Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development

Casa de suenos --three residential housing sites for up to 30 unaccompanied minor refugees referred to Tumbleweed from the federal office of refugee resettlement orr. Having often been exposed to exploitation, human trafficking and violence, these child survivors get medical care, counseling, skills Development, serves acculturation, language Development and continuing education. This program was up for competitive renewal starting october 2016 but orr provided extensions through february 2017 citing a vague explanation about the department being held up with contract renewals. In february, line staff were the first individuals informed by our assigned federal agents that the contract was not going to renew and we had one week to assist in the transfer of client cases. From july 2016 through february 2017, 102 clients were served in this program.

Young adult programs -- two facilities with 62 beds housing Youth who have no viable family support and are building skills for independent living, such as finding and holding a job, continuing their education, managing their money and their transportation needs. Typically from the foster care or juvenile detention systems, participants may be pregnant or parenting. In the last fiscal year, 82 Youth were served in this program with 100 developing case plans with education, employment, and permanent connections as the primary case plan goals.

Youth resource centers -- two daytime drop-in locations in phoenix and tempe pyrc and tyrc respectively where homeless Youth meet Tumbleweed staff and receive food, showers, laundry, and respite from the street. Youth accessing the yrcs are introduced to the full suite of Tumbleweed services designed to treat trauma, build relationships, expand education, and prepare them for sustainable adulthood. In october 2016, the tyrc was closed due to lack of sustainable funding. Tempe staff were offered vacant positions at the pyrc and Youth were redirected to continue seeking services at the phoenix location. Tempe served 188 Youth in that time period and phoenix 382 individuals.