the education homeless children - student...
TRANSCRIPT
THE EDUCATION OF HOMELESS CHILDREN
WHAT YOU SHOULD AND MUST KNOW IF YOUR PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OR
UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH
June 9, 2013
To get a clear understanding of the McKinney Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths ProgramTo assist M‐DCPS in identifying homeless students being served in M‐DCPS To learn about services available for students in transition through the school DistrictTo understand what the Homeless Trust expects
Goals of today’s Training
Homeless Education Program‐Project Up‐START
Deborah Montilla – District Director, Division of Student Services
Debra Albo‐Steiger ‐ Project Manager Mercy Arbucias – District Homeless Liaison Maira Leon – Community Liaison Specialist Aly Romero – Community Liaison Specialist
Who are we at Project UP‐START?
Updating Personnel Support and Tutoring Activities to Retain Transitioning students
Project UP‐START
We seek to ensure a successful educationalexperience for homeless children and youth inMiami‐Dade County by collaborating with parents,schools, and community through opening thedoors to academic opportunities, removingbarriers, and promoting a healthy sense of self.
M‐DCPS Homeless Education Project UP‐START Mission
Outreach with schools & homeless housing programs to identify homeless students
Once identified, provide services to homeless students or link them with providers who can help
How do we achieve our mission?
Promote homeless awareness throughout M‐DCPS employees and students so that we decrease the stigma of homelessness
Apply for grants, seek donors, or promote different drives to both raise homeless awareness & help students in need
How do we achieve our mission?
Identifying Students
The McKinney‐Vento Homeless assistance Act, reauthorized in January 2002, ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness
This is a Federal Law
Who is Homeless?
DOE vs USHUD Homeless Definitions of “homeless youth” vary
Regardless – ALL youth considered homeless are entitled to certain educational rights
Who is Homeless?
er DOE: Living in emergency or transitional shelters Shares the housing of others due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or similar reason, “doubled up” Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings,
substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations
Awaiting foster care placement
Who is Homeless?
6,561 M‐DCPS students were identified as homeless during the 2012‐2013 school year up from 5,711 the previous year Includes children in homeless housing w/parents
302 M‐DCPS students were identified as “unaccompanied” youth in 2012‐13
The Scale of Homelessness
Shelter 2589 Doubled‐Up 3673 Cars & Parks, etc. 31 Hotels 268 Total 6561
Breakdown of the numbers, as of February 23rd, 2013
How are homeless students identified?
During registration at school (i.e. no proof of address)Self‐report to school staff Families/Students calling our office directly Homeless housing provider or outside agency referralFilling out the free lunch form & marking homelessReferrals from other staff at School District
Providing Services
A Student is Homeless…Now What?
McKinney Vento Act Ensures: Immediate Enrollment School Stability Transportation Enrolled During Disputes
Comparable Services Homeless students are not to be stigmatized or separated
M‐DCPS enrollment procedures to facilitate the egistration for homeless students:
1. Immediate enrollment using Project UP‐START referral forms (7378 & 6980 or 7404)
2. Fax referral forms to Project UP‐START 305‐995‐73373. The enrolling school must immediately contact the
school last attended by student to obtain relevant academic or other records
Immediate Enrollment
‐DCPS enrollment procedures to facilitate the gistration for homeless students (continued):
If a child needs to obtain immunization or medical records, the enrolling school must immediately enroll the student and then refer parent to the local health department (families have 30 days to provide documentation)
Immediate Enrollment
‐DCPS enrollment procedures to facilitate the gistration for homeless students (continued):Use the address the parent provides ‐ utility bills, leases, etc. do not apply when a parent discloses they are in a homeless situationA school selected on the basis of a “best interest determination” must immediately enroll the homeless child even if the child is unable to produce the records normally required for enrollment Note: Students also qualify for immediate enrollment in Free Lunch program
Immediate Enrollment
tudents who are “in transition” can be so for quite ome time, often several yearsOftentimes school is the only constant students have n their livesProject UP‐START tries to ensure that homeless tudents can stay in their “school of origin”
School Stability
When attending the school of origin is not in the tudent’s best interest, he/she can transfer to the ome school at their new address
When a student withdraws, schools need to make ure they transfer to a new school so we do not lose hem
School Stability
