Ballmer Group’s Post

Big Announcement LinkedIn Friends~ I have spent the last couple of years at Point Source Youth going deep on how we, across all of our systems and communities, can put power and resources directly into young people’s hands, and I want to share that I am moving on from my position at the end of this week. It is bittersweet to transition from a team I love so much, but I'm excited to reignite ABC Training & Consulting while keeping an eye out for my next big project! I am excited to share my skills and knowledge of youth and homelessness best practices, training and facilitation, quality improvement, strategy development and social justice work, in collaboration with rad folks anywhere and everywhere. I am incredibly proud of the Direct Cash Transfers as Prevention intervention and the communities piloting it. This model is not just about meeting young people with exactly what they need, it is not just about the power that cash represents - it is also about scaling a community-ownership model of resourcing all of the brilliant service providers to do their jobs even better. It is about trusting service providers the way we are asking them to trust young people. It is about restoring, healing, and funding community in young people’s lives. I am also so incredibly humbled and proud of all the youth consultants I have gotten to work with, along with my scheming partners Rocio Evelin Carranza Jacinto, MPH, Julia Terry (they/themme), Milo and so many others. I am so honored to have worked and learned with you, for the ways you have advocated, led, taught, learned, and pushed all of us to center humans first. Anjala Huff, you really are a real one, and you have taught me how to be a mover and shaker while never losing sight of what is most important. Yall are the leaders we need right now, and I have learned so much from you <3 I want systems, organizations, and communities to do right by young people, no matter what - because that is what they deserve. That work is happening all over the place. Are you doing it? Have a cool project you want to chat about? Hit me up at my new email [email protected] or check out my website: https://lnkd.in/gz99eeuZ

See Child Trends's new brief about the limitations of social safety net programs in supporting various family structures (like multigenerational families). The recommendations they cite may be helpful for families living in shelter as well. Standardizing eligibility requirements and integrating the delivery of multiple safety net programs could help families with children access support that can help them exit shelter. More from Child Trends: https://bit.ly/47Tt03a

So you want a job where you can make a difference

🌟 Thank you for sharing this great article! Just one remark: In the article “Waiver wait list growing…” (see below), John Boel writes, “In the Commonwealth of Kentucky, parents of children with special needs…” The term “special needs” is used once again, unintentionally, in an otherwise excellent piece. Let’s continue to advocate for changing unconscious ableism in our minds and the language we use. With this shift, perhaps real change will follow for individuals with ID, whom we are discussing. https://lnkd.in/eYsKXNjw, https://lnkd.in/eB8uaGrM

The same agency that has the authority to separate families is fundamentally ill-equipped to effectively support them. The very nature of its power dynamics breeds mistrust within the communities it serves. How can families feel safe seeking support from an entity that holds the ability to disrupt their lives irreparably? To build genuine trust and foster effective family support, we must acknowledge this inherent conflict of interest. It's clear that a neutral, community-based approach is necessary—a model that operates independently from the agency responsible for policing families. By creating an organization that is built by and for the community, we ensure that its priorities are aligned with the needs and aspirations of those it serves. This alternative approach not only mitigates the fear of punitive measures but also empowers families to take ownership of their well-being. By shifting the locus of control away from bureaucratic institutions and towards the community itself, we pave the way for a more equitable and compassionate system—one where families feel supported, not surveilled. While families may receive tangible and material support from the current system, true healing and lasting change require more than just resources. They necessitate genuine relationships built on trust, empathy, and vulnerability—elements that are inherently compromised within an organization that holds the power to tear families apart. This reality is particularly pronounced among minority and marginalized communities, which have historically faced disproportionate levels of distrust, harm, and scrutiny from these agencies. By establishing a community-led organization, separate from the government agency, we create a space where families can authentically engage in the healing process. By embracing a community-driven parent led approach, we not only address these fundamental flaws but also pave the way for a future where every family has the opportunity to thrive, unencumbered by the specter of bureaucratic intervention. #togetherwithfamilies #community #familysupport #justhelp

