Officials from 16 states will participate in two special “policy academies” to help them better coordinate access to mainstream health and human services for people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness.

Sponsored jointly by the U.S. Department of the Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the policy academies will bring together teams of state and territorial officials to receive advice and technical assistance from officials of the two federal departments and experts on social service programs.  The teams will prepare plans containing specific strategies for overcoming barriers that prevent homeless people from accessing available services.

Representatives from Connecticut, Kentucky, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington participated in the first policy academy, held Nov. 26-28 in Santa Fe, N.M.  Representatives from Georgia, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Puerto Rico will attend the second academy, scheduled for April 9-11, 2002, in Philadelphia.  Attendees were chosen following a competitive selection process announced in August.

The first academy focused on issues confronted by homeless families with children; the second will focus on persons who are chronically homeless, especially those with mental health and substance abuse problems.

HHS agencies acting as co-sponsors are HRSA, the Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  Co-sponsoring HUD entities are the Office of Community Planning and Development and the Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs.

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