From our Executive Director

Our Face of Homelessness
By Bob Ekstrom
WIND Youth Services Executive Director

At WIND we are constantly reminded that our face of homelessness is very different from the general image that the public has of a homeless person. Homeless kids generally do not stand by the freeway exits holding signs or push a shopping cart full of all their earthly possessions. They do not want to stand out or be identified as "homeless." The majority of the kids we serve, look and act just like a "normal" kid, that is if there is such a thing as a normal teenager. They want the same things that other children want, the latest Baby Phat outfit, the hot CD, or a special pair of shoes. What they also crave are expectations, limits, and yes - appropriate discipline. Discipline that says,"I recognize and care about you. I will devote the energy and time to deal with you and your behavior. Further, I expect and recognize that you are capable of better behavior and further, I refuse to accept less."

Expectations are a big issue at WIND. Initially, when we started, like many programs we felt that we were serving kids by just providing "a safe refuge, where they could be treated with respect and dignity." No question that remains a central focus of our program, but we came to recognize if that was all we were accomplishing, we were not really helping and perhaps even hurting kids at one of their most critical times of their lives. There is the old adage that if you expect the worst, you will be rewarded with your expectation. We expect our kids to accomplish something, and yet that something is very different for each kid. Expectations have to be realistic and within reach. It makes no sense to expect an 18 year old homeless youth to get a job, set up an apartment, and go to a university, when they have no foundation of support. We often talk about baby steps and as such we attempt to use real small steps to build a foundation. Without the foundation, everything will fall apart.

Who are these kids? That is a legitimate question and a difficult one to answer. Like all human beings there is no one description of a homeless teen, but rather, each child has their own history and reasons they have ended up at the WIND Center and Shelter. Bearing this is mind and considering the range of individuals that we serve, there are some common "types" of homeless kids.

Street kids are generally the classic street urchins Dickens described 150 years ago. Many have never experienced a stable home, and cannot imagine a life without hustling or scrounging. These kids are survivors, who have little trust in social systems. Left untreated they are going to be uneducated, unemployable, and vulnerable to serious health and social problems. WIND offers a safe base and an inducement to develop life skills that could lead to self-sufficiency. For some of these kids a hot meal, a warm blanket, and a bowl of soap may be the very incentive to seek help and get off the streets.

Absolutely nothing good happens on the streets, and yet sometimes the streets can be safer than home. Children exposed to serious neglect and abuses continue to suffer severe emotional and developmental repercussion for the rest of their lives. The majority of the kids we see have experienced trauma that is beyond comprehension. The typical response is "that cannot happen", but in fact we see it and its results everyday. Child Protective Services are overwhelmed and readily admit that the system is imperfect. For good reasons, they attempt to give priority to the youngest and most vulnerable, which often leaves teenagers to fend for themselves or remain in a neglectful or abusive family situation. Many of these kids would love to go into foster care, but are told that the "home situation" isn't that bad or you will be 18 in two or three years. These kids often end up at our door totally unprepared to fend for themselves especially on the streets.

We also see what we refer to as the "System's Million Dollar Babies". These are kids who were placed in group homes and treatment programs until they were 18, and then are left to fend for themselves. For some of these kids, we (society) have paid out literally over a million dollars for their care. Often with understandable emotional issues, they are totally unprepared for life on their own. In Sacramento, one-third of all foster youth who age out of the system end up homeless. For many of these kids WIND is the only safe alternative. We have literally had kids dropped off at our door on their 18th birthday, without even a cake.

Kids become homeless for lots of reasons and there is no simple picture that can capture the magnitude of the situation. Often the entire family is homeless and while some parents are willing to put themselves in uncomfortable and unsafe situations, they want their children to be safe and come to WIND. This past year, we have been faced with a number of kids that were part of failed adoptions. These are generally older kids who were adopted and upon reaching their 18th birthday were told by one adoptive mother, "you are not my child." Other situations are just as hard to imagine, for instance this June, we had four kids in our shelter that graduated from high school. People have asked us, how is it possible that kids attending school everyday and on track to graduate could be homeless. Our face of homelessness at WIND is young, frightened and wanting someone to expect more from and for them.

