McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison Training Area VI ROE #02, ROE #12, ROE #20, ROE #21, ROE #25, and ROE #30

60 Minutes 2 ch?v=L2hzRPLVSm4

What does the law say? Identify the student as being homeless Enroll student immediately Waive all fees Provide assistance with transportation Afforded the same academic advantages as those students who are not homeless 3

Definition of Homeless The term “homeless children and youth” – (A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and/or adequate nighttime residence – (B) children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or awaiting foster care placement

Definition of Homeless Continued – (C) children and youth who have 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 – (D) migratory children

Fixed 6

Regular 7

Adequate 8

Easily Identified Homeless Children Living in laundry facilities Living in tents, campgrounds, motel/hotel Living in cars, trucks, vans, and Living in shelters 9

Not So Easily Identified Homeless Children Families sharing the housing of others persons due to the loss of housing Living in a “DOUBLED UP” situation due to an economic hardship or other reasons Migratory Children – Families who move every three to six months Those Awaiting Foster Care 10

Hardest to identify Teens are probably the hardest to identify because they can hide it so well. A teen who is “couch surfing” goes from one friends home to the other.

Clues… Lack of medical records Poor health/nutrition Poor attendance Social/Behavioral Concerns Poor hygiene Absent during party days 12

School of choice School of Origin – The school the child attended when he/she became homeless The school nearest to where he/she is currently living 13

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education 16 Services Tutoring & supplemental instructional support Expedited evaluation & testing: Gifted, Title 1, ELL, Spec. Ed Professional Development Referrals to medical, dental & other health services Transportation Early Childhood Comparable services Before & after-school & summer school Obtain & transfer records necessary for enrollment

Services continued Parent education Coordination between schools & local services Counseling & referrals for domestic violence issues Needs due to domestic violence Adapt space/supplies to provide off site services School Supplies Emergency assistance to enable a student to attend school

How can we help? Be aware Be considerate Get to know the students and their families Volunteer at a shelter Coordinate a food drive(A jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly can go a long way!!) Donate items to a resale shop

Help continued Ensure access to all services ( Special Education, Sports, Gifted, and Title 1) Train your staff Disseminate posters and brochures (they should be posted in school’s front office) Network with local social service agencies Watch and support without judgment

Students who want to participate in sports Contact the districts’ homeless liaison for a letter declaring the students’ homeless status Complete 2 forms: – Principals’ Concurrence Regarding Transfer – Transfer Eligibility  These forms can be downloaded from IHSA webpage:

IHSA Marty Hickman Executive Director

Illinois Homeless Liaison Look-Up

Quote from former homeless student “Through it all, school is probably the only thing that has kept me going. I know that every day that I walk in those doors, I can stop thinking about my problems for the next six hours and concentrate on what is most important to me”.

Where Will You Sleep Tonight? Most of all remember, we all have a home with a roof and a feeling of safety…… Many of our children do not….. 22

Financial Aid Youth who meet the definition of “independent student” can apply for federal aid without parental information or signatures To be considered an “independent student”, the student has to be considered independent, an orphan, a word of the court, a veteran, a graduate student, married, or have a dependent