Educating Educating Homeless Children Homeless Children in Allegheny Countyin Allegheny County

An Evaluation of Families and An Evaluation of Families and ServicesServices

About HCEF ….. About HCEF ….. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit founded in 1999

Partners with 17 shelters, transitional, & permanent housing sites for homeless families in Allegheny County to deliver resources, funds, and education based afterschool and summer programs

Advocacy & Awareness: to the general public and with legislators and government offices

Provides an opportunity for the public to participate/assist in meeting the educational needs of homeless children

Our Target Service PopulationOur Target Service Population

Emergency Shelters, Bridge, Transitional Emergency Shelters, Bridge, Transitional and Permanent Housing facilitiesand Permanent Housing facilities

Children and youth grades K-12 Children and youth grades K-12 Shelter staff working directly with children Shelter staff working directly with children

and parentsand parents ParentsParents VolunteersVolunteers

An Evaluation of Homeless An Evaluation of Homeless Families and Services Families and Services

Collaboration between HCEF, Collaboration between HCEF, Duquesne University, and Duquesne University, and Allegheny County Department of Allegheny County Department of Human ServicesHuman Services

Principal InvestigatorsPrincipal Investigators Dr. James B. Schreiber, Associate Dr. James B. Schreiber, Associate

Professor, Duquesne University, Professor, Duquesne University, Department of Foundations and Department of Foundations and LeadershipLeadership

Dr. Peter Miller, Assistant Professor, U Dr. Peter Miller, Assistant Professor, U Wisconsin-Madison (formerly Duquesne Wisconsin-Madison (formerly Duquesne University) Dept. of Educational University) Dept. of Educational Leadership & Policy AnalysisLeadership & Policy Analysis

Data CollectionData Collection Study conducted in Spring 2009Study conducted in Spring 2009 Surveyed 20 Allegheny County agencies that Surveyed 20 Allegheny County agencies that

serve homeless family populationsserve homeless family populations 139 parents responded, 40 agency staff, and 139 parents responded, 40 agency staff, and

51 interviews with parents were conducted, 51 interviews with parents were conducted, more taking place nowmore taking place now

Researchers also had access to Allegheny Researchers also had access to Allegheny County DHS StatisticsCounty DHS Statistics

Major FindingsMajor Findings 1. Diversity of homeless families in 1. Diversity of homeless families in

Allegheny CountyAllegheny County 2. Homeless families’ problems in 2. Homeless families’ problems in

schoolschool 3. Parent advocacy and barriers to 3. Parent advocacy and barriers to

involvementinvolvement

Major Findings Major Findings continued…continued…

4. Effectiveness of agency-based after 4. Effectiveness of agency-based after school learning centersschool learning centers

5. Importance of agency-school-5. Importance of agency-school-community communication community communication

6. Roles of relationships in education of 6. Roles of relationships in education of homeless studentshomeless students

Major Finding #1Major Finding #1 There is great diversity among There is great diversity among

homeless families with school age homeless families with school age children in Allegheny County. Many of children in Allegheny County. Many of these families do not fit stereotypes these families do not fit stereotypes that are commonly attributed to the that are commonly attributed to the homeless populationhomeless population

Major Finding #1Major Finding #1 44% of the homeless parents in our 44% of the homeless parents in our

sample group attended and/or sample group attended and/or graduated from collegegraduated from college

Suggests they are committed to Suggests they are committed to helping their kids in school, value helping their kids in school, value education, and have experience education, and have experience making it through the educational making it through the educational systemsystem

Major Finding #2Major Finding #2

Homeless students and Homeless students and parents experience parents experience widespread problems with widespread problems with schoolschool

Major Finding #2Major Finding #2Major issues centered around:Major issues centered around:•Student mobilityStudent mobility•Student health and attendanceStudent health and attendance•Student/parent Student/parent harassment/stigmatizationharassment/stigmatization•Misdiagnosis of studentsMisdiagnosis of students•Student behaviorStudent behavior•General school lack of careGeneral school lack of care

Quotes from Parents Regarding Quotes from Parents Regarding StigmatizationStigmatization

