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.
In addition, several national organizations serve as
partners for the academies, including the: American Public Human
Services Association; Association of State and Territorial Health
Officials; National Association of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Directors; National Association of County and City Health Officers;
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors;
National Conference of State Legislators; National Governors
Association; National Head Start Association; and the U.S. Conference
of Mayors.
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