  Opportunity | Equity | Youth and Family Voice | Access | Action
Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council Offers a Youth Perspective on City Transportation
 The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) has been hard at work! In February, members provided feedback and recommendations to the Office of Transportation for the City’s Transportation Plan. Additionally, MYAC identified two collective impact projects: (1) to revive the New Orleans Teen Summit and (2) to explore legislative options to enshrine MYAC into City government. Stay tuned!
Improvements at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC)
The Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) has forged a partnership with Children's Hospital to provide medical and behavioral health services for youth. This partnership ensures that youth at the facility receive high-quality medical services and trauma-informed care. Further, this spring the JJIC will launch a program that disperses case managers throughout the community to provide in-home intensive supervision for vulnerable youth as an alternative to detention.
|
Parent Leadership Training Institute Members Become Leading Advocates for Children
 |
|
The Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) is a free, 20-week program that equips parents to become leading advocates for children. Over the last several weeks, parents have dug into topics such as the power of media, public policy making and municipal budgeting. Participants are also hard at work at developing their own community projects that address a variety of issues such as: language justice, girls empowerment, workforce development and advocacy for foster children. |
A Ten-Year Plan to Improve Child Well-Being
The Office of Youth and Families partnered with the Children and Youth Planning Board and New Orleans Youth Alliance to develop the city’s first Youth Master Plan — a roadmap to improve child and youth well-being.
In spring 2020, we will bring together young people, parents, educators, and community leaders to develop a ten-year plan across a number of sectors including education, juvenile justice and health.
By May, we will produce a data book mapping child well-being conditions by neighborhood and a fiscal tool that catalogs all public funding spent on children and youth. These tools will be made available to the public on the City’s website. Check out the Denver Children’s Cabinet 2020 Child Well-being Index for a sneak peak of what this will look like!
Boosting Teacher Retention through Affordable Housing
The Office of Youth and Families and the Office of Community Development are excited to launch a down payment assistance program for public school teachers in New Orleans. The program will offer $1,500,000 in total funding for down payment assistance to teachers in order to reduce the shortage of educators within the Orleans Parish school system and to retain teachers challenged by the costs of housing.
|
Expanding Workforce Readiness for System-Involved Youth
Following the success of OYF and JOB1’s summer pilot project last year, OYF is launching a year-round workforce readiness program called Pathways to serve 35 system-involved youth between ages 14 and 17. Slated to launch in early April, the program will provide youth with paid work experiences, case management services, transportation assistance, and work readiness training.
OYF also plans to expand the Summer Success program to provide paid work experience to 150 of New Orleans’ most vulnerable youth for six weeks over the summer. Applications will be accepted beginning mid-March. These programs are made possible with support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation.
|
New Orleans Public Library Selects Dr. Gabriel Morley as Executive Director
The City is thrilled to welcome Dr. Gabriel Morley back to his native Louisiana to lead the New Orleans Public Library system. Dr. Morley's vision for libraries as essential anchors in a healthy and thriving city aligns perfectly with Office of Youth and Family’s focus on leveraging all of our community assets to improve lives. Dr. Morley is responsible for the administration and management of 230 employees, 15 library locations, and overall library services, products, and programming, for the residents of Orleans Parish.
|
New Additions to OYF's Team
Anamaria Villamarin-Lupin, LCSW-BACS is the Program Manager for the Office of Youth and Families. Prior to joining the City of New Orleans, Anamaria worked for 10 years at the Broadmoor Improvement Association as the Wellness Director and Clinical Supervisor. In that role, Anamaria developed and supervised the mental health internship program, wellness services, a food pantry and professional development workshops. Anamaria has called New Orleans home for 24 years, she is the mother of two teenage boys and is happily married to a son of New Orleans since 1998. Additionally, she is a trained translator and interpreter for Spanish speaking families. She looks forward to using her skills to enrich the lives of all youth and families across the city.
|
Lizzy Crigler is the MSW intern for OYF, attending Tulane University for a Masters in Social Work with a certificate in Disaster and Collective Trauma. She graduated from Tulane for undergrad in 2018 with degrees in Sociology and Gender & Sexuality Studies. In her year between undergrad and graduate school, Lizzy worked at the Office of Public Health at the Louisiana Department of Health focused on workforce development. |
|
 |
JOB1 and New Orleans Public Libraries Partner to Expand Employment Services
 |
|
In partnership with the Office of Youth and Families and JOB1, local libraries are offering weekly employment assistance services. Beginning March 3rd, access to career connections are offered at New Orleans East Library on Tuesday's between 10 AM-2PM and at Algiers Library on Wednesday's between 10 AM-2 PM. |
CleanUpNOLA Community Day
CleanUpNOLA is a comprehensive, coordinated initiative combining the efforts of multiple City departments and the community to make New Orleans shine. To join a neighborhood cleanup or help with starting your own, visit cleanup.nola.gov.
