Larkin Street Launches "Mind the Gap," a Conference on Youth Homelessness

Conference Highlights Effective Public and Private Sector Strategies for Meeting the Needs of Transition Age Homeless Youth

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 13, 2009 -- Larkin Street Youth Services, San Francisco's leading provider of housing and support services for homeless and at-risk youth, will host leaders from more than 150 local, state and national youth service community agencies at its first Conference on Youth Homelessness held in San Francisco. The theme this year is "Mind the Gap: Effective Strategies for Meeting the Needs of Transition Age Youth." "Mind the Gap" will be held at the Palace Hotel at 2 Market Street on Thursday, January 15th.

"Mind the Gap," Larkin Street's first Conference on Youth Homelessness, brings together policy makers, youth service advocates, private and public sector service providers and agencies to share knowledge, new approaches, tools and best practices for better meeting the growing gap between demand for services among transition age (16 to 24) homeless and at-risk youth as well as the diminishing safety net of resources serving this vulnerable population.

"The timing of our first conference on youth homelessness couldn't be better, as all of the organization faces growing demand for our services while now contending with seriously constrained resources," noted Sherilyn Adams, executive director of Larkin Street Youth Services. "By bringing strong, seasoned youth services leaders together, we can better help each other network, develop joint solutions and share best practices across the entire youth services community."

An introductory plenary session, "Who Are Homeless Youth and What Are Their Needs?" will set the stage for the day by providing a comprehensive overview of the issues and needs of homeless youth. Panelists from national, state, and local organizations will provide their perspectives on homeless youth subpopulations, service needs, and strategies to address these needs. The opening session will be moderated by Adams and includes: LaKesha Pope from the National Alliance to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C.; Heather Dearing from the California Coalition for Youth in Sacramento, Calif.; and Rachel Antrobus from the Transition Age Youth Initiative, San Francisco.

Additional workshops at the one-day conference will address specific advocacy, policy and planning, along with resource issues associated with transition age youth program development, implementation and support including: Creating a Wider Net: Building an Advocacy Strategy for Homeless Youth; Meeting the Needs of Marginalized Populations: Queer Youth; More Than Just A Roof: Effective Housing Models for Homeless Youth; and many more.

Two additional workshops will feature a panel of transition age youth who have been involved as clients in youth service programs. These young people will share their unique perspectives on the issues they and their peers face as homeless and at-risk youth.

For additional information about the "Mind the Gap" conference, please visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org or contact Kathie Lowry, chief development officer at Larkin Street Youth Services at (415) 673.0911 ext. 301.

About Larkin Street Youth Services

Founded in 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services is a globally recognized nonprofit leader providing innovative and effective housing, medical, social and educational services for at-risk homeless and runaway youth ages 12-24 across 25 programs and 13 sites in San Francisco. Seventy-four percent of youth who participate in the full continuum of services at Larkin Street exit street life. For more information, please visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org.
Contact:

Media Contact:
Nicole Garroutte
ngarroutte@larkinstreetyouth.org
(415) 673.0911 ext. 305