Demographic Data Collection in Youth Homelessness

Demographic Data Collection in Youth Homelessness

Collecting demographic data can be challenging, especially when it feels like our clients get reduced to numbers in a database. We are here to help you center the queer BIPOC joy and connection that is possible with exploring identity and moving systems towards justice for and alongside young people. This training talks about collecting all types of demographic information with an emphasis on SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity).

Participants will walk away with:

• Clarity on why collecting demographic data is important, and how to use it to make our systems better for queer, trans and BIPOC people
• Best practices for talking about identity and collecting demographic information
• More confidence in talking about sexual orientation and gender identity in particular with clients

Meet your Trainers!

Ashley Barnes-Cocke (they/them) is a queer youth homelessness prevention expert, focused on putting power and resources into young people’s hands. They have spent nearly 15 years working at the intersection of youth homelessness and other caring systems in Washington State and across the US. During that time, they have built youth programs from the ground up with and for young people involved with systems, and love the challenge of collaborating with multiple stakeholders to build processes that work – because that is what young people deserve. Most recently, Ashley has been working with incredible local communities to build direct cash transfer programs, coordinate nationally around youth homelessness prevention, and redesign their homelessness response systems with quality by-name list data, prevention, youth expertise, and racial and LGBTQ justice at the center. Not only have they learned alongside those communities what it takes to make transformative change, but have gotten to coach the first two communities in Washington state to show measurable, sustained reductions in youth homelessness. Ashley holds a Master of Education in Prevention Science and Practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, focusing on the intersections of adolescent trauma and liberatory education praxis.

Isaac Andrew Sanders (they/them) is currently a PhD student at the University of Washington in the School of Social Work social welfare program. Sanders received their BA from the University of Tulsa and their MSW from the University of Kansas. Sanders grew up as a military brat with firm familial roots in Kansas & Oklahoma. An afro-indigenous two spirit non-binary person affiliated with the Muskogee tribe, Sanders’ work is influenced by their lived experience and devotion to equity. Sanders is interested in how implementing advancing digital technologies for good could impact child welfare and youth homelessness service provision. Sanders believes these technologies can impact the disproportionate rate of LGBTQ+ and BIPOC young people in the system with the overarching goal of bringing youth and young adult systems of care into the 21st century. Sanders has over ten years of experience working with youth and young adults in various systems of care. Sanders has led multiple counties in Washington to functionally reduce their active youth homeless population. A positive youth development strategy expert, Sanders has worked with youth and young adults to impact governmental and local change by empowering young adults to advocate for change while demanding providers listen. Sanders has several publications encompassing transgender/non-binary and sexual minority experiences, along with blog posts discussing innovative ways to end youth homelessness.

Cover art sourced from: https://www.qriticalhub.com/queer-joy

Host or Publisher ABC Training & Consulting