A Seat at the Table:Homeless Liaisons Building Collaborations on the Federal, State and Local Levels.

College Connections for Student Success ConferenceA Focus on Foster Care, Homeless and

Other Disconnected Youth

February 19, 2014

Why are we here?

Statistics

School Year/ No. of Homeless Students

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

US 794,617 956,914 939,903 1,065,794

1,166,339

Georgia 15,700 23,724 27,338 31,384 35,048

APS 500 572 761 1,383 2,108

Georgia Foster Care

9,984 8,020 6,895 7,591 7,697

Session GoalsI. Participants will gain an understanding of federal, state

and local community based initiatives to enhance program objectives.

II. Participants will learn tools for engaging community stakeholders and creating a “seat at the table.”

III. Participants will gain insight on how to leverage community partnerships that result in meeting the educational needs of students facing homelessness and being in foster care.

IV. Participants will learn to navigate the Fostering Connections Act, McKinney-Vento Act and Opening Doors 2010 definitions or education and housing agencies to better service youth facing housing and family setting transition.

Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness:Place – Based Strategies to Prevent and End Homelessness

Opening Doors – 2010 Obama Administration

First comprehensive federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness that calls for an alignment of federal, state, local, and private resources with four goals.

Goals of 2010 Opening Doors Plan 1. Finish the job of ending

homelessness by 2015; 2. Prevent and end homelessness

among veterans by 2015; 3. Prevent and end homelessness

for families, youth and children by 2020; and

4. Set a path to ending all types of homelessness.

Opening Doors Strategies

End homelessness by leveraging collaborations:

1. Mainstream Housing2. Health3. Education 4. Human Services

Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness (DOEH) Cont.

Joint effort between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) – community based strategy development to better and maintain itself. Ten Cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Fresno County, Los Angeles County, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Maricopa County, Seattle, and Tampa.

DOEH & McKinney Vento ThemesAwareness – DOEH Families and

Children, Social Services and Public Affairs subcommittees.

Collaboration and Coordination of Services – DOEH collaborations gives access to federal, state and local resources needed.

DOEH – Agencies at the TableDepartment of Family & Children Services

(DFCS)HUD & USICH & Veterans Affairs Department of Community AffairsContinuum of CareCounty Government SheltersTransitional Housing AgenciesFaith Based/ Ministries Law Centers for HomelessMental Health Divisions of Hospitals

McKinney-Vento Homeless ActSubtitle VII-B (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.)

Reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002

Main Themes :AwarenessIdentification and EnrollmentSchool SelectionEqual Access to Comparable ServicesCollaboration and Coordination of Services

McKinney – Vento Defined Individuals whose nighttime residence is NOT:

Fixed, Regular, or Adequate Who is considered homeless?

◦ SheltersTransitional housing, Awaiting foster care

◦ Doubled-up Living with another family due to economic hardship

◦ Unsheltered Cars, Parks, Campgrounds, Abandoned buildings,

Temporary trailer◦ Hotels/Motels

Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE and SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

Fostering Connections Act The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 became Public Law 110-351 on October 7, 2008.  Experts hail it as the most significant and far-reaching reform to federal child welfare policy in more than ten years. The new law aims to promote permanency and improved outcomes for children in foster care through policy changes in six key areas:

1) support for kinship care and family connections, 2) support for older youth, 3) coordinated health services, 4) improved educational stability and opportunities, 5) incentives and assistance for adoption, and 6) direct access to federal resources for Indian Tribes.

Independence Passport

DOEH/ McKinney-Vento/ Fostering Connections

DOEH Strategy

Fostering Connections Act/ Kenny A.

McKinney-Vento Act

A case in housing: HEARTH Act: Initial Assurances: 1. The Continuum of Care (CoC)Applicant must

demonstrate collaboration with education agencies.

2. The CoC must consider the educational needs of children and not disrupt children’s education.

3. Project applicants must demonstrate practices consistent with McKinney –Vento Act.

4. Applicants must designate staff to ensure children are enrolled in school and connected to services.

Collaboration Experts Speak…

Jatisha Marsh, Atlanta Public SchoolsStephen Vault, Ph.D., WellStar

Health System

Why is it important to develop community based partnerships?

Parents need multiple sources of support to help their children succeed in school and in their communities.

Research demonstrates that effective schools/education programs have high levels of parental and community involvement.

Strategies for Developing Relationships:All providers can: Learn each other’s definition of

homelessness Create a space for open discussion

about shared values and gaps in service Identify community stakeholders to

partner with on activities that advance common values and goals

Attend each others’ meetings Develop MOUs for cooperation and

information sharing

Promising Partnership Practices

Determine Shared Vision and Values

Develop a Plan Communicate Establish Connections Share Leadership Build Collaborations Determine your needs

Mutual Stakeholder Engagement Children – includes student and family needs.

Parent Teacher Organizations, Non Profit arm, Parents As Leaders Teachers – instructional support insight.

M-V teacher tutors Administration – instructional/ school supports.

Continued awareness and technical assistance Community Based Non Profits – varied missions.

Early Child hood Education Centers, United Way, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy/Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Operation Hope, Junior Leagues, Kiwanis Clubs

Neighborhood Coalitions – betterment of residents.Business Associations, In Town Associations, Foundation Civic Sites

Faith Institutions – betterment of surrounding communities.Churches, Mosques, Synagogues

Businesses – venues and consumer needs.Corporate Foundations, Neighborhood Businesses, Future Business

Government Agencies – citizen services. Police Department, Health Clinics, Social Services and Libraries

Universities – sporting events tickets for family bonding and attendance incentives.

Atlanta Public Schools Advisory Board as an Example

Homeless Education Advisory Board

Mission: The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program seeks to actively and regularly engage key, Atlanta – based community stakeholders in ensuring the academic success of students in transition.  Vision:The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program Advisory Board will meet twice per school year to be updated on the issues facing students in transition. The board will leverage their networks in providing opportunities for students to gain life skills and exposure to activities that ultimately boosts the academic esteem of this at-risk population.

Other Partnership Results:

Every year:Community Agency Yearly Outcome

United Way of Greater Atlanta

8 pallets of school supplies

Focus North America 1000 sneakers

Atlanta Police Athletic League

25 slots for homeless students

Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta

100 beds to families transitioning to permanent homes

Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential

15 doulas and life coaches with housing and child care

APS Central Office 30 families adopted for holiday giving

Georgia State University 150 tickets per home football and basketball games

Assistance League of Atlanta

1800 uniforms for elementary school students, 700 coats and 500 hygiene kits

Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency, Georgia Law Center for the Homeless & MARTA

1 week of transportation passes at about $10 – covers a school year for 550 students.

Springdale Place Center

A case in collaboration…

Sustainability Share responsibility with schools and other community

organizations committed to engaging families in meaningful, culturally respectful ways, as well as families actively supporting their children’s learning and development.

Continue across a student’s life, beginning in infancy and extending through college and career preparation programs.

Carry out everywhere children are raised and taught - including homes, early childhood education programs, schools, after-school programs, faith-based institutions, playgrounds, and community settings.

Position Statement on School-Family-Community Partnerships for Student Success (2009). Connecticut State Board of Education. http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/LIB/sde/pdf/board/SFCP.pdf

Sonya O. Hunte, MSWshunte@atlanta.k12.ga.us Homeless Education Liaison130 Trinity Avenue 2nd Floor

Atlanta, GA 30303Office (404) 802-2245Fax (404) 802-1205