Promoting Early Development Through More Child-Friendly Shelter Environments Marsha Basloe Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Interdepartmental Liaison for Early Childhood Development Washington, DC Grace Whitney CT Head Start Collaboration Office, Office of Early Childhood Hartford, CT Sunday, November 15, 2015 NAEHCY 2015 Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ

AGENDA Overview of Families with Young Children Experiencing Homelessness Development of an Early Childhood Self- Assessment Tool for Family Shelters An Example of Collaborative Implementation with Head Start

Annual Percentage Rates of Shelter Use By Age (National) Source: 2012 AHAR (HUD, 2012) and Census Data

Why The First Five Years Matter Birth to Five is a time of unparalleled growth! During early childhood, the brain strengthens the connections that are being used, while pruning away those that are unengaged The most critical developmental skills learned at this early age are social emotional skills

Impact on Young Children of Homelessness and/or Unstable Housing Children in these circumstances are at the far end of a “continuum of risk.” Research has shown that trauma and extreme stress in childhood can lead to detrimental changes in brain structure and function. Stress is cumulative and mitigating factors are critical

Impacts of Homelessness and/or Unstable Housing on Young Children* Poverty Physical health Developmental status Mental health/behavior problems Educational outcomes Mobility *Impact of (sheltered) homelessness on children studied in four domains since mid 80s.

Children Experiencing Homelessness Homeless children have lower birth weights and experience higher levels of childhood illness. Mental health problems among children are also prevalent. Mothers experiencing homelessness have a higher rate of depression, severe traumatized history and post-traumatic stress disorder. These issues can make bonding with and caring for children more challenging for parents experiencing homelessness. More than half of all children in shelter programs are age five or under.

Federal Interagency Workgroup on Family Homelessness In December 2012, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) directed HHS and USICH to convene an interagency workgroup tasked with developing a framework to achieve the Opening Doors’ goal of ending family homelessness by Interagency workgroup comprised of 13+ Federal agencies, Co-Chaired by HHS/HUD/USICH Workgroup sub-committees: - Domestic Violence - Early Childhood Development and Education - Rapid Re-Housing - Access to Benefits & Employment

ACF – Released Late 2014/Updated 2015 Early Childhood Self Assessment for Family Shelters

Looks at: Health and Safety Wellness and Development Workforce Standards and Training Programming Food and Nutrition

Early Childhood Self-Assessment for Family Shelters Review in Detail…..

Purpose The Early Childhood Self-Assessment Tool for Family Shelters is intended to help shelter staff ensure their facilities are safe and appropriate for the development of young children.Early Childhood Self-Assessment Tool for Family Shelters Facilities and professionals that can use this tool include: Natural Disaster Shelters Domestic Violence Shelters Maternity Group Homes Family Shelters Continuums of Care Early Care and Learning Providers

Resources Related to the Self-Assessment Tool Guide to Developmental and Behavioral Screening for housing and shelter providers Guide to Developmental and Behavioral Screening In Case of Emergency Form Childproofing Checklist Special Care Plan

How to Use the Tool Use as initial assessment Identify enhancement strategies Action Plan Create an Action Plan Create Purchase List based on identified Actions and selected Priorities Identify needed Resources, key Partnerships Re-assess at midpoint and end

How to Use the Tool Rated by Level of Funding/Staffing Needed * Low Resource - white ** Some Resources – light blue ***Substantial Resources – darker blue

How to Use the Tool Throughout process, engage parents to tweak policies and practices One of many approaches one could use Use as guide to improve/enhance safety and developmentally appropriateness of program for infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families and pregnant women

Explore Each Section……. Health and Safety Wellness and Development Workforce Standards and Training Programming Food and Nutrition

Health & Safety 19

Wellness & Development 20

Workforce Standards & Training 21

Programming 22

Food & Nutrition 23

Create an Action Plan Goal Action Steps Timeline Person(s) Involved Resources Needed Sign off

