Starting a McKinney-Vento Program First Steps

Demographics from Independence, Mo Population of Independence, Mo: 117,000 District: Enrollment: 14,000+ Buildings: 27 K-12 buildings 2 Early Ed only sites & 13 EE sites at Elem Schools Almost 70% Free & reduced lunch Domestic Violence shelter Family shelter TLP 13-14: 998 MV students 135 UY 49% increase since school year 6% increase over last 3 years

Educate Yourself Your District Your Community Families/students

Educate yourself on McKinney-Vento Contact other area MV Liaisons Homeless Liaison Toolkit: NAECHY Most frequently asked questions: Checklist to assist with school selection:

Educate yourself on McKinney-Vento ct’d National Center for Hmls Ed website invaluable briefs - ( Eligibility for unaccompanied youth:

Educate district/schools about homelessness Nationally & district specific Causes Numbers Effects on students Ways to help Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act. ~ Albert Einstein Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act. ~ Albert Einstein

Get “buy-in”/support from the top down School board, Admin, principals, counselors, nurses, PTA, enrollment personal District Professional Develop School Board mtgs PTA mtgs Principal mtgs School as a Whole mtgs Develop MV enrollment guide for secretaries

Educate local community Meet with community agencies Philanthropic Organizations Faith-based groups Media Newspaper Newsletters TV – human interest stories

Provide information to families & students “…knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.” ~Peter Drucker Posters Brochures Flyers List of McKinney-Vento Rights & Protections Information about community resources Family Nights Partner with community service provides to participate in information fairs Back to School Nights

You CAN’T do it alone Resources, Networking & Collaborations

Know resources in your local community You can do what I cannot do. I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things. ~ Mother Teresa Shelter Providers Faith-based organizations Community Agencies Continuum of Care Civic Organizations

Form Collaborations Meet with community agencies Philanthropic Organizations Faith-based groups Libraries Local businesses Attend Community Meetings Chamber of Commerce

Data/record keeping Information is Power

Data Keeping Develop referral system Identify “key person” in each building Tracking system/database FileMaker Access Excel School Information Mgmt System

“…the most important work is not done by those who seem the most important, but by those who care the most. ~Caroline Kennedy Nicole Sequeira McKinney-Vento Liaison Independence Mo School District (816) Brenda Dowdy San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Homeless Education Program Specialist (909)