Paul Doane – Grand Rapids CC Mark Delorey – Western Michigan U Assisting Vulnerable Populations Fraud/ID Theft

Some of the topics we will discuss are very troubling We need to discuss the issues openly and honestly Financial Aid folks are often NOT heroes in the stories these students tell As a profession, we need to do much better

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY) Foster Youth Undocumented Students Human trafficking victims Refugees Independent by PJ?

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

The status is part of the… McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act Most of the provisions assist students in K-12

* U naccompanied: not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian H omeless: lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing. Y outh: 21 years old or younger (Older should be ready for PJ)

Note: Specifically includes sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (“couch-surfing”); motels; shelters; transitional housing; campgrounds; cars

Parental abuse - physical and sexual Abandoned or neglected Kicked out due to sexual orientation or pregnancy Returned from foster care to unstable/unsafe arrangements Adopted from foster care, but kicked out after age 18 Exited from foster care without adequate housing and/or supports

No! Heck no!! Absolutely not!!! Why not???????

 School District homeless liaison  Runaway shelter director or designee  HUD-funded shelter director or designee  College financial aid administrator: US!

Read the Handbook AVG, Chapter 5, page “If a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from any of the authorities given on page 28, you must determine if she is UHY.” “You are not required to verify the answers to the homeless youth questions unless you have conflicting information.”

60,000 UHY FAFSA Filers each year Blackstone’s ratio: "It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer“ Government and the courts must err on the side of innocence Ben Franklin said ratio should be 100:1

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

Removed from parents as the result of abuse and neglect Wards of the state with termination of parental rights Refugees and trafficking victims may also be placed in foster care

TIP Education Training Voucher ETV Refugee Education Voucher REV

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Lack of love, acceptance, support

Here without having legal presence Usually brought to U.S. by parents DACA status allows work Individuals within families may have varying statuses No access to Title IV assistance 14 th Amendment – Equal protection for “all persons”

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

What is a synonym for trafficking?

Sex trafficking and forced labor In the U.S. 40% are U.S. citizens 85% in sex trafficking are women 40% in forced labor are men

50,000 annually brought to U.S. U.S. grants a T-Visa to victims 5,000 available annually 2,000 granted since 2009 (.67%) T-Visas ARE Title IV eligible

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

Broad category! Varied experiences! War-Politics From… “Lost Boys” of South Sudan to… Children of political dissidents 48,000 per year to the U.S. (10% of legal immigration)

Title IV eligibility must be determined on an individual basis.

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

Separation from parents did/should occur Physical, sexual abuse Mental illness – substance abuse Banishment from family NOT a lack of willingness to support

Common factors: Poor educational background Food and housing insecurity Abuse and neglect Trauma (unimaginable trauma!) Living in constant fear Access to financial resources Lack of love, acceptance, support

LISTEN and be empathetic Avoid judgment Lessen the barriers: make it work Search out additional assistance Offer to be a contact Refer when appropriate Follow up after initial contact Be human and CARE / SUPPORT

2 year community college Open admission 24,000 students (12/13 academic year) 50,150 ISIRS received 31,338 applications processed 11, 863 selected for verification 6,878 verifications completed

10,863 Pell Grant recipients $33,681,178 Pell Grant funds disbursed 872 students received TIP 665 students received institutional scholarships – $580,818 disbursed 357 received Michigan Competitive Scholarships - $367,904 disbursed FA suspension appeals – 1545 received, 1050 approved No institutional need-based grant funds No campus housing or meal plan available Large population of under-prepared, first generation and at risk students

Identify students classified as independent only by answering “yes” to questions (13-14 FAFSA) or questions (14-15 FAFSA) Send request to provide documentation to verify answer(s) Review documentation on a case by case basis to determine dependency status Meet with student to resolve conflicting information or when documentation is not available

Student answered question accurately Student was coached to provide false information Student did not understand the question Student made a honest mistake Documentation is not always readily available Student is willing to make changes that reflect true dependency status in order to obtain financial aid Other sources of aid are identified for the student (even if independent status in not confirmed)

Build positive relationships with students See students on walk-in basis Dedicated staff member (Mary Kay Bethune) Connections with outside agencies Discover other needs that may be barriers to success (housing, medical, food, emergency funds) Provide dignity and integrity (not to embarrass or cause harm) Connect students with support services Advising, testing, academic support Referrals to On track and Fast Track programs Disability services, counseling, MIWORKS, TIP, ETV, TRIO.