 Opportunity | Equity | Youth and Family Voice | Access | Action
Message from Director, Emily Wolff:
As is the case for many of you, our work at the Mayor’s Office of Youth & Families has transformed dramatically over the last several weeks. Our team has shifted our focus to immediate COVID-19 relief and preparations for our city’s longer-term recovery.
We have led various efforts centered on coordinating childcare for first responders, connecting our city workers with mental health support as well as ensuring families have basic access to food, diapers and hygiene products.
We recognize that the COVID-19 crisis is affecting certain communities differently based on multiple factors such as history, access to services, racism, and systemic oppression. To ensure that every community's needs bubble up to decision-makers we continue to engage a diverse group of leaders (i.e. Latinx, Vietnamese, opportunity youth, etc.) in weekly conversations.
Internally, we have pivoted our Parent Leadership Training Institute program and the Junior Civic Leadership Academy to continue virtually. And we are in the process of adapting our Youth Master Planning process and summer job program for system-involved youth to respond to the current context.
We also celebrated the conclusion of our first Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. The 20 members of the Council met for the last time on May 2nd (virtually, of course) and presented Mayor Cantrell with the results of their final impact project. They also shared their ideas for reopening the city and increasing messaging to young people throughout this recovery.
Like you, we are confronting this challenge head-on. Thank you for your efforts and please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any ideas, news and questions.
Yours, in service,
Emily Wolff
Director, Office of Youth and Families
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GNOF and City Convene Food Security Task Force
The Office of Youth and Families partnered with the Greater New Orleans Foundation to lead a Citywide Food Security Taskforce. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, our city's nonprofits, churches and government agencies mobilized to distribute upwards of 550,000 meals a week to kids, seniors, vulnerable adults and homeless citizens. The task force created a comprehensive map of all feeding sites across the city. Additionally, the task force conducted a gap analysis to develop projections for the areas most likely to face food insecurity over the next several months.
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United Healthcare, Cam Jordan Donate $30,000 to New Orleans for Maternal and Child Health Supplies
UnitedHealthcare and the New Orleans Saints' Cam Jordan recently announced a $30,000 donation to Forward Together New Orleans to ensure that families in New Orleans have the infant and feminine hygiene supplies necessary to maintain a healthy family through the COVID-19 pandemic. The $25,000 from UnitedHealthcare inspired Cam Jordan to join in with an additional $5,000 contribution. The Mayor's Office of Youth & Families will direct these resources to families with demonstrated needs through local maternal health and social service organizations. This will be a low-barrier initiative with the goal of serving as many families as possible.
NORD & JOB1 Summer Updates
NORDC and JOB1 are making plans to move forward with some summer camp programming as well as summer youth employment programs. Simultaneously, agencies are preparing contingency plans that involve smaller group sizes, delayed start dates and virtual programming alternatives. Further guidance from city and state health leaders and the CDC will solidify NORDC and JOB1's final plans and more information will be released in the coming weeks.
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Junior Civic Leadership Academy: Enrollment is Open!
We are excited to announce that we will host the 2nd cohort of Junior Civic Leaders this summer! Please share widely and encourage youth from all backgrounds to apply! The Junior Civic Leadership Academy is free of cost and provides youth with an in-depth look at City government. The program includes hands-on demonstrations and presentations that give participants an insider's view of how the City of New Orleans operates. With this knowledge, students will be better equipped to engage their communities and help improve residents’ quality of life.
Who can participate in Junior Civic Leadership Academy? Youth between the ages of 13 - 18 who live in New Orleans, are interested in government, and are interested in learning how to improve their community. JCLA will meet virtually via Webex on Saturdays from 10:00am - 12:00pm from June 6th through August 1st (excluding July 4th).
Applications will be available online. Applications must be received no later than 5pm on Friday, May 15th, or until we reach capacity. For more information and to apply for Junior Civic Leadership Academy please click here.
'Be in that number' Complete your census today!
Citywide participation in the 2020 Census is imperative and Mayor Cantrell is calling on our community organizations to spread the word! As of this week, Orleans parish has a roughly 50% response rate, which means we have a long way to go. Please reach out to us at the Office of Youth and Families if you need access to materials to help message the importance of the census to our hard-to-count populations such as families with children under 5 and non-English speakers.
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Join Virtual Summer Fun Programs with the New Orleans Public Libraries
Click on a link below to explore our For You pages.
Citywide Feeding Programs for Youth & Families
NOLA Pubic Schools, in collaboration with charter school leaders, has coordinated 39 community feeding sites to provide meals for pickup on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 AM-12 PM. Click here to find a daily updated list of city wide grab-n-go locations.
In partnership with Share Our Strength/No Kid Hungry Louisiana, NORD is offering hot meals from 4pm-6pm, Monday through Friday, at all recreation centers (except Annunciation Rec Center) for youth ages 18 and under. For more information,please click this link.
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Free Lyft Ride Codes to Community Feeding Sites
In partnership with the New Orleans Public Schools, Lyft is now offering free ride codes to community feeding sites in Orleans Parish. For more information on entering promo codes, please see this page.
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Applying to College? Check out some Local Changes and Updates to the Admissions Policies
For updated admission policies and waivers on local colleges and universities, check out the following links:
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
COVID-19 is affecting us all and may have a strong impact on the mental well-being of adults and youth. There are several resources in our community to help youth and families access mental health support. Click on the links provided below.
NAMI New Orleans has comprehensive guides for resources and support.
LSU Health and Sciences Center Child and Family Counseling Clinic is accepting clients.
The Parenting Center at Children’s Hospital and Training Grounds is providing support for parents over the phone.
The Institute for Women and Ethnic Studies and The Family Justice Center are also providing services.
We are all in this together, our mental well being matters!
Visit Nola Ready for Latest Coronavirus Information
Donate meals to local food banks by singing 'You Are My Sunshine'
City offers program for youth to learn civic leadership
CARES Act to send Louisiana public schools, child care providers millions of dollars in aid
Mayor Cantrell chosen for global coronavirus economic recovery task force
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