Resources Needed Partners Funding Sources Grants Donations

Ways to Take Action Build relationships with your Local Shelter Board and local Continuum of Care to emphasize the need for homeless services that are tailored for young children.Local Shelter Boardlocal Continuum of Care Share this tool with other emergency shelter providers in your area, either informally or through your community’s Local Shelter Board and Continuum of Care. Connect with your local Head Start program and Child Care Resources and Referral agency.local Head Start programChild Care Resources and Referral agency Review recommended strategies for increasing early care and education services for homeless children. recommended strategies

Earlier Version – Additional Items Funding We target some funds from our budget for basic needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and pregnant women We take advantage of the CACFP to help support nutritional needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and pregnant women Tracking and Evaluation We track the number of infants, toddlers and preschoolers and pregnant women and monitor service trends over time We track the numbers of young children who are not with their parents while staying at the shelter Building Awareness Our Board/community are kept aware of the needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and families and pregnant women

Reflection 1 Take a moment to reflect on the sections and items we’ve just reviewed in the self-assessment and the needs of infants, toddlers and preschoolers experiencing homelessness. Jot down a phrase or two to record your thoughts.

SERVING YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS An Example of Collaborative Implementation with Head Start

Head Start: A Perfect Match for Homeless Families Head Start provides comprehensive services that homeless children may not otherwise receive The Head Start focus on entire family means parents receive assistance in reaching their goals Community partnerships put Head Start in an excellent position to work with all agencies serving homeless families Head Start programs are required to identify and prioritize homeless children for enrollment; allow homeless children to enroll while required paperwork is obtained; and coordinate with McKinney-Vento liaisons and community agencies Head Start programs are required to identify and prioritize homeless children for enrollment; allow homeless children to enroll while required paperwork is obtained; and coordinate with McKinney-Vento liaisons and community agencies

Why Partner? Families in homeless service programs are among the most vulnerable ‒Early learning programs can help housing programs meet the needs of young children ‒Parents are under inordinate stress ‒Children are at a critical developmental life stage – time that cannot be recaptured. Homeless service providers have expertise in housing resources in the community and how to help intervene with housing crises

Self-assessment Action plan Purchase list StipendProgress Report beginningXX middleXXX endXXX

Increase Head Start enrollment Child-proof using self-assessment Develop & Strengthen Partnerships

Head Start-Family Shelter Teams Technical assistance, team building and cross-sector training Structured team work Small Grants

Self-Assessment Tool Child-proofing Action Plan Enhancement Purchase List Progress Reporting: Head Start Enrollment Activities, accomplishments, barriers

Enhanced efforts to identify and engage young children experiencing homelessness

Creating family-friendly space…… Creating family-friendly space…… Family style meals

..……..and family-friendly time..……..and family-friendly time Mommy & me, Daddy & me spaces Parent-Child Curricula

Recent ACF Efforts Building Partnerships to Address Family Homelessness Promising Practices for Children Experiencing Homelessness: A Look at Two States

ACF Summary Recommendations Prioritize access to services for homeless families Provide “grace periods” that give homeless families sufficient opportunity to gather required documentation Coordinate with homeless education state coordinators and local liaisons Work with homeless coalitions to ensure that the unique needs of young children are well represented

Reflection 2 Reflection 2 Take a moment to reflect on existing and potential resources in your community and how you might create new relationships to ensure that programs are designed to address the unique needs of pregnant women and infants, toddlers and preschoolers and their families. Jot down a phrase or two to record your thoughts.

Reflections to Actions Reflections to Actions 1. Considering now your four reflections on the information we’ve covered during this session, take a moment to record an action or two that you will take when you return to your program 2. Share your Action Plan with another person, or two, or three.....

Contact Information Marsha Basloe Senior Advisor for Early Childhood Development Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary, ACF, DHHS 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW (901 D Street, SW); 6th Floor West Washington, DC (202) ; Grace Whitney, PhD, MPA, IMH-E, Director CT Head Start Collaboration Office CT Office of Early Childhood 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT (860) ;