They can't work at McDonalds, so their choice is to sell drugs or themselves
By Bob Ekstrom
WIND Youth Services Executive Director

Nationally, there are an estimated 1.5 million runaway, homeless and street youth in the United States, according to the Family and Youth Services Bureau. Homeless youth face multiple challenges: negative self-concept, family neglect and abuse, hunger, poverty, low educational attainment, lack of positive role models, to 19tance abuse, disease, sexual exploitation, and teen pregnancies. They turn to gangs, survival sex and self-destructive activity as a desperate way to gain love and security. They lose hope for their future, since the risks they face on the streets can be more life threatening than the risks they flee from.

Homeless youth are especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation and reliance on prostitution and survival sex. There are 162,000 homeless youth estimated to be victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the United States and 61% of homeless girls and 19% of homeless boys reported having been sexually abused before leaving home. The average age of entry into prostitution is fourteen. The National Runaway Switchboard reports that one of every three teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.

Sacramento, the capital of California, is not immune to this problem. As the numbers of homeless youth increase, so to does the number of kids who see no other alternative but to survive by any means. According to the Sacramento County Children's Report Card for 2000, 25% of Sacramento's youth live in poverty. Problems among teens in Sacramento markedly out-pace the rates in the rest of California. The number of sexually transmitted diseases for 15 to enforcement's double that of the state as a whole. Low educational attainment for Sacramento youth is evidenced by the 29.8% dropout rate. This problem is intensified among African American youth, who have a 45.3% drop out rate.

WIND estimates that there are between 1,500 and 1,800 homeless and runaway teenagers in Sacramento on any given day or night, based on our experience in the field and findings from local law enforcement and educational institutions. According to a 2002 study by the Sacramento County and Cities Board on Homelessness, there are alarming increases in the number of homeless youth in Sacramento.

A key indicator of homelessness among youth in Sacramento is how many youth are reported away from home for at least one night, as revealed by the Juvenile Missing Person Report filed by the Police and Sheriff's Departments of Sacramento. In May of 2001, there were over 700 such reports. For the rest of 2001, missing juvenile reports totaled close to 500 each month. Child Protective Services identifies 16,000 reports of abuse and neglect each year. Sacramento City Unified School District identified 913 homeless students between July 2001 and June 2002. The number of youth up to 17 years of age receiving mental health treatment tripled from 1995 to 1999. The Sacramento County Children's Report estimates that up to 1,000 youth from 12-20 are living on the streets due to overflow situations at County shelters.

Youth involved in prostitution are in a unique position of committing a criminal act, while at the same time being victimized. It is recognized the most effective approach is to view these young people as in need of assistance, rather than as criminals. Law enforcement's options are extremely limited and generally their only course is to arrest the child in the hope of securing help. It has been long established that using the criminal justice system as a means to "assist youth" is generally counterproductive. Too often the youth is further stigmatized and exposed to additional criminal sophistication. The juvenile justice system is overwhelmed with violent and chronic offenders and does not have the time or resources to devote to these children or their needs. Detention within the juvenile justice by itself will not address the real problems that are causing these children to be involved in sexual exploitation and the streets. There is a window of opportunity to engage youth who have not totally given up or accepted the streets and a life of prostitution. There is no question that the excitement and "freedom" of the street life is too appealing for some young people, who may be unwilling at the time to take advantage of other lifestyle options. For these youth there maybe no reasonable alternative to detention and involvement in the criminal justice system.

