1. Using Statewide Networks to Assist Homeless Youth in Making Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Programs National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth 25 th Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA

2. Presenters Shirley Fan-Chan, Director U-ACCESS University of Massachusetts Boston http://www.umb.edu/life_on_campus/uaccess Joan Meschino Executive Director MA Appleseed Center www.massappleseed.org

3. Presenters Pamela K. Kies-Lowe Homeless Education Consultant/State Coordinator for Homeless Education Michigan Department of Education www.michigan.gov/homeless Cyekeia Lee National Higher Education Liaison for Homeless Youth National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) www.naehcy.org

4. Agenda Define Statewide Networks Goals & Roles for Statewide Network Statewide Network Model Overview of SPOC’s Best Practices: Colorado Network New Statewide Networks Panel Discussion Questions

5. What are Statewide Networks for Homeless Youth? People and organizations working together to help homeless students access and complete postsecondary programs Often include one or more McKinney-Vento and Higher Education Champions to cross train Includes Stakeholders from K-12 education, Local homeless liaisons, higher education staff, RHYA and HUD shelter staff, and college access program staff

6. Why are Statewide Networks Needed? Last year 58,158 youth indicated on the FAFSA that they were unaccompanied homeless youth Many of the these youth need additional assistance navigating higher education systems

7. What Barriers do Statewide Networks Address? Entrance requirements Financial aid eligibility/packages Housing Understanding of homelessness On-campus support Academic offerings and supports Supportive off-campus communities

8. Roles and Responsibilities