Information for New Homeless Liaisons

2015 ESEA Directors Institute

August 27, 2015

Consolidated Planning & Monitoring

Alyson.Lerma@tn.govOffice: (615) 770-3871Cell: (615) 864-5507

Dr. Alyson F. LermaDirector of Homeless & Migrant Education

Children & Youth in Transition

“Homeless person or business person,doctor or teacher,whatever your background may be,the same holds true for each of us:life takes on the meaning that you give it.”

Liz Murray, Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

Session Overview

This session:

• Is designed for new district homeless liaisons

• Outlines liaison responsibilities

• Provides suggestions for best practices

• Includes a list of resources

Agenda

• Introduction: Living in Transition

• Overview of McKinney-Vento

• Children & Youth in Transition– National & state trends

• Responsibilities of District Liaisons

• Suggestions & Best Practices

• Resources

Introduction:Living in Transition

Living in Transition

1. What are the characteristics of a “typical” sheltered

homeless family?

2. What percentage of children in homeless families

are under age six?

3. What is the average age at which a teenager becomes homeless?

4. What is TN’s state ranking on child homelessness?

McKinney-Vento

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

Major Themes of McKinney-Vento

• Identification

• School stability, immediate enrollment, & access– School of origin & transportation– Enrollment documents not required (immunizations, etc.)

• Supports for academic success

• Child-centered decision making on case-by-case basis

• Critical role of the local homeless education liaisons

• Unique barriers

“Homeless Children & Youth”

Individuals who lack a fixed, regular,& adequatenighttime residence:

• Fixed: not subject to change, permanent, stationary

• Regular: consistent, routine, predictable, normal, standard

• Adequate: sufficient to meet physical & psychological needs

Can the student go to the same place (fixed) every night (regular) to sleep in a safe & sufficient (adequate) space?

AND includes children & youths who are:i. sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing,

economic hardship, or similar reason;

living in motels, hotels, trailer parks,or camp grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations;

living in emergency or transitional shelters;

abandoned in hospitals; or

awaiting foster care placement;

AND includes children & youths who are:ii. staying at a primary nighttime residence that is a

public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;

iii. living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, sub-standard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings;

iv. migrants living in the conditions described above

LEAs Must…

designate a local homeless liaison

keep a homeless child or youth in the school of origin, to the extent feasible, (unless against wishes of the parent or guardian)

make school placement decisions based on the student’s best interest

provide a written explanation, including the right to appeal, to the parent or guardian or to an unaccompanied homeless youth, if the LEA sends the child to a school other than the one requested

From: Local Liaison’s Toolkit; Section 2.1.1

LEAs Must…

• ensure, in the case of an Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY), that the liaison assists in placement or enrollment decisions & considers the views of the youth

• immediately enroll the child or youth, even without required records

• contact the school last attended for relevant records

• assist with obtaining immunizations or immunization records

• make records available in a timely fashion when the child or youth

enrolls in a new school or LEAFrom: Local Liaison’s Toolkit; Section 2.1.1

LEAs Must…

• enroll the child or youth in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending the resolution of the dispute

• refer the child, youth, parent, or guardian to the local liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process

• ensure liaisons assist UHY during the dispute process • provide services comparable to those received by non- homeless

students

• coordinate with local social service & housing agencies

Title I Homeless Set-aside

Allowable*

Transportation (school of origin) Clothing & shoes (PE, uniforms) School & test fees (IB, AP) School supplies Dental, medical, mental health

services Enrollment items Food Staff serving homeless

students Hygiene items

* After exhausting all other resources.

NOT Allowable

X RentX UtilitiesX Clothing for parentsX Services or materials from

other funds (supplanting)X Programs or services required

by

state laws or policies

Children & Youth Living in Transition

Historical Perspective: National Trends

Historical Perspective: State Trends

Total Homeless Children & Youth Enrolled in All LEAs in TN

2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-140

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

13,958 14,586 14,319

17,272

Chart Title

State Ranking on Child Homelessness

From: http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/

State Ranking on Child Homelessness

Based on 4 Domains:

1. Extent of Child Homelessness

2. Child Well-being

3. Risk for Child Homelessness

4. State Policy & Response

http://new.homelesschildrenamerica.org/mediadocs/276.pdf

State Report Card

www.HomelessChildrenAmerica.org

Responsibilities of District Liaisons

Liaisons Ensure Homeless Children & Youth…

are identified

are enrolled & have a full, equal opportunity to succeed in school

receive educational services for which they are eligible AND referrals to appropriate services; includes families

and their parents/guardians are informed of the educational & related opportunities available to their children & are provided with meaningful opportunities to participate in their education

Liaisons Must Ensure…

public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youth is disseminated where they receive services

enrollment disputes are mediated according to local, state, & federal policies

the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth, and any UHY, is fully informed of all transportation services, including transportation to the school of origin