“ “ The schools, they know our situation. They The schools, they know our situation. They know our kids. They know we’re here and know our kids. They know we’re here and they hold it against us. They hold it over they hold it against us. They hold it over our heads like, “We know your secret!” It’s our heads like, “We know your secret!” It’s like, “Oh, your child is slow because you like, “Oh, your child is slow because you were too busy doing drugs.” Well, actually, were too busy doing drugs.” Well, actually, my daughter was getting straight ‘A’s my daughter was getting straight ‘A’s before going to that school. So it’s not herbefore going to that school. So it’s not her—she’s very smart. It’s the school.”—she’s very smart. It’s the school.”

Quotes from Parents Regarding Quotes from Parents Regarding StigmatizationStigmatization

“ “ It’s none of their business… I’ve heard It’s none of their business… I’ve heard people say negative things to me about people say negative things to me about being at (a homeless agency). About being at (a homeless agency). About being homeless and poor. About being this being homeless and poor. About being this and that. But I’ve had to let them now, I’m and that. But I’ve had to let them now, I’m there but I’m not poor. I’m there but I’m not there but I’m not poor. I’m there but I’m not crazy. I’m there but I’m not a drug addict crazy. I’m there but I’m not a drug addict or alcoholic. But I’m there. You can make or alcoholic. But I’m there. You can make your own assumptions…”your own assumptions…”

Regarding School ConflictsRegarding School Conflicts Some parents accepted a degree of Some parents accepted a degree of

responsibility for their child’s school responsibility for their child’s school conflicts, others were more adamant that conflicts, others were more adamant that the school system itself was to blamethe school system itself was to blame

“ “ I’m responsible for their actions, but they I’m responsible for their actions, but they need some help. I have children who need need some help. I have children who need help.”help.”

Major Finding #3Major Finding #3Most parents want to be active Most parents want to be active

advocates in their children’s advocates in their children’s educational pursuits, but many of educational pursuits, but many of them face significant barriers in them face significant barriers in their attempts to do so.their attempts to do so.

Major Finding #3 Major Finding #3 continuedcontinued 79% of parents indicated that they help their children 79% of parents indicated that they help their children

with schoolwork at least a few times a weekwith schoolwork at least a few times a week 51% of parents indicated that they help their children 51% of parents indicated that they help their children

with schoolwork everydaywith schoolwork everyday 71% of parents indicated that they want more 71% of parents indicated that they want more

information about how they could assist their children information about how they could assist their children with school workwith school work

92% of parents claim they speak with homeless 92% of parents claim they speak with homeless agency staff at least once a week about their agency staff at least once a week about their children’s educational progresschildren’s educational progress

68% of homeless agency staff claimed that parents 68% of homeless agency staff claimed that parents are either somewhat or very responsive to agency are either somewhat or very responsive to agency attempts to get parents more involved with their kids’ attempts to get parents more involved with their kids’ schoolingschooling

Quote regarding Quote regarding Educational AdvocacyEducational Advocacy

“ “ I’m not just one of those parents who sends their kids I’m not just one of those parents who sends their kids to school and lets them go. I want to know why the to school and lets them go. I want to know why the busses are late, why the grades are what they are… busses are late, why the grades are what they are… I want to know this, I want to know that…I’m very I want to know this, I want to know that…I’m very involved… I let them (school professionals) know involved… I let them (school professionals) know that my childs coming from a situation that is difficult that my childs coming from a situation that is difficult enough as it is and she doesn’t need to be enough as it is and she doesn’t need to be pampered, but she better be treated with respect.”pampered, but she better be treated with respect.”

