Global law firm Baker McKenzie, in partnership with Pine Tree Legal Assistance and with the support of volunteers from Avangrid, today announced the publication of the Maine Homeless Youth Handbook.
The Maine Homeless Youth Handbook is a free online guide that helps young people experiencing homelessness understand their legal rights and access important resources. Tailored to Maine law, the handbook covers topics including education, healthcare, housing and employment, and is written in a youth-friendly question-and-answer format. The resource will be distributed to schools, libraries, service providers, government agencies and community organizations across Maine.
In recent school years, between 4,300 and 4,800 students in Maine were identified as homeless, including youth staying with friends or relatives, living in shelters or hotels, moving from place to place, or sleeping in tents and other unstable situations. These young people often face barriers that extend well beyond the lack of stable housing, including difficulty accessing education, healthcare, employment opportunities and other essential services.
"For young people experiencing homelessness, basic tasks can seem insurmountable and everyday questions can become legal matters," said Katherine Tarpley, Managing Attorney of KidsLegal at Pine Tree Legal Assistance. "We are thrilled that youth and the adults who support them will now be able to access a practical handbook that can help them navigate issues related to education, housing, healthcare, employment and personal safety. We're thankful for the partnership in creating a resource that will help young people across Maine make informed decisions and access critical support."
Nearly 100 volunteers from Baker McKenzie and Avangrid donated approximately 1,000 hours of pro bono effort to research, write and edit the handbook, which covers topics including education, domestic and dating violence, healthcare, housing, employment and more.
"At Avangrid, we believe strong communities are built when young people have the support and resources they need to succeed," said Elizabeth Riotte, Vice President – Deputy General Counsel at Avangrid. "We're honored to contribute to a project that helps address the unique challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness. By working alongside Baker McKenzie and Pine Tree Legal Assistance, we hope this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for young people seeking greater stability and opportunity."
Maine is the latest state to join Baker McKenzie's growing Homeless Youth Handbook initiative. With the publication of the Maine handbook, the resource is now available in 14 states and Washington, DC. Each handbook is developed in collaboration with local partners to reflect the laws, resources and support systems available in that jurisdiction. Learn more here.
"The Homeless Youth Handbook initiative is rooted in a simple but important goal: helping young people access information that can empower them to make informed decisions about their futures," said Jaclyn Pampel, Partner and Director of North America Pro Bono at Baker McKenzie. "We're grateful to Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Avangrid for their collaboration and commitment to this effort. Together, we've created a resource tailored to Maine that we hope will help young people better understand their rights and connect with critical support."
The Maine Homeless Youth Handbook is a free online guide that helps young people experiencing homelessness understand their legal rights and access important resources. Tailored to Maine law, the handbook covers topics including education, healthcare, housing and employment, and is written in a youth-friendly question-and-answer format. The resource will be distributed to schools, libraries, service providers, government agencies and community organizations across Maine.
In recent school years, between 4,300 and 4,800 students in Maine were identified as homeless, including youth staying with friends or relatives, living in shelters or hotels, moving from place to place, or sleeping in tents and other unstable situations. These young people often face barriers that extend well beyond the lack of stable housing, including difficulty accessing education, healthcare, employment opportunities and other essential services.
"For young people experiencing homelessness, basic tasks can seem insurmountable and everyday questions can become legal matters," said Katherine Tarpley, Managing Attorney of KidsLegal at Pine Tree Legal Assistance. "We are thrilled that youth and the adults who support them will now be able to access a practical handbook that can help them navigate issues related to education, housing, healthcare, employment and personal safety. We're thankful for the partnership in creating a resource that will help young people across Maine make informed decisions and access critical support."
Nearly 100 volunteers from Baker McKenzie and Avangrid donated approximately 1,000 hours of pro bono effort to research, write and edit the handbook, which covers topics including education, domestic and dating violence, healthcare, housing, employment and more.
"At Avangrid, we believe strong communities are built when young people have the support and resources they need to succeed," said Elizabeth Riotte, Vice President – Deputy General Counsel at Avangrid. "We're honored to contribute to a project that helps address the unique challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness. By working alongside Baker McKenzie and Pine Tree Legal Assistance, we hope this handbook will serve as a valuable resource for young people seeking greater stability and opportunity."
Maine is the latest state to join Baker McKenzie's growing Homeless Youth Handbook initiative. With the publication of the Maine handbook, the resource is now available in 14 states and Washington, DC. Each handbook is developed in collaboration with local partners to reflect the laws, resources and support systems available in that jurisdiction. Learn more here.
"The Homeless Youth Handbook initiative is rooted in a simple but important goal: helping young people access information that can empower them to make informed decisions about their futures," said Jaclyn Pampel, Partner and Director of North America Pro Bono at Baker McKenzie. "We're grateful to Pine Tree Legal Assistance and Avangrid for their collaboration and commitment to this effort. Together, we've created a resource tailored to Maine that we hope will help young people better understand their rights and connect with critical support."
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