Liaisons Must…

help obtain immunization &/or medical records

assist homeless students with enrolling in school & accessing services

inform parents, students, school personnel, & others of rights

work with staff to make sure homeless children & youth are immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of disputes

help coordinate transportation for homeless children & youth

collaborate & coordinate with the State Coordinator & withcommunity & school personnel

Related Legislation

McKinney-Vento

Child Nutrition Act Head

Start Act

FERPA

IDEA

Trafficking Victims Protectio

n Act Child Care & Developmen

t Block Grant

ESEA: Title I, Part A

Food Stamp

Act

Fostering Connections

Act

College Cost

Reduction & Access

Act

Collaboration

At the District Level

• Federal Programs• Family Resource Center• Transportation• School Nutrition• Exceptional Students• Preschool Supervisor• Social Workers• Fiscal Department• Accountability• Technology / EIS Team

At the School Level

• Administrators• Enrollment Personnel• Front Office Staff• Attendance, Truancy

officers• Cafeteria Workers• Bus Drivers• School Counselors• Nurses• Teachers & Aides

Collaboration

• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

• Department of Children Services• Health & Human Services Department• Community food pantries; USDA• Faith-based organizations & community charities• Local shelters & transitional housing• Local businesses• Post-secondary institutions• McK-V liaisons in other districts• Juvenile justice system

Reporting Responsibilities of All LEAs

• Immunization Report (due before July 30 in ePlan)

Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-5001(g)The Commissioner of Education must report annually the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization or proof of immunization and the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain immunization records.

• Reporting Student Counts & Classifications• Verify (& enter) nighttime residence code (1-4)• Check local list against EIS list• When reporting numbers, be sure to remove duplicates

Responsibilities: McKinney-Vento Subgrant• Competitive grant awarded to LEAs

• Next competition: Spring 2016

• Next cycle:funding for FY17 & 18

http://www.dnj.com/story/news/2014/11/29/county-atlas-program-helps-homeless-students-attend-school/19685625/

Suggestions &Best Practices

Suggestions

• Familiarize yourselfwith McKinney-Vento,related briefs & articles

• Join listserves of relatedorganizations (NCHE, etc.)

• Reach out to communityagencies & organizations

• Partner with post-secondary programs

http://usich.gov/blog/two-tennessee-partnerships-create-effective-solutions-for-youth-experiencin

Suggestions

• Communication log– Track activities, phone numbers,

& communication

• Create a task force of stakeholders– Meet monthly/bi-monthly– Solicit input & feedback

• Publish a district manual

• Create lists of resources & contacts – Print copies, email to school staff,

& post on district website

http://www.bestofsno.com/1721/features/homelessness-affects-students-while-school-system-

offers-support/

Important Reminders

DO

• Recognize manyreasons for homelessness

• Respond & follow up quickly

• Be mindful of words, tone, & actions; be respectful

• Visit families & community partners

DON’T

• Judge

• Violate FERPA

• Be afraid to say, “I’ll have to check on that.”

• Jeopardize living situations

Resources

Resources

• U.S. Department of Education: McKinney-Vento– http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg116.html

• ePlan – https://eplan.tn.gov

• National Assoc. for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth – http://www.naehcy.org/

• National Center for Homeless Education– http://center.serve.org/nche/ – Liaison’s toolkit: http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.php – 1-800-308-2145; homeless@serve.org

Resources for Training & Research

• Hear Us: My Own Four Walls; Jonathon’s Heart

• The Homestretch

• The Brookings Institute, E. Kneebone– Suburban poverty

• M. Shinn, J. C. Buckner, K. Guarino, more

• Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

• Videos: http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/aw_video.php#60

Living in Transition:

Answers

Living in Transition: Answers

1. A “typical” sheltered homeless family includes a mother in her late 20s with 2 children.

2. More than 51% of children in homeless families are under age six.

3. The average age at which a teenager becomes homeless is 14.7 years old.

4. Tennessee ranks #41 for child homelessness (with #50 being the lowest).

QuestionsFeedback

TASL Credit Keyword

Questions?

Feedback Survey

• At the end of each day, please help us by providing feedback.

• Today, please use the survey link below.

– https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015-ESEA-Aug-27

TASL Credit

• In order to receive 14 TASL credits for the 2015 ESEA Directors Institute, the participant must attend two full days, August 26 – 27.– Partial credit cannot be earned.– Use the form provided at the back of the agenda to collect

keywords throughout the conference. – After the conference, go online to https://

www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015-ESEA-TASL and enter your information.

• You will not receive credit if you do not complete the online form by September 4, 2015.

FRAUD, WASTE or ABUSE

Citizens and agencies are encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse in State and Local government.

NOTICE: This agency is a recipient of taxpayer funding. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any

activity which you consider to be illegal, improper or wasteful, please call the state Comptroller’s toll-free Hotline:

1-800-232-5454

Notifications can also be submitted electronically at:

http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline