National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators © 2015 NASFAA The following is a presentation for the Tri-State ASFAA’s 2015 Fall Conference Ocean City, MD November 10, 2015

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators © 2015 NASFAA Making Determinations of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Status

Slide 3 © 2015 NASFAA National Data Total Enrollment, School Year 1,240,925 children and youth experiencing homelessness

Slide 4 © 2015 NASFAA Foster Care and Homelessness Correlation between child welfare involvement and experiences of homelessness For school-age youth – Foster care placements often are short-term or may be unstable – Some students leave foster care placements due to feeling unsafe and/or isolated For youth aging out of care – Exit the foster care system without sufficient preparation and/or support to be successful living independently

Slide 5 © 2015 NASFAA Foster Care and Homelessness By age 24, 29% of youth who aged out of foster care had been homeless for at least one night 28% reported having couch-surfed since exiting care In total, nearly 40% of youth had experienced homelessness or had couch-surfed since exiting care Dworksy, A.& Courtney, M. (2011). Assessing the impact of extending care beyond age 18 on homelessness: Emerging findings from the Midwest study, Washington, DC: The Urban Institute. Retrieved from

Slide 6 © 2015 NASFAA Foster Care and Homelessness 6% became homeless within the first month after exiting care 14 % within the first year 20% within the first 2 years 22 % within the first 30 months 63% of the young people who became homeless within the first 30 months post-exit did so during the first year Dworksy, A.& Courtney, M. (2011). Assessing the impact of extending care beyond age 18 on homelessness: Emerging findings from the Midwest study, Washington, DC: The Urban Institute. Retrieved from

Slide 7 © 2015 NASFAA Important Definitions Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Slide 8 © 2015 NASFAA Professionals Authorized to Make Determinations School district homeless liaison Director or designee of HUD-funded homeless program Director or designee of RHYA-funded homeless program Financial aid administrator

Slide 9 © 2015 NASFAA Determination Process Overview Similarity to professional judgment Determination process is not – Verification – Dependency override

Slide 10 © 2015 NASFAA Determination Process Confirm student meets the definition of an unaccompanied homeless youth Documentation – Inappropriate documentation Good practices Conflicting information

Slide 11 © 2015 NASFAA Best Practices Ask for help with determining eligibility Relevant information can come from recognized third-parties such as private or publicly funded homeless shelters and service providers, financial aid administrators from another college, college access programs such as TRIO and GEAR UP, college or high school counselors, other mental health professionals, social workers, mentors, doctors, and clergy

Slide 12 © 2015 NASFAA Best Practices At AACC we believe that the determination of this status is best made in consultation with the Counseling, Advising, and Retention Services staff with the appropriate counseling background. After an initial interview with the FAD or AFD, or designated Specialist, The student will be referred to the CARS office for input

Slide 13 © 2015 NASFAA Best Practices The CARS staff will arrange for and conduct the interview with the student. After the interview has been completed the CARS staff will submit to the FAO a signed statement indicating their professional opinion regarding the students’ status and if the opinion is positive, the Financial Aid Director or Assistant Director will make the official institutional Determination and provide the student with a written explanation of that decision.

Slide 14 © 2015 NASFAA Best Practices Students, who do not meet the definition and receive a negative decision, may follow the college’s complaint process. Students may also appeal a negative decision directly to the U.S. Department of Education. Students who do not meet the definition of Unaccompanied Youth because they are older than 21 (and not yet 24) and who are unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless may qualify for a dependency override.

Slide 15 © 2015 NASFAA Maryland Residents: Big Deal amDescriptions/prog_homelessyouth.asp amDescriptions/prog_homelessyouth.asp The Maryland Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth is available to unaccompanied homeless youth who are enrolled as a candidate for an associate, bachelor’s degree or vocational certificate at a Maryland Public institution of higher education. The purpose of the Tuition Waiver for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth is to provide financial assistance to unaccompanied homeless youth.

Slide 16 © 2015 NASFAA ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1st of each year. Be enrolled on or before he or she reaches the age of 25. The youth continues to be exempt from paying tuition and fees until 5 years after first enrolling as a candidate for an associate, bachelors, or a vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education.

Slide 17 © 2015 NASFAA ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Be enrolled full time or part time for an associate, bachelors, or a vocational certificate at a Maryland public institution of higher education Students are eligible to receive the Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Tuition Waiver for the following semesters: A. Fall B. Winter C. Spring D. Summer

Slide 18 © 2015 NASFAA Scenario Second-year student Determination from school district liaison freshman year Living on campus Has contact with parents

Slide 19 © 2015 NASFAA Scenario Second-year student Determination from the director of a federally-funded shelter freshman year Renting a room off campus Has little contact with parents

Slide 20 © 2015 NASFAA Scenario First-year student No determination from school district liaison Living on campus No contact with parents “Couch surfed” during last two years of high school

Slide 21 © 2015 NASFAA Resources Application and Verification Guide GCh5.pdf. GCh5.pdf July 29,2015 DCL (GEN-15-16) Subject: Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determinations National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth National Center for Homeless Education

Slide 22 © 2015 NASFAA NAEHCY McKinney-Vento/Higher Education Model Creating Statewide Networks As homeless youth attempt to access higher education they are faced with many barriers. Barriers include accessing financial aid, obtaining verification of homelessness, finding funding to cover college cost, learning how to navigate university systems alone, and having adequate resources throughout their collegiate career. The College Cost Reduction act has decreased some of the barriers homeless youth face.

Slide 23 © 2015 NASFAA Creating Statewide Networks Creating a Statewide Network with stakeholders and staff from various backgrounds with an emphasis on assisting homeless youth can prove to be beneficial. Finding McKinney-Vento and Higher Education Champions Forming a Focus Group

Slide 24 © 2015 NASFAA Maryland Higher Education Network for Homeless and Foster Youth Tuition Waiver Implementation 1. Monisha Cherayil, PJC 2. Melissa Rock, ACY 3. Maia Gibbons, YES 4. Seri Wilpone, Legal Aid 5. Richard Heath, AACC 6. Del. Washington, MDGA

Slide 25 © 2015 NASFAA Outreach to Pre-College Youth 1. Monisha Cherayil, PJC 2. Tajah Pettway, BCCC 3. Maia Gibbons, YES 4. Diana Kolnik, BCCC 5. Jimmy Tadlock, College Bound 6. Jackie Neal, AACPS

Slide 26 © 2015 NASFAA Development of On Campus Supports 1. Melissa Rock, ACY 2. Terri Massie Burrell, Univ. Systems of MD/Frostburg 3. Judith Schagrin, NASW

Slide 27 © 2015 NASFAA

Slide 28 © 2015 NASFAA Contact Us Rich Heath, Cyekeia Lee, Jennifer Martin,

Slide 29 © 2015 NASFAA July , 2016 Celebrate NASFAA's 50th Anniversary at the 2016 National Conference in Washington, DC! Leadership & Legislative Conference March 2016 New & Aspiring Aid Directors Pathway Association Management Pathway New for 2016! Enrollment Management Pathway

Slide 30 © 2015 NASFAA