouseEmily Clouse is a Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) and the founder and Executive Director of the Collaborative Association for Reintegration and Education (CARE), based in Olympia, Washington. CARE is committed to supporting justice-impacted youth and young adults, offering services such as peer counseling, systems navigation assistance, and mutual aid. Additionally, the organization conducts weekly outreach to assist youth living on the streets or in encampments throughout Thurston County.
Emily's dedication to helping justice-impacted youth and families stems from her own experiences, particularly within the military justice system. She possesses an academic background in Psychology and Global Engagement from the University of Washington Tacoma, which has equipped her with the tools to leverage her personal experiences and promote change. Through her work, Emily strives to positively impact young individuals grappling with mental health issues and justice involvement in her region.
