SELECTED RESULTS FROM THEMINORITY EXECUTIVELEADERSHIP INITIATIVE SURVEY
Kayla Jackson
National Network for Youth
Exploring Racism’s Impact on Youth Homelessness in America
National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference
Washington, DC
July 9, 2007
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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SURVEY BACKGROUND
•Conducted in June and July 2005
•Survey was sent to 109 execs
•69 execs completed the survey for a 60%response rate
•Surveys were mailed with a cover letterand then follow-up calls were made to allthose who had not returned a survey
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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A SNAPSHOT OF RHYEXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
•56% of respondents were female
•81% of respondents were White
•57% of respondents were between 51 and60 years of age
•100% of respondents had at least a BA/BSwith 59% having a MS/MSW
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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E.D. SNAPSHOT cont.
•58% reported never holding an EDposition prior to their current job
•Fewer than 50% reported working in theiragencies prior to becoming the E.D.
•30% reported serving as an interim EDbefore becoming a permanent ED
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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SNAPSHOT OF RHY AGENCIES
•29% report full-time staff of 11-30
•37.7% report full-time staff of 0-10
•36.2% report between 0-5 Black staff
•39.1% have annual budgets of between$1,000,000 and $4,999,999
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS:RACE AND AGE
•The majority of Black EDs are between 41and 50 (50%)
•The majority of White EDs are between 51and 60 (59.6%)
•There are no Black EDs in the 22-31 or 61and over age categories
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS:YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION
•83.3% of Black EDs have been in theircurrent position less than 5 years
•47.4% of White EDs have been in theircurrent position for more than 10 years
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
•There is low attrition in the ED position inRHY organizations
•Blacks have only recently been employedas EDs
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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PRIOR EXPERIENCE ANDEDUCATION
•66.7% of Blacks worked in theirorganizations prior to becoming ED
•40.4% of Whites worked in theirorganization prior to becoming ED
•33.3% of Black EDs have a doctorate ascompared to 10.5% of White EDs
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
•Blacks need a higher level of educationAND experience in the organization tobecome ED.
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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OTHER STAFF
•Staffing becomes more diverse at theProgram Director level:
- 23% of agencies have a Black ProgramDirector
- 9% have a Latino/a Program Director
- 3% have a Native American ProgramDirector
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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DIRECT SERVICE STAFFNOT REFLECTIVE
•Only 12% of agencies report a TLPDirector of Color
•Only 18% of agencies report a Director ofOutreach of color
•14% of Basic Center Directors are of color
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
•RHY agency staffing is not reflective of thediverse population of youth being served
•Staff of color are clustered in lower levelpositions in agencies
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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IMPACT ON YOUTH OF COLOR
•RHY who are also youth of color need tosee themselves in the staffing of serviceproviders for numerous reasons:
–Perceived understanding from some one ofsame culture
–“Speak” the same language and havecommon or similar experiences
–The perception of “If they can do it, I can, too.”
Results from the 2005 NationalNetwork for Youth MELI Survey
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RECOMMENDATIONS
•Youth of color are over-represented inRHY programs and staff at all levels of theagency should reflect this.
•Current staff need mentoring andgrooming for higher-level managementpositions.