Barriers to Educational AdvocacyBarriers to Educational Advocacy Information shortages (mothers lack info Information shortages (mothers lack info

on school subject matter*, school and on school subject matter*, school and community program information, and legal community program information, and legal information)information)

Both parents and agencies are short on Both parents and agencies are short on time and moneytime and money

* * 90% of homeless agency staff members 90% of homeless agency staff members claimed that better parent understanding claimed that better parent understanding of school subjects would help parents to of school subjects would help parents to be more effective educational advocatesbe more effective educational advocates

Educational Advocacy Educational Advocacy continuedcontinued 64% of 64% of parents parents claimed that lack of knowledge claimed that lack of knowledge

about community programming was the biggest about community programming was the biggest barrier to the fuller involvement of their children barrier to the fuller involvement of their children in local programmingin local programming

57% of 57% of staffstaff said that lack of info was a barrier said that lack of info was a barrier to families becoming more involved in to families becoming more involved in community programmingcommunity programming

At agencies where staff made deliberate efforts At agencies where staff made deliberate efforts to provide community resource information to to provide community resource information to parents, the parents did not express this same parents, the parents did not express this same sentiment about lack of awareness being a sentiment about lack of awareness being a barrierbarrier

Parental InvolvementParental Involvement Over 75% of agency staff members said Over 75% of agency staff members said

more support from school staff and more more support from school staff and more homeless agency staffing and/or homeless agency staffing and/or resources are needed to get parents more resources are needed to get parents more actively engaged in the educational actively engaged in the educational processprocess

Awareness of Legal RightsAwareness of Legal Rights 20% of parents claimed they knew very much 20% of parents claimed they knew very much

about their children’s educational rightsabout their children’s educational rights 50% said they knew 50% said they knew not much or nothingnot much or nothing about about

these rightsthese rights 38% of agency staff members strongly agreed 38% of agency staff members strongly agreed

that they knew about the McKinney Vento that they knew about the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act and its implications for Homeless Assistance Act and its implications for students’ rightsstudents’ rights

Knowledge regarding McKinney Vento may not Knowledge regarding McKinney Vento may not be shared across the spectrum of positions at be shared across the spectrum of positions at the agenciesthe agencies

Summary of Major Finding #3Summary of Major Finding #3 Homeless parents need to learn how Homeless parents need to learn how

to access the education resources to access the education resources that they perceive to be unavailablethat they perceive to be unavailable

Major Finding #4 Major Finding #4 Agency based after school Agency based after school

learning centers appear to be learning centers appear to be highly effective at providing highly effective at providing academic and social support for academic and social support for homeless studentshomeless students

R

E

S

O

U

R

C

E

L

I

B

R

A

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Y

Agency-Based Learning CentersAgency-Based Learning Centers

68% of parents stated they and/or 68% of parents stated they and/or their kids use the agency-based their kids use the agency-based after school programming two or after school programming two or more times per weekmore times per week

99% of parents indicated that 99% of parents indicated that these services were either these services were either somewhat or very helpfulsomewhat or very helpful

Quotes from ParentsQuotes from Parents ““The after-school program here is very, very The after-school program here is very, very

helpful. It’s tremendous. Because they’re helpful. It’s tremendous. Because they’re here.here. When we’re getting off work or coming back later When we’re getting off work or coming back later from school, they’re from school, they’re here. here. It’s wonderful. I hope it It’s wonderful. I hope it never changes-even for families who come here never changes-even for families who come here years from now… They have a reading program years from now… They have a reading program that is special. My daughter kind of liked reading that is special. My daughter kind of liked reading in school, but she in school, but she lovesloves reading here- and it reading here- and it brought here– and it brought her grades up in brought here– and it brought her grades up in school. It’s great!”school. It’s great!”

Major Finding #5Major Finding #5 The nature and frequency of The nature and frequency of

communication between schools, communication between schools, community programs, residential community programs, residential agency staffs, and parents is crucialagency staffs, and parents is crucial

Parent -School CommunicationParent -School Communication Parents praised regular feedback from the Parents praised regular feedback from the

school, both positive and negativeschool, both positive and negative Expressed frustrations with seemingly Expressed frustrations with seemingly

uncooperative staff, unreturned phone uncooperative staff, unreturned phone callscalls

Mothers perceive schools to be less apt to Mothers perceive schools to be less apt to respect and be responsive to them respect and be responsive to them because they are homelessbecause they are homeless

Parent -School CommunicationParent -School Communication School personnel suggest that School personnel suggest that

communication problems with homeless communication problems with homeless parents stem from their lack of parents stem from their lack of understanding of how to navigate the understanding of how to navigate the school system: school system: “A lot of the parents at the “A lot of the parents at the agency go straight to the top with any little agency go straight to the top with any little issue that comes up. This creates a issue that comes up. This creates a conflict when it’s really not necessary. If conflict when it’s really not necessary. If they would just go to the teacher or they would just go to the teacher or counselor first, we could resolve most of counselor first, we could resolve most of these things a lot more easily.”these things a lot more easily.”

