Higher Learning: Educational Access for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth
Outreach, Inc.Institute for Children,
Poverty & Homelessness ConferenceNew York
January 19, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS• Largest school district in
Indiana• Enrollment 2011 - 2012
• 31,707 Students• Average Number
Homeless Per Day• 1,100 Students
• Free / Reduced Lunch October 2011
• 79% Free• 6% Reduced• 15% Paid
• Ethnicity 2011-2012• 53.47% Black• 22.77% White• 18.40% Hispanic• 4.77% Two or More
Races• 0.43% Asian• 0.15% Native
American / Alaska Native• 0.01% Native Hawaiian
/ Pacific Islander
HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT
2010-2011• Total Number of Students who
were Homeless – 1,909• Doubled-up – 1,515• Sheltered – 326• Hotel/Motel – 68
HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT
2010-2011• Total by Grade
• PK – 6• KG – 211• 01 – 234• 02 – 170• 03 – 192• 04 – 168• 05 – 151
• Total by Grade• 06 – 117• 07 – 112• 08 – 116• 09 – 135• 10 – 132• 11 – 78• 12 – 87
OUTREACH, INC.• Founded by Eric Howard in 1996• Mission: “Equipping and empowering homeless
teens and young adults to exit street life.”• Statement of Beliefs• Outreach believes in the redemptive power of Christ
to help homeless youth find a home by:oOffering the hospitality of Christ;o Journeying with them to provide transformational
guidance; and o Instilling hope to exit the streets toward a more stable
lifestyle.
WHAT DOES OUTREACH DO?
• Case Management• Graduation, Occupation, Address and
Life Style (G.O.A.L.)• Drop-in Center• Referrals• Street Work• Statistics
IPS AND OUTREACH• Collaborative relationship began in 2004 to address needs
of homeless youth• Increase the enrollment, attendance and academic
success of unattached high school youth and promote postsecondary education
• Heighten the sensitivity of the public to the challenges of students and families who are homeless
• Started with referrals from one (1) high school• Served __ students
• Funding through the Indiana Department of Education• Current contract – $27,200
• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Indianapolis Public Schools• Ensure educational rights and protections for students who
are homeless• Serve as the fiscal intermediary for grant funding• Enter into contracts for services to meet identified gaps • Facilitate communication between the partners• Oversee the implementation of all objectives in
proposal• Work with shelters and volunteers to provide tutors for
students• Monitor the work of the evaluation team• Report to the State Department of Education
MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Outreach, Inc.• Provide intense case management for a minimum of
thirty (30) IPS high school unattached youth• Work collaboratively to develop a "homeless
immersion program" and/or "multimedia presentation" that promotes increased sensitivity and public awareness of homeless youth and related problems
• Provide professional development to IPS school social workers and other school staff on best practices and non-traditional ways of working with homeless youth
• Work collaboratively with IPS on truancy, school police training, law enforcement and equitable treatment in schools
MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Outreach, Inc.• With other partners, provide opportunities for
employment or internships• Work collaboratively to develop and distribute
informational posters on rights, resources and access• Supply resources and services in areas to which
public schools do not generally have access (e.g., rent, utility bills, state identification cards, etc.)
• Support effective communication between youth agencies, shelters and schools
• Present at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Youth and Children Conference when requested
G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011
• Supported at-risk unaccompanied high school youth with a case manager
• Three (3) case managers – two (2) females and one (1) male• Average caseload of __ students
• Provided wraparound services and case management while accompanying youth through their immediate and future needs
• Reduced barriers enabling students to remain connected to school
G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011
• Empowered youth to complete high school and pursue employment and/or post secondary options
• Received ninety-five (95) new referrals
• Completed thirty-one (31) intakes • Worked with one hundred ten (110)
IPS unattached youth from nine (9) high schools and two (2) alternative education programs
GRADUATION• Eighty-three (83) educational contacts• Advocated for students in schools • Enrolled students in high school• Dealt with attendance and truancy matters • Prepared students for SAT and ACT testing • Secured funding to pay graduation fees• Guided students through credit recovery• Assisted students in securing scholarships • Prepared students to attend college
• Assisted in coordinating school bus routes and provided city bus passes
• Transported youth to appointments, graduations and various educational events
GRADUATION• Thirty-four (34) seniors graduated with high
school diplomas in May/June 2011 • Ninety-two (92) % of seniors graduated from high
school• Twenty-seven (27) graduates were scheduled to
begin postsecondary classes• Three (3) received Outreach, Inc. scholarships
toward college and vocational schools• Two (2) entered military service• One (1) went to Job Corps• Celebrated first college graduation of a former
G.O.A.L. participant
OCCUPATION• Eighty-one (81) employment
connections• Obtained state IDs• Searched for jobs• Completed job applications • Advocated with vocational rehabilitation• Referred to job coaching• Attended job fairs• Assisted with background checks• Referred to vocational schools
ADDRESS
• Sixty-eight (68) housing referrals and connections• Supported rent and utilities• Assisted with low-income housing• Searched for apartments • Secured apartments / housing• Referred to transitional living programs• Made general referrals
LIFE STYLE• One Hundred Sixteen (116) students
received health advocacy and assistance• Referred for health insurance • Assisted with Medicaid, food stamps, WIC,
prenatal care and medical appointments• Provided clothing, school uniforms and cap and
gowns for graduation • Referred for eye exams and glasses• Connected with the Dress for Success program
to aid in job preparation and professional clothing
LIFE STYLE
• Four (4) youth were matched with Outreach, Inc. mentors
• Eighteen (18) youth received mental health referrals for:• Crisis counseling • Suicide assessments • Psychiatric services
LIFE STYLE• Six (6) youth received spiritual
support• Connected to churches and faith
communities
• Nine (9) youth received legal support• Court advocacy• Probation support• Child welfare assistance
LIFE STYLE• Various youth also received• Relational and emotional guidance• Reconciliation with family members• Senior pictures• Teen parenting classes• Baby showers• Spring break trips• Courses on sex trafficking• Trips to art galleries• Trip to Marengo Cave for male students• Trip to the Underground Railroad Museum in
Cincinnati, OH for female students
EVALUATION• Monthly invoices with narrative• Internal tracking of students through
client objectives • Map-Journey-Path tracking sheet• Weekly client meeting consultations
SUCCESSES"If students fail, it isn't because of lack
of support from G.O.A.L. Case Managers. The Case Managers offer options students didn't have before which gives them (the students) hope. Any homeless kid I have I would refer to the program."
Jan Riesche, School Social Worker at Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:• Eric Howard, Chief Executive Officer
Outreach, Inc.(317) 951-8886http://outreachindiana.org/[email protected]