 Share MOU process in Maryland and Baltimore City  Identify challenges in serving target population in urban area  Identify solutions crafted to address challenges  Demonstrate how MOU/MOU process can be advocacy tool  Identify what Baltimore City group did well and lessons learned  Discuss MOU implementation strategies

 FY 2008 approx. 1, 220 * homeless preschool age children  Head Start serves 3,419 children  Early Head Start serves 184 children  109 public schools w/ pre-k programs  11 family shelter and transitional housing programs * 40% of the total number of 0-17 year olds reported in the Dept. of Human Resources, Annual Report on Homelessness Services in Maryland, Fiscal Year 2008

 Identify stakeholders  Recruit, recruit, recruit  Gather model MOUs › Head Start staff has contacts w/ other HS › State dept. of ed.  Regular meetings  Brainstorm  Draft and edit, edit, edit

 School system personnel › Homeless education liaison/coordinator › Early childhood › Preschool special ed › Enrollment/Attendance  Head Start Management/Staff  Head Start Parents- current/formerly homeless  Homeless service providers › Shelter/TH providers › Health care providers › City homeless services agency › Dept of Social Services  Advocates for homeless families

 THE MAJORITY OF HOMELESS FAMILIES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM  PRESCHOOL IS NOT COMPLUSORY EDUCATION  THERE IS NO ONE PLACE TO GO FOR PRESCHOOL SERVICES

 JOINTLY CREATE OUTREACH/EDUCATION MATERIALS  CITY SCHOOLS REVISE APPLICATION FORMS TO GATHER INFORMATION ON YOUNGER SIBLINGS  HEAD START SHARES WAIT LIST INFORMATION W/ CITY SCHOOLS  DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDES LIST OF HOMELESS FAMILIES TO CITY SCHOOLS

 RAISED BY PARENTS  PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM INADEQUATE/EXPENSIVE W/ OLDER CHILDREN  DIFFICULT TO GET CHILDREN TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

 NO EASY ANSWERS  EXPLORE FOUNDATION FUNDING  CREATE MORE PRESCHOOL SLOTS IN TARGETED HIGH NEED, UNDER-SERVED AREAS TO ALLEVIATE NEED TO TRAVEL

 PARENTS CONVEYED EXPERIENCE W/ DIFFICULTY FINDING SLOTS IN HEAD START AND OTHER QUALITY PROGRAMS AS THEY MOVED AROUND CITY  ACCUTE PROBLEM FOR CHLDREN 3 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER  CHILD LOCATE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE HEAD START

 BUILD ON PUBLIC SCHOOL-HEAD START PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS & EXPLORE CREATION OF MORE 3-YEAR OLD PROGRAMS  CONTACT CHILD LOCATE AND DISCUSS ADDING HEAD START PROGRAMS TO ITS LIST OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS  EXPLORE JOINT FUNDING AND BUDGET OPPORTUNITIES AT FUTURE COLLABORATION MEETINGS

 ALL PHASES OF SP. ED. PROCESS MUST MOVE MORE QUICKLY B/C OF TRANSIENT NATURE OF FAMILIES SERVED  MEETINGS NEED TO TAKE PLACE WHERE IT IS CONVENIENT FOR PARENTS

 Revise Child Find referral form to identify children at time of referral who may be experiencing homelessness;  Disseminate Child Find brochures and flyers to shelters;  Identify a designated Child Find process manager for children not yet enrolled in City Schools who are experiencing homelessness;  Good faith effort by City Schools IEP teams to expedite the IEP process; and  Train designated shelter staff to screen and identify children who may need referral to Child Find for special education services.

 What went well:  Child and family centered  Looked forward, sought solutions  Willing to take more time  Reasonable expectations- MOU puts structure in place for regular meetings where stakeholders discuss critical issues and can take action  Areas for improvement:  Gather all stakeholders in beginning of process