Sacramento law enforcement has seen a drastic increase in the number of youth prostitutes. They indicate that at least a third of all prostitute arrests are juveniles. Young teens, or even pre-teens, are transported to Sacramento, and told they have to "work" for their keep. Many of these young people are scared, abandoned, and have no where to turn. With no way out, the only alternative is to sell drugs or themselves. During the month of April 2004, the Sacramento Sheriff arrested 12 underage prostitutes. If the girls do not have a family or the family refuses to take responsibility, the only option is to book the juvenile in juvenile hall. Typically, the child is placed on informal probation and released without any additional services. Child Protective Services is unwilling or unable to protect these young people or provide safe placement.

A number of these girls feel trapped, and while they express a desire to leave the street there are few options.

The law enforcement officer, who encounters a youth engaged in prostitution, is faced with a serious dilemma. Some officers avoid arresting the girls, because not only is the juvenile justice process seen as unable to provide necessary help to the youth, but the booking process is so time excessive that they are unable to respond to other crimes and criminal activities. They have expressed their frustration that a number of the girls arrested, as young as age 12, want help to break their sexual exploitation.

Sergeant Adkins, Sacramento Sheriff Office, arrested a 16-year old girl in April, who had been on the streets prostituting for two years. She told him that she left home, but doesn't believe anyone is looking for her. She had a tattoo on her buttock which stated "Money". She said that the only way to make a man love her was to "whore" for him. She indicated that she didn't care if she was arrested and she would be back out on the streets soon. This would be one youth who at least at the present, is not ready to make any positive changes.

Sgt Adkins also arrested a 17 year old girl in April, who was from the Bay area. She had been living with her mother, but the mother was on drugs and seldom home. She indicated that she went to a party and met a young man, who brought her to Sacramento. He put her up in a motel, and told her she had to go out on the streets for her keep. She had no friends in Sacramento and Sgt Adkins said that he watched her approach three different cars, and she was so nervous and clumsy in her approach to "johns". When he stopped her, she immediately broke down told her story, and asked for help. He felt she was very sincere, and said he hated to book her into juvenile hall.

Sgt Adkins indicated that he arrested a 12 year old girl, who had been engaged in prostitution for over 3 months. She was from Fresno, but had been brought to Sacramento for the purpose of prostitution. She indicated that there were several women and girls that she had been staying with that were also prostitutes. She had run away from home, but didn't think her mother was too worried. Sgt. Adkins believed that this young child had no idea of the danger or risks that she was facing. He felt that she would not receive much help from probation and would be back on the streets. Also indicated that he had been involved in numerous crime scenes where they have found the bodies of young girls that had been in similar situations.

"Rosie" was a 16 year old that came to the WIND shelter from our outreach. She had an incredible story of being held for months as a sex slave in New York. She escaped and her family sent her to live with a brother in California, but that didn't work and she was on the streets. She had a two year old child that her brother was keeping. After doing some investigation, we were able to determine that in fact her story was true and that she was held for about eight months by a 60 year old man in a cellar built under his houses. She escaped and went to the police and they were able to arrest the individual. He was tried and sentenced to 60 years in prison. The story was televised on Dateline this past year. Rosie was in our shelter for over 30 days, while we dealt with the authorities in New York and local Child Protective Services. While in the shelter, she received therapy from Kim, Child and Family Institute, attended our school, worked with Protective Services regarding her child (two years old). We were able to work with the family in New York and made arrangement for Rosie to be sent back under the Sacramento Police Home Bound program.

WIND has been working with the Sheriff's Department, the District Attorney, and Probation Department to develop some alternative for selected youth that have been involved in prostitution. Law enforcement has indicated that for some youth it would be better if they had the discretion to refer to WIND instead of juvenile hall. They feel that some of the kids just need help in getting out of a bad situation and WIND could provide better services to the girls and make law enforcement's job easier. WIND would not be appropriate for every youth involved in prostitution, but for some kids it could be the help they need to get their lives headed in a positive and healthy direction. We are currently developing plans to:

-Conduct independent outreach directed at youth street prostitutes;

-Offer an alternative to law enforcement to refer selected youth to the WIND Youth Shelter and treatment programs;

