2010 Conference Archive

INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN AND POVERTY NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PHILADELPHIA 2010

ICP conference focused on the growing problem of family homelessness in America

New York, NY – The Institute for Children and Poverty hosted a national conference in Philadelphia, PA on January 20-21, 2010. The conference, Children, Poverty and Homelessness: from Research to Policy, from Policy to Practice, was successful in bringing together expert researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from a broad spectrum of professions to explore the issues facing children and families experiencing poverty and the solutions needed to end homelessness in communities across America.

The two-day event at the Marriott Downtown included panel discussions with key leaders and top policy analysts, educators and advocates, with approximately 300 guests in attendance.

On Wednesday, January 20th, ICP hosted guided tours of five Philadelphia homeless shelters, including ICP's local conference partner, The People's Emergency Center, which provides comprehensive supportive services to homeless women and their children.

Thursday's agenda comprised a full day of panels and workshops. Some sessions included, Engaging Fathers in Homeless Services Delivery Systems, Emotional and Mental Health Impacts, and Rural, Suburban and Urban Homelessness and the Foreclosure Crisis.

The Thursday morning plenary speaker was Dr. Ralph da Costa Nunez, President and CEO of the Institute for Children and Poverty and Homes for the Homeless. He is also the author of the newly-released book, A Shelter Is Not a Home…Or Is It?—Revisited, which explores lessons learned and lessons forgotten on issues that drive family homelessness in New York City and other urban areas, like Philadelphia.

The keynote speaker for the event was Dainette M. Mintz, Deputy Managing Director for Special Needs Housing and Director, Office of Supportive Housing for the City of Philadelphia. Ms. Mintz possesses many years of experience working with supportive housing programs, and shared some of the preliminary findings of Philadelphia's service approach and concentration on homeless children. She also spearheads Philadelphia's Ten Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.

The variety of speakers and attendees addressed the critical problem of the growing number of homeless families in the U.S., particularly during the current economic crisis. ICP looks forward to seeing everyone at the next conference in New York City in 2012.

Presentations

Learning While Experiencing Homelessness and Poverty

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act: Education Rights and Resources for Students Presentation by Barbara Duffield, Policy Director, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, Washington, D.C.

Family Homelessness: It's So Much More Than Just Housing

Homelessness and Aging Out of Foster Care

The Cycle of Homelessness: The Link between Homelessness and Foster Care Presentation by Cheryl Zlotnick, RN, DrPH, Principal Investigator, Children's Hospital & Research Institute, Oakland, CA

Housing Options for Youth Leaving Foster Care Presentation by Ruth White, Executive Director, National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, University Park, MD

Homelessness among Young People Transitioning Out of Foster Care: Findings from the Midwest Study Presentation by Amy Dworsky, Senior Researcher, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

The Trauma of Homelessness and Poverty

Emotional and Mental Health Impacts

A Community-University Partnership: Early Risers and the Supportive Housing Provider Group, Baseline report on the status of children and families in supportive housing Presentation by Beth Haukebo, Deputy Director, Family Supportive Housing Center, St. Paul, MN

Past, Present, and Future: Examining Family Homelessness From the Public Policy Perspective

History of Homelessness in America

Similarities and Differences Across Five Major Episodes of Homelessness in U.S. History Presentation by Walter Leginski, PhD, Retired, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

Rural, Suburban, Urban Homelessness, and the Foreclosure Crisis

Utah's Rural and Urban Homelessness Presentation by Lloyd Pendelton, Director Homeless Task Force, Salt Lake City, UT

Media and Communications: Getting to the Story

Youth Doing Research and Service Learning

STJ–Mainchance Project ...enrich the human spirit with creativity Presentation by Dr. Heidi Upton, Assistant Professor, St. John's University; Belenna Lauto, Assistant Professor, St. John's University; and Maura Cook, Student, St. John's University

Connecting to Your Community

Community Collaborations

Building Collaborations between Program, Evaluation, and Policy for the Purpose of Creating Evidence-Based Programs in Communities Presentation by Christina Groark, PhD, Associate Professor, Co-Director, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, Pittsburgh, PA; Stephanie Groark, MBA, Associate Professor, Co-Director, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, Pittsburgh, PA; and Joan Eichner, MPA/MPH, Children's Policy Director, University of Pittsburgh Office of Child Development, Pittsburgh, PA