Homeless Agency-School Homeless Agency-School CommunicationCommunication

Only 12% of agency staff members Only 12% of agency staff members indicated that they speak with school staff indicated that they speak with school staff members very oftenmembers very often

44% do so “rarely or never”44% do so “rarely or never”

Major Finding #6Major Finding #6Relationships (and the lack Relationships (and the lack

thereof) play important roles in thereof) play important roles in parents’ and children’s parents’ and children’s developmentdevelopment

RelationshipsRelationships Many families in homeless programs have Many families in homeless programs have

history of highly destructive personal history of highly destructive personal relationshipsrelationships

Many homeless shelters and schools have Many homeless shelters and schools have virtually no relationships at allvirtually no relationships at all

Yet, productive relationships exist between Yet, productive relationships exist between homeless agency staff and families, as homeless agency staff and families, as well as among the families themselveswell as among the families themselves

Parent-Agency RelationshipsParent-Agency Relationships 87% of parents indicated that supportive 87% of parents indicated that supportive

relationships with agency staff members relationships with agency staff members were helpful for their kids’ academic were helpful for their kids’ academic achievementachievement

Relationships Relationships continuedcontinued Parents struggled to identify who were the Parents struggled to identify who were the

key players in productive school based key players in productive school based relationshipsrelationships

20% indicated teachers were helpful 20% indicated teachers were helpful during times of homelessnessduring times of homelessness

21% indicated school administrators…21% indicated school administrators… 36% indicated school counselors…36% indicated school counselors… Only 15% of homeless agency staff Only 15% of homeless agency staff

strongly claimed to have meaningful strongly claimed to have meaningful relationships with members of the local relationships with members of the local education communityeducation community

RecommendationsRecommendations

Professional development for both shelter Professional development for both shelter and school staffand school staff

Increased human and financial capital Increased human and financial capital towards site-based educational programstowards site-based educational programs

More specifically targeted programs More specifically targeted programs depending on the length of stay of the depending on the length of stay of the agencyagency

School based connections and School based connections and programming, after school opportunitiesprogramming, after school opportunities

Recommendations Recommendations continuedcontinued Increased connections to community Increased connections to community

programming and systematic information programming and systematic information dissemination at homeless agencies and dissemination at homeless agencies and schoolsschools

Research and evaluation of families Research and evaluation of families experiences regarding education while experiences regarding education while experiencing homelessnessexperiencing homelessness

Further expansion of a Further expansion of a network/collaboration of all institutions that network/collaboration of all institutions that support homeless childrensupport homeless children

Limitations of the StudyLimitations of the Study Focus was solely on Focus was solely on sheltered sheltered homeless, and homeless, and

does not reflect the experiences of those who are does not reflect the experiences of those who are not affiliated with a homeless housing agencynot affiliated with a homeless housing agency

Agencies sampled primarily reflect an urban Agencies sampled primarily reflect an urban populationpopulation

The focus on parents with school age kids limits The focus on parents with school age kids limits the information about the educational experiences the information about the educational experiences had by parents of pre-schoolers or young adults had by parents of pre-schoolers or young adults

Interview sample only includes a small number of Interview sample only includes a small number of school employees. More data would have school employees. More data would have strengthened the ability to cross-check statements strengthened the ability to cross-check statements made by parentsmade by parents

Questions and Answers?Questions and Answers?

For more information on HCEF or toFor more information on HCEF or to

access a full copy of the report:access a full copy of the report:

www.homelessfund.orgwww.homelessfund.org

Carlin Christy:Carlin Christy: 412-562-0154412-562-0154

cchristy@homelessfund.orgcchristy@homelessfund.org