-Have on-call staff to respond to law enforcement when they stop a juvenile involved in prostitution. (or in need of shelter);

-Have WIND staff, in conjunction with law enforcement, determine the youth's willingness to volunteer to come to the Wind shelter and to cooperate with Wind's programs;

-WIND staff with the help Child and Family Institute (mental health), Chemical Dependency Council for Women (CDCW) (substance abuse), Mercy Health, WIND school will determine the youth's treatment needs; and

-WIND will develop an Intervention Plan that among other things will determine reunification feasibility, system involvement (CPS, foster home, probation, etc.) handle legal and medical issues, respond to mental health and victimization issues and develop substance abuse assessment and treatment plans.

Young people at risk for and victimized by sexual abuse and exploitation are in acute need of assistance. WIND is attempting to develop a program of outreach, intervention and supportive services aimed at assisting these youth to leave the streets. This population benefits from intensive, consistent, and compassionate support as they begin the long process of healing deep distrust and abuse issues. WIND has always worked with youth who suffered from childhood sexual abuse, due to the high correlation between sexual abuse and youth homelessness. We address these issues in our case management and group sessions held at WIND's Center. We will continue to refine our approach to help youth heal from sexual abuse and trauma and gain trust in adults who exhibit appropriate boundaries and behaviors.

Richard Estes, Ph.D., and Neil Alan Weiner, Ph.D. "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children in the U.S. and Mexico," Univ. of PA. , September 18 2001 - source from Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Weisberg, "Children of the Night"

Wind Youth's High School Program

By Bob Ekstrom (WIND Youth Executive Director)

It is difficult to imagine how a child can develop the skills to function in society without a basic education. Unfortunately, our homeless kids face enormous obstacles in being able to use educational services. Our public schools have been given a legal mandate to provide educational services to all children; however, the typical public school classroom is not equipped to offer the support, emotional protection, and flexibility that these more fragile adolescents require.

Ninety-five percent of the homeless children that receive services from the WIND Youth Center are not enrolled in school and over 85% of these kids have been out of school for more than six months. WIND has recognized the importance of working with the educational needs of these kids, and over the years has used case management services to provide limited educational services, mostly tutoring, GED preparation, and referral to other school programs. Some of the kids used this assistance to re-enter school or complete their GED; however, for most the instability of their living situations interfered with efforts to maintain a regular school program.

In September, WIND Youth developed a collaborative program with the Grant School Distract to operate an on-site high school classroom. WIND Center kids are enrolled under an independent studies format through the Keema High School program. Whereas in other independent studies programs, the student meets with a teacher one hour per week, receives the next week lessons, and turns in the previous week's "homework". This is especially difficult for homeless kids, who have no home in which they can study or complete homework assignments. The Keema/WIND program provides a classroom environment where each child is provided daily instruction, individual attention, assistance, and support. In the Keema/WIND program, the school day starts with a breakfast, which is critical in providing a positive learning environment. It is difficult to concentrate when your stomach is talking louder than the teacher.

Actual instruction begins each day from 9 AM until noon. Keema High provides our teacher, accreditation, and educational materials. WIND provides the space, outreach and case management services and other supports to meet each child's educational needs.

Cal Fed Bank donated computers and software that allows students to work with some of the newest educational learning programs. Additional programs, such as drug counseling and life skills classes are offered through the Teen Safety Net collaborative with Chemical Dependency Council for Women. An additional part of the school program is providing healthy recreational and cultural enrichment opportunities for the students to enjoy and learn.

The kids at WIND are earning high school credits towards graduation or are preparing to take and pass the GED exam. We firmly believe that for many kids that come through our Center, this program is an extremely important step in developing the resources necessary to survive, prosper and to lead fulfilling lives. The program can use tutors, educational supplies, and cultural and recreational opportunities. If you are interested in our program, or would like to donate time or make a contribution, please contact the WIND Center at 701 Dixieanne Ave or call 443-8333. The Truth About our Youth Being rewritten