Sunday, October 28, 3:30 to 4:45

Children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence:  Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason  Living in motels, hotels, RV/trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations  Living in emergency, domestic violence, or transitional shelters  Temporary foster care placement or awaiting placement  Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live or sleep  Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, under bridges, etc.  Any unaccompanied youth living in above circumstance

 A youth not in the physical custody of a guardian  The act refers to physical custody not legal custody; this usually means the youth is living apart from his/her parent(s)/guardian(s)  Any youth up to the age of 21 years or to be eligible to be enrolled in public K-12 Education  A youth can be eligible if they were asked to leave or if they “chose” to leave

Schools are not required to contact police when an unaccompanied youth tries to enroll in school. School liability is based on the concept of negligence, or a failure to exercise reasonable care — following federal law and providing appropriate services are evidence of reasonable care. Parental disapproval is not an issue in enrolling or providing educational services to unaccompanied youth. The reason why a youth is not in the custody of a parent or guardian is not relevant in enrolling and serving unaccompanied homeless youth. Regardless of whether a parent/guardian says the youth may return home Our role is not to pass judgment, but to EDUCATE the student Referrals can always be made for appropriate services to resolve family issues

 Over half of callers to Runaway Hotline report being physically abused at home; over one-third report sexual abuse; over two-thirds report that at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol  Other youth are thrown out of their homes because they are pregnant, gay or lesbian, or because their parents believe they are old enough to take care of themselves  Some children and youth are abandoned by their parents, or are on their own due to death of parents  Some children and youth are in unstable living situations due to parental incarceration, illness, or hospitalization

 Over half of youth living in shelters report that their parents either told them to leave, or knew they were leaving and did not care  Some youth become homeless with their families, but, due to lack of space in doubled-up or motel situations, end up homeless on their own  Natural disasters cause youth to be separated from family during their homelessness  Aging out of foster care into homelessness; running away from foster care placements due to abuse in the foster home, or to reconnect with siblings and family

 Higher rates of acute and chronic illness, depression and anxiety; experiences of trauma and loss  For unaccompanied youth, lack of support from any caring adult  Unaccompanied youth are frequently victimized. As many as half have been assaulted or robbed; one in ten runaways reports being raped  According to the National Runaway Switchboard, 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year from assault, illness, or suicide  Perform lower on academic assessments  75% of unaccompanied homeless youth do not graduate

 Street Outreach Programs  Basic Center Programs  Transitional Living Programs  Maternal Group Home

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 MV/RHY in the same building  MV/RHY two separate agencies

 Liaisons and RHY Staff should have knowledge of each others program  Coordinate services

 Training RHY program staff about McKinney Vento  Training RHY program staff about completing FAFSA applications  Offer to go into centers on a regular basis to talk about MV and fill out referrals on site  Be available to staff  Leave MV supplies on hand with RHY Program Staff  Have MV Rights Posters in RHY Shelters

 Alert MV Liaison when new youth arrives  RHY Programs offer space for tutoring  Computer labs  Help with coordinating transportation to/from school  Showers, laundry, hygiene items, food  Outreach workers have MV knowledge  MV part of intake  Good communication

 Sara Orris  Julie Davis