HOMELESSNESS AND FOSTER CARE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS – WHAT CAN WE DO Presented By: Shirley Fan-Chan, Office of Urban and Off Campus Support Services, University of Massachusetts Boston David Meyers, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, University of Georgia Lori Tiller, J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, University of Georgia November 15, NAEHCY Annual Conference1

Session Objectives Learn about the specific challenges that homeless and foster care students face Learn about various approaches and practices that serve students who have experienced homelessness and/or foster care (often referred to as s subgroup of ‘disconnected youth’) Learn about a broad perspective in developing systemic efforts to support these subgroups as they transition into their post-secondary education 2

Agenda Welcome and pre-survey What do you already know? Collegology What is on campus support? Project scale U-ACCESS, UMass Boston Embark Georgia Policy and Advocacy What’s Next? 3

What do you already know? Have you ever worked with a student who has experienced foster care or homelessness? Does your campus have any supports specific for this population? What knowledge do you need for your campus to increase its capacity to serve this population of students? 4

Definition of foster youth Foster care means 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and preadoptive homes.

Individuals whose nighttime residence is NOT: –Fixed: stationary, permanent, and not subject to change –Regular: used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis –Adequate: sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in the home (42 U.S.C.§11434A(2)(B)(i)) Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY): –Homeless and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; in practical terms, this means the youth does not live with the parent or guardian. Definition of Homeless/Unaccompanied youth

Collegology 7

What does on campus support look like? 8

9 Project Budget, Staffing, & Scope Scale Model On campus vs. off campus Professional vs. student staff Volunteer vs. student staff State fund vs. private donation Low budget vs. high budget Scope Mgmt. Staffing Budget Cost On Campus Support Service

Bridge to Graduation and Beyond – U-ACCESS 10

Embark Georgia The Embark Georgia statewide network serves post-secondary professionals and institutions to ensure connectivity, share best practices, and provide information exchange among youth, community based stakeholders, and K-12 educators in support of youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness. 11

State Networks for Homeless College Students (17) 12 NAEHCY Oklahoma GeorgiaColorado Massachusetts KentuckyMichigan North Carolina Florida New Hampshire IllinoisIndianaMontana New Jersey

Policy and Advocacy 13 Higher Education Track Tuition waiver for unaccompanied homeless youth On campus Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Young adult housing/shelters National Association for Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national membership association dedicated to educational excellence for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Through state and federal policy and technical assistance to our members, students, and the public, we change systems so all children and youth can learn, succeed academically, and achieve their dreams.

Important Legislation and Policy Legislation:  McKinney Vento  Fostering Connections  Adoption and Safe Families Act  Chafee Act Policy Foster Care to 21

TUITION AND FEE WAIVERS UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH YOUNG PEOPLE IN FOSTER CARE 15

What’s next? 16

Where to find us 17 Shirley Fan-Chan Director of U-ACCESS   UMass Boston David Meyers Public Service Faculty   J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, University of Georgia Lori Tiller Public Service Faculty   J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, University of Georgia