NORDC Summer Youth Camp Expo
 |
|
Registration for NORDC's summer camp begins March 7 at their annual Summer Camp Expo. Don't miss out on the opportunity to register!
Date: March 7, 2020 Time: 9 AM- 1 PM Location: Summer Camp Expo Locations
|
Family Day at the New Orleans Book Festival
|
Family Day at the New Orleans Book Festival is a free family event full of fun activities, a Scholastic book giveaway, and some of your favorite children's book authors! Visit bookfest.tulane.edu for more information, a list of activities and the Family Day schedule!
Date: March 21, 2020 Time: 10 AM- 2 PM Location: Berger Family Lawn- Tulane University 6826 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA
|
|
 |
Education Research Alliance Releases Results of Citywide Youth Survey
ERA-New Orleans invites you to join for a discussion of the findings from the first citywide survey of New Orleans students.
Date: Wednesday March 18, 2020 Time: 6-7:30 PM Location: Georges Auditorium at Dillard University 2601 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA
Be in that Number! Census 2020
You can make a difference by participating in the 2020 Census! The census informs how billions of dollars are allocated every year to health clinics, schools, affordable housing, and hundreds of other critical services and programs that make a difference in our lives every day. It only takes a few minutes to participate, but the impact will be felt for years.
Throughout March and April, each of the City's public libraries will be making sure their computers are accessible to the public and offering website navigation assistance by library staff to assist residents getting to Census response opportunities. Share this information with family and friends and remember to count our children! Check out the Data Center's Interactive Hard-to-Count Census Map!
|
Sankofa Launches "Nearby Nature" Play School Programs
 |
|
Sankofa CDC is launching Nearby Nature, a child-centered nature program designed to provide educational experiences for children between ages of 4-12. The program utilizes nature as a means of
promoting health and wellness. Come explore beautiful natural outdoor areas of New Orleans. There are programs available for school field trips and families! |
MAYOR CANTRELL JOINS IN ANNOUNCEMENT OF 'FAMILY DAY' LINEUP FOR NEW ORLEANS BOOK FESTIVAL AT TULANE
CITY AIMS FOR BIG INCREASE IN RESPONSES FOR THE 2020 CENSUS
NUMBER OF TEACHERS OF COLOR GROWING IN NEW ORLEANS
ORLEANS SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES FUNDING TO KEEP TEACHER PIPELINES OPEN, FURTHER ADDRESS RETENTION
'IT'S A NEW DAY IN NEW ORLEANS': NEW CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MENTAL HEALTH UNIT NEAR COMPLETION
NORD PLANS FREE INAUGURAL MARDI GRAS BALL FOR RESIDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ON SATURDAY
NORD AND MYSTIC KREWE OF NYX CELEBRATE OPENING OF INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND ON LAFITTE GREENWAY
2020 Census Jobs
Become a part of history and apply for a temporary part-time position with the 2020 Census! Apply here to earn extra income and help your community.
Juvenile Justice Intervention Center
The JJIC is hiring! They are seeking Juvenile Detention Counselors, who play a critical role at the facility serving youth as counselors, supervisors and role models. This position offers a regionally competitive salary (starting at $32k) with benefits and a career ladder for promotion. Visit JJIC's website to learn more information.
Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination
The Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice Coordination is looking to hire a Senior Project Manager for Juvenile Justice. The Senior Project Manager will coordinate the efforts of other City staff, law enforcement personnel, social service providers, schools, and community members in addressing juvenile justice issues. For more information about employment opportunities, contact (504) 658-4040.
New Orleans Public Schools
NOLA Public Schools is seeking a Director of Early Childhood Opportunities. The Director of Early Childhood will be responsible for ensuring the fulfillment of NOLA Public Schools’ vision by ensuring a comprehensive early childhood strategy exists for the city of New Orleans. Visit NOLA-PS to learn more information.
|