Preventing and Addressing the Impacts of Homelessness on System-Involved

Trainer: Dr. Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW

Date: September 17, 2025

Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Virtual – Zoom

Agency: Fred Finch

Participants must complete registration via the Fred Finch website in order to gain full access to the training course.

COMPLETE REGISTRATION HERE: https://www.fredfinch.org/events-1/housing-is-a-human-right-preventing-and-addressing-the-impacts-of-homelessness-on-siy

Fred Finch provides this training in conjunction with Chabot-Las Positas Community College District and Alameda County through Title IV-E Funding.

You can attend this training at no cost if you or your agency provides services and/or support to youth who are involved in the Alameda County foster care or juvenile justice systems.

Those who do not meet these eligibility requirements will be put on a wait list (or notified of their ineligibility to attend) and only California registrants from Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Solano, and Tuolumne County who support system involved youth will be admitted to the training if we have sufficient registration by those that are eligible and there is still space available.

Access more Fred Finch Trainings Here:

​​https://www.fredfinch.org/training

Training Description

This training explores the root causes and current realities of homelessness in the U.S., with a special focus on system-involved and foster youth who face increased risks of housing instability. Participants will examine evidence-informed strategies for prevention and response, including trauma-informed care and cross-sector collaboration. Interactive activities, real-life case scenarios, and practical tools will support attendees in applying concepts to their direct work with system-involved youth. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to recognize risk factors, connect youth to stabilizing resources, and advocate for systems-level change.

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least 5 key risk factors that contribute to homelessness among foster youth and system-involved youth.
• Explain at least 2 differences between prevention and stabilization strategies in addressing youth homelessness.
• Apply at least 3 trauma-informed practices when engaging with unhoused or housing-insecure system-involved youth.

Agenda

9:00 – 9:10AM Welcome; Overview of training goals and objectives

9:10 – 9:25AM Understanding Youth Homelessness in the U.S. and California (2025)

9:25 – 9:35AM National and state-level data and trends

9:35 – 9:45AM Legal and policy shifts impacting housing-insecure system-involved youth

9:45 – 10:00AM Populations most affected: foster youth and probation youth

10:00 – 10:05AM Root Causes and Risk Factors

10:05 – 10:10AM Key drivers: poverty, trauma, aging out of systems

10:10 – 10:15AM Strategies for Prevention of Homelessness

10:15 – 10:30AM Prevention through wraparound services, early identification, and cross-sector

10:30 – 10:45AM BREAK (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

10:45 – 11:00AM California Innovations

11:00 – 11:15AM California Promising Practices

11:15 – 11:30AM Community-based approaches

11:30 – 11:45AM Community-based partnerships

11:45 – 11:55AM Action Planning and Learning Integration

11:55AM – 12PM Wrap up/Key takeaways/Reflection and Action/Questions

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally distinguished Black social worker, consultant, published author, educator, and facilitator with extensive expertise in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. As the Founder and CEO of Marya Wright Consulting LLC, Dr. Wright is dedicated to empowering system-involved families through awareness, services, and education. She also provides consultation, training, and facilitation to agencies supporting these communities.

Dr. Wright earned her Master of Social Work from Cal State East Bay, specializing in child welfare policy and research, and her Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University, with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California's Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, where she focused on advancing equal opportunity and justice within the child welfare system.

As a community leader, Dr. Wright prioritizes relationship-building, networking, and stakeholder collaboration to address the social and economic challenges her clients face, advocating for justice and peace. She has served as a qualified expert witness and forensic social worker and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the National Phi Alpha Honor Society. Additionally, she is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and its California Chapter.

Dr. Wright’s research interests include child sexual exploitation, foster care, and algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. She has published articles and lectured extensively on these topics. Since January 2020, she has taught sociology and social work courses at Cal State East Bay, focusing on sexualities, child welfare policy, family sociology, and sexual violence. Currently, she serves as a professor in the graduate program, teaching generalist practice, human behavior and the social environment, and advanced practice with children, youth, and families.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.