Northorpe Hall Child and Family Trust - the next chapter.... Regrettably, the recent decision by Kirklees to terminate several contracts with the Trust has resulted in the redundancy of thirty-nine dedicated and highly valued members of the Northorpe team. This move not only affects staff but continues to raise concerns about the continuity and quality of care for the children, young people, and families who have relied on essential services provided by Northorpe Hall since 2017. As we transition into our next chapter, we are getting ready to reimagine our role in the community from our base in Mirfield. Despite the setback, we are determined to leverage our expertise and facilities to continue making a difference. By providing immediate support to families as well as specialised services for those most in need, we intend to fill critical gaps for our community and beyond. Our long-standing openness to exploring new avenues for engagement, funding and sustainability will be crucial to our success. The loss of our role within the previous model is deeply felt but our commitment to providing a safe haven and resources for those in need remains undiminished. The journey ahead will undoubtedly present challenges, but also opportunities for growth and renewed impact in the lives of children, young people, families, communities and beyond. #NorthorpeHall #FamilySupport #CommunityEngagement #CommunityImpact #ChildWellness #YouthDevelopment

"Diversifying our present workforce and elevating and recognizing the contribution of families and staff with lived experience in both prevention services and the child welfare system is essential for change moving forward. Our current social services workforce still lacks representation from the populations it serves. Nearly two of every three social workers is White while Black and Native American children and families are disproportionally represented in our child welfare system and impacted by poverty. The use of peer support or paraprofessionals in the workforce could ease struggles around workforce recruitment and make services more accessible. It also offers potential solutions to a workforce lacking in diversity, language skills, and cultural understanding of the children and families it serves. Concurrently, by valuing and developing a career pathway for those with lived experience, use of a peer support model also functions as an economic stability intervention." Check out the latest Milwaukee Independent article from Luke Waldo that explores the impacts of stress and burnout on our child welfare and maltreatment prevention workforce, and how we might elevate our paraprofessional workforce with lived experience into those systems to better support overloaded families. #compassionfatigue #vicarioustrauma #burnout #paraprofessional #livedexperience #peersupport #childwelfare #homevisiting #diversityequityinclusion https://lnkd.in/gJrcpDHn

This is an important read from Propublica.

Join National League of Cities to hear how local and state governments are working together to address and mitigate the current and future impacts of housing security on populations such as pregnant women, infants, and toddlers in their communities. This conversation will explore: - Impacts of housing insecurity on young children. - Community solutions to address housing needs.  - Intergovernmental partnerships in The City of Flint, Genessee County, and State of Michigan. #housing #housingstability #children #families

**Every Child Has a Special Need: The Need to Be Loved and Cared For** As we’ve worked with families planning for their children’s futures, we’ve come to realize that Special Needs Trusts are essential for children or adults with disabilities. These trusts allow them to receive support beyond what government benefits like SSI provide. Families with special needs children face unique challenges, such as planning for a guardian if they predecease their child and safeguarding assets to ensure continued public assistance eligibility. This level of care and concern is something every parent should have for the "what ifs." This led us to a profound thought: every child has special needs, even if they are "normal"—and as we know, "normal" is just a setting on the dryer! Every child, regardless of abilities or disabilities, has the fundamental need to be loved and cared for. For some practical ways to love and care for your dependents, view the full post at https://www.legacyadvisorsonline/blog One of the most loving actions you can take for your family is to have a plan that ensures their well-being and financial security. While not everyone needs a special needs trust—only those receiving certain government benefits do—everyone needs a plan. We are here to help navigate these complexities. Together, we can create a comprehensive plan that provides for those you love, ensuring they are cared for in the best possible way. **Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." - Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)** 👉 Contact us today to learn more about setting up a plan and securing your family's future. #EstatePlanning #SpecialNeedsTrust #FamilyLove #SecureFuture #FinancialPlanning