Learning To Better Serve Through Community Collaboration Christine T. Miller – District Homeless Liaison Kelly Shahan – Transportation Specialist Dennis Rozumalski – State Coordinator November 8, 2011 National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

OBJECTIVES To collaborate and network with stakeholders to improve services to students experiencing homelessness or living in transition. To share successful strategies used by various stakeholders to better serve students experiencing homelessness or living in transition. To understand what is needed so all stakeholders may better serve students and their families who are experiencing homelessness or living in transition.

Getting Started The First Link of the Chain Who has the responsibility to help students experiencing homelessness or living in transition? THE LINKS OF THE CHAIN How do you assist students and their families experiencing homelessness or living in transition? THE ROLE OF EACH LINK OF THE CHAIN Who helps you? ALL THE LINKS NEEDED TO GET THE JOB DONE! Who provides support? MORE LINKS Who are the stakeholders? MORE LINKS How can we connect the links to better understand? MAKING THE CHAIN How can we connect the links to improve and better serve? CONNECTING THE LINKS FOR A STRONGER AND USEFUL CHAIN

Connecting the Links Connecting with those that can make it happen The opportunity from the federal government - Affording the financial opportunity for the links to connect - ARRA Stimulus Grant Having the support from the Superintendent, Immediate Supervisors, the State Program Coordinator for Homelessness and all the key colleagues - i.e. transportation, building liaisons, nurses, school intervention staff, school and district administration Having supportive personnel who want the event to happen – Volunteering with the housekeeping tasks and are willing to be a part of the planning team and assist the day of the event. Having professionals who want to attend the event and want to better understand the seriousness of homelessness in the community. FACTOID: The numbers kept growing, and we could have had more attendees!

Supporting The Vision Strengthening the Links of the Chain

Key Stakeholders More Links

Supportive Personnel More Links

Planning The Event Connecting the Links of the Chain The Agenda for the Event What do we want? (half-day/full-day, weekday) Where do we want it and why? (Off-site, nice, elegant and convenient, in district) What are our needs? Who should present? Who do we invite? What are the successful strategies?

Planning The Event Connecting the Links of the Chain What are the barriers? What’s on your wish list? Do we need time to brainstorm? What do we need to brainstorm? How will we evaluate the effectiveness of the program?

Adding More Links – Experts In the Profession Connecting with the EXPERTS Barbara Duffield – Law/Policy/Purpose/The Future Sherry Hoffman– DE Attorney General’s Office – Tackling a big obstacle – Foreclosure

National Level - Barbara Duffield (NAEHCY Policy Director)

State Support - Sherry Hoffman (DE Attorney General’s Office)

Adding More Links Stakeholders Outside the District Connecting with all the STAKEHOLDERS to Meet, greet, and place a name with a face. Identify needs Establish useful strategies Improving protocols and services

AGENDA Learning to Better Serve Students Experiencing Transition and Homelessness Conference University of Delaware - Goodstay Center 2700 Pennsylvania Ave. Wilmington, DE March 1, 2011 (8:30-12:30PM) Agenda 8:30 – 9:00AM Registration and Continental Breakfast 9:00 – 9:10AMWelcome Dr. Mervin Daugherty Superintendent - Red Clay Consolidated School District 9:10 – 9:45AM Who Are You? Introduction of agency staff who work to help students and families experiencing transition and homelessness. (Agency representatives introduce him/herself and provide a brief summary of what their role is for assisting those living in transition or experiencing homelessness.) 9:45 – 11:30AM Support For Students And Families Experiencing Homelessness or Transition 9:45 – 10:30AM a. Barbara Duffield – Director of NAEHCY – Legislative Update 10:30-10:45AM Break 10:45-11:30AM b. Sherry Hoffman – Office of the Attorney General – Avoiding Unlawful Eviction 11:30 – 12:10PM What do we need to do now? Attendees will form discussion groups to identify needs of homeless students and families and suggest best practices and recommendations to better serve the homeless community. (Breakout rooms to be assigned) 12:15 – 12:30PMWrap-up and Evaluations

Invitations The Red Clay Consolidated School District INVITES YOU TO: The Learn To Better Serve Students Experiencing Transition and Homelessness Conference ***Keynote Speaker*** Barbara Duffield – Policy Director National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Tuesday, March 1, 2011 University of Delaware – Goodstay Center 2700 Pennsylvania Ave. Wilmington, DE 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Continental Breakfast served beginning at 8:30AM PLEASE RSVP YOUR ATTENDANCE BY: FEBRUARY 15, 2011 TO: Christine T. Miller Homeless Coordinator – Red Clay Consolidated School District and/or by to: Conference Funded by ARRA-Stimulus Funds McKinney-Vento Student Assistance Program

Connecting the Links of the Chain for a Purpose Collaboration with all stakeholders Completion of a needs assessment Connections – Agencies, Family Court, DFS, Legislators (city, county, state and national) district staff at all levels and school board members – (Red Clay and surrounding in the county) and shelters Increased knowledge Sharing successful strategies Sharing suggestions and ideas

Connecting the Links of the Chain for a Purpose Components for a Reference Manual – Protocols and knowledge of laws, and resources Validating everyone’s extra effort and time Proud Superintendent and Administrative Staff Improved Community Relations – showing concern for the community and supporting the concept that the school district is one big family and we care about all our family members Telling our story to the community The establishment of a communication network that includes all stakeholders in order to better provide services to students and their families experiencing homelessness or living in transition.

Meeting, Greeting, and Getting to Know all the Stakeholders

Learning from the Experts

Collaboration All the links of the chain connected

The Links of the Chain Connect for the Students Everyone realizing how important it is for all stakeholders to collaborate. Everyone learning from each other. Everyone planning a path forward for providing services. Everyone increasing the efficiency, services and support being provided by all stakeholders to students experiencing homelessness and living in transition.

Barriers and Best Practices Barriers and Best Practices What we learned that day! Barriers Communication with school, family and student Stigma Understanding what homeless means – parents and school staff Definition of homeless based upon culture and language Mental Health issues Transportation Location of shelters in relationship to schools Unaccompanied youth Tardiness of transportation vendors Tools to communicate Establishing trust with student/families Truancy Training all stakeholders Best Practices Use services provided by the districts Partnerships Educating school staff Volunteering in the community Reach the family prior to the crisis point 211 hotline Building Liaisons The infrastructure of the district/building liaison process Visiting Teachers information Maintaining confidentiality Developing empathy and trust to assist those in need

Suggestions/Assistance Suggestions/Assistance What we learned that day! Knowledge of available resources Work together to provide services Communicate with shelter and providers PD for teachers and staff about available services Communicate with families and encourage empowerment Network Engage community centers and churches Obtain more access to social service agencies and Medicaid The need for multiple meetings throughout the year with stakeholders Provide transportation for families to attend school functions Additional resources for doubled-up families Increase staff to provide additional support and services

Feedback “Excellent opportunity to network with other agencies serving our students and families.” “Good to see and hear all the district and community is doing to support our homeless population. Very fulfilling conference!” “Thank you for including the school nurses.” “The national expert set a great context and the breakout sessions helped confirm needs.” “This was a very timely and informative training. Having a diverse group of individuals collaborating with one another while breaking down barriers with one common goal – our homeless children was inspiring. Thank you” “Very helpful to have various community resources represented in the same room. Thanks” Overall rating was a 4.9 / 5 for content of the program and improving job performance

Red Clay’s Links of the Chain are Connected ! Sharing our story…. c0311.shtml Last thoughts/questions???? Thank you!