January 2012

Right on the Money: Five Fundraising Resolutions for the New Year

Here’s a fact: People – as opposed to corporations and foundations – give 80 percent of philanthropic dollars each year in the United States.

And here’s a myth: People are giving less to charity because of the recession.

Kim Klein, an Oakland, CA, fundraising consultant says that while corporate and foundation giving has dipped, individual giving has stayed constant for the past few years.

More reason, she says, why youth-serving nonprofits should focus on bolstering support from people in the new year.

Primary Sources: Preventing Violence at Multiple Levels

The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Violence Prevention,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, August 2011.

New Year's Resolutions for Youth Workers: 1. Learn More About Trauma-Informed Care

Research suggests that most homeless youth have experienced multiple traumatic events both before becoming homeless and once on the street.Youth workers who take a trauma-informed approach ask their young people, "What's happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?"

As trauma-informed care has become standard at many youth-serving organizations, NCFY has covered the approach in several podcasts and Primary Sources articles and in an issue of our periodical for youth workers, The Exchange.

NCFY Recommends: Get the Facts About Food Stamps and Homelessness

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP or food stamps, helps bring healthy food to those who can't afford it. But many eligible people -- including homeless youth -- don't realize they qualify. "Ten Myths and Facts About SNAP for Homeless Persons" (PDF, 144KB) comes straight from the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service and clarifies common misperceptions about SNAP.

NCFY Recommends: Finding Federal Funds

Finding funding can be daunting. Finding funding that aligns perfectly with your program's mission can seem almost impossible. To make the task a little easier, two federal entities have developed tools to help human services organizations find the programs that fit and maximize their chances of being funded.

New Videos From NCFY: Youth Describe Their Most Meaningful Relationships

An enduring relationship with a caring adult is one of the most important building blocks to a young person’s success. That’s why one of the Family and Youth Services Bureau’s primary goals is to help foster permanent connections for the young people they serve.

In a new video series, four youth talk about the adults who changed their lives. Together, these videos are a testament to the power of well-meaning adults to help young people get off the street, out of danger, or on a track toward self-sufficiency.

National Clearinghouse on Families & Youth | 5515 Security Lane, Suite 800 | North Bethesda, MD 20852 | (301) 608-8098 | ncfy@acf.hhs.gov