Transportation can be requested when a homeless student lives over two miles from school (cannot provide to pre‐K and Head Start)Transportation to school of origin or home school s guaranteed, but not always in the form of a school bus: if denied, other alternatives are county bus pass for the student only or mileage reimbursement for the parent to drive the student
Transportation
Students going to schools of choice cannot request bus transportation through our program (e.g. Magnet or Charter schools)
Charter schools should provide transportation if students attending school already receives transportation
Student can transfer to their home school if parents choose and transportation is provided if they qualify
Transportation
n the event there is a dispute about enrollment, a omeless student will remain at the school while the nrollment is under disputeThe goal is to keep all students in school even if there is a dispute about which school student should attendHomeless parents cannot choose a school for their student to attendWe look at what is in the BEST INTEREST of the student, either the school of origin or the home school
Enrolled during dispute
Project UP‐START’s goal is to remove barriers for students in transition, NOT to give an advantageWe cannot put students into a magnet, charter school, or any type of program any more than a non‐homeless studentn cases of early Head Start/Head Start, when applying to the programs homeless students are given extra points that should help them on the waitlist for a program
Comparable Services
Being homeless is confidential and the information is protectedWhen speaking with families, we often say “living in transition” because of the stigma associated with homelessnessMost students are not aware that they are homeless and it does not help for us to force that term onto them
Homeless students are not to be stigmatized or separated
Project UP‐START provides the following:Book Bags *
School Supplies *Uniforms *
Non-Perishable Food and Toiletries *
Tutoring at select homeless sheltersAcademic Advising to students at Miami Bridge
Counseling at select homeless sheltersParenting Groups at select homeless
shelters
* Please call 305‐995‐7583 to schedule pick up of
Working with Unaccompanied Youth
Per USHUD: 24 years of age or younger
Youth in unstable living situations due to parental incarceration, illness, hospitalization or death
Initially homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys
Who Are Unaccompanied Youth?
Many unaccompanied children and youth have fled due to physical, sexual, or parent drug/alcohol abuse in the homeYouth from other countries sent to live with relatives & then kicked outYouth with families not accepting sexual orientation or pregnancy
Who Are Unaccompanied Youth?
The McKinney‐Vento Act requires immediate enrollment of homeless children and youth. Absence of a parent/guardian cannot delay or prevent enrollment. Complete the Caregiver’s Authorization Form (7402) Provide the caregiver with the Family Court number (305) 349‐5508
The family court will assist the family with the process involved in obtaining temporary custody
Must schools ENROLL unaccompanied youth in school?
ack of enrollment documents cannot delay or prevent nrollment
Enrollment is permitted without enrollment documents, such as school records, immunizations, proof of residency, etc.
Must schools ENROLL unaccompanied youth in school?
O. This would create a barrier to enrollment and etention in school!Schools must enroll youth immediately; school is the safest and best place for youth.Educators are only mandated to report suspected abuse and/or neglect (homelessness alone generally is not abuse/neglect), and this reporting can be to child welfare
Do schools contact police when enrolling unaccompanied youth?
If you have reason to suspect kidnapping, you can immediately see if the student has been reported missing at www.missingkids.com or 1‐800‐THE‐LOST.
Do schools contact police when enrolling unaccompanied youth?
Debra Albo‐Steiger Mercy Arbucias Maira Leon(305) 995‐7318 (305) 995‐7558 (305) 995‐7583 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Student Services DepartmentProject UP‐START ‐ Homeless Education Program
Fax (305) 995‐7337
“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded”
When in doubt…Contact Information
Homeless Trust Requirements
Ensure at least ONE (1) staff member knows/ understands McKinney‐Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program/ActEnsure immediate enrollment following placement in program Within 72 hours of placementCoordinate transportation, if neededCoordinate uniforms, books, etc., if neededReport changes in family/student status (w/in 24 hrs)
What are your responsibilities?
New Opportunities for Younger Children
B 7125 approved by Florida Legislature in 2013rovides priority placement for homeless children in arly childhood programsMore information and program guidelines under evelopment
Early Childhood Priorities
Q & A
UPCOMING TRAININGADA
Homeless Definition/Chronic Homeless DefinitionHomeless Verification Forms and Process
Determining Client ContributionsGrant WritingSOAR Training
Accessing Mainstream ResourcesHelping LGBTQ clientsHelping Veterans
Helping Victims of DV/Trauma