Youth Board Members Interview

2528-XXXX

XX-XX-XXXX

Youth Board Member Interviews

[Prior to the interview, find out how many members are on the Youth Board, how members are selected, how diverse the board is, whether there are subgroups or subcommittees, how often the board and subgroups meet, whether the Youth Board Member is on any of the subgroups, the Board’s role in the CoC governance structure, frequency of Board meetings with lead agency, how the Board provides input to the CoC and stays up-to-date on what’s happening in the community, and any data collection the Board participates in.]

Introduction

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today. We are researchers from Westat, a research company based outside of Washington, D.C. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has contracted with Westat to conduct a cross-site evaluation of the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Project (YHDP). We want to learn about how services, supports, and housing are set up to meet the needs of youth who are having problems with housing.

We especially want to hear about your experiences serving on the youth board [add name of board, if available] for __________________. Because youth boards are made up of youth who have experienced homelessness, your perspective is particularly important. We would like to hear your ideas on what works well for youth, why particular services and supports work or do not work, and what could be done to better meet the needs of youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Youth are the experts on how the system works, and we are grateful for your thoughts and ideas. Your input will be important to decision-makers in improving services and supports to youth across the country.

Before we begin, we need your consent to participate in this interview. First, we will read a consent form, and then answer any questions you may have. Then, if you are willing to participate, we will ask you to sign the consent form.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response for this Youth Board Interview. HUD may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection information unless that collection displays a valid OMB control number 2528-xxxx, expiring xx-xx-xxxx.

The information requested under this collection is protected and held private in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 1306, 20 CFR 401 and 402, 5 U.S.C.552 (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. 552a (Privacy Act of 1974) and OMB Circular No. A-130.

[Share and review consent form.]

Do you have any questions for me?

[Note and answer all questions. Ask participant to sign consent form.]

We’d like to record the session to make sure we get your answers accurately. Following our visit, the recording will be typed up and used for analysis. At the end of the study in 2021, we will give copies of the typed-up interviews to HUD for their records. However, before we share them, we will remove your name and any information that could identify you, such as your age, gender, and specifics of your background. After being typed up, the actual recordings will be destroyed. You can ask us to turn off the recording at any time if you would prefer to talk about something and not have it recorded.

Do I have your permission to record this interview?

[If permission is granted, turn on recorder.]

1. Involvement with Youth Board

First I would like to focus on the youth board and your role on it.

1. How long have you been involved with the board? [Probe for date joined.]

2. How did you first become involved?

   • Did you seek it out or were you recruited?

   • Is this your first experience on a board like this?

   • Have you been asked for your input from other organizations?

3. Can you describe your role on the board?

   • Has that changed over time? What were the changes?

2. Role of the Board

4. What does the board do? What is the purpose of the board?

   • Has that changed over time? What were the changes?

5. Has the board had a role in addressing youth homelessness? In what ways? Has the board made suggestions that led to changes? Suggestions that did not lead to changes? Can you describe the role that the board has had in:

   • shaping the community plan to address youth homelessness?

   • guiding the implementation of the plan?

   • providing input on other aspects related to youth homelessness?

[Probe for level of involvement; if they were called on and how often; who calls on them.]

6. How does the board provide input? Is it through meetings with the lead agency, through memos, emails, or some other ways?

7. How does the board keep you up-to-date with what is going on in the community?

8. Is the board involved in any data collection efforts? In any service efforts?

3. Assessment of the Role of the Board

9. Are any youth perspectives missing from the board? Does the board seem diverse enough?

10. What have you liked most about the board? Is there anything you would like to change about the board?

11. Is there anything you would like to change about your role on the board?

12. Are youth board members paid for their participation? [If yes] How much are you paid?

    • Are members provided with other supports for their involvement, like food at meetings, child care at meetings, transportation to meetings, training and ongoing support in adapting to the role of advisor?

4. Background

Now I’d like to learn about you and your background.

13. Where are you living now and how long you have been there? [Probe for type of place (own apartment, with family, in shelter, etc.).]

14. How long can you stay at this place? [Probe: Is it temporary or permanent?] [If relevant] What type of assistance and services are you receiving? What services and housing could you have used that you did not get?

15. [For parenting youth] How many children do you have and how old are they? Are you living with a partner?

16. Are you currently in school? Are you thinking about going back to school?

Probes: Did you leave school before graduating? What would have helped you stay in school? What help is there now to help with connecting with school?

17. Are you currently working?

Probes: Did you get any help in getting a job, like someone helping you find a job or training for jobs? From whom? What kind of help? If you didn’t get help, what kind of help did you need? What would make it easier to get a job? Keep a job?

18. Many youth have aged out of foster care and have had difficulties finding a stable place to live. Have you had this experience? Where did you go after leaving foster care? Did you receive any help from the child welfare system or from others?

5. Assessment of Current System

Now I want to ask a few questions that are focused on getting your views on the service system right now.

19. What are your views on how well the current homeless service system is meeting youth’s needs? What are the key gaps? What do you see as the major problems in the system that need to be addressed? Do you feel the plans in place are addressing these problems?

20. Where are youth most likely to fall through the cracks in the system? Are there certain characteristics of youth who are more likely to fall through the cracks or not get the services they need? What could be done to address these issues?

21. Is there anything else we should know about this community?

6. Developments

22. My final question is: What do you see as the most exciting developments under way or being considered that are relevant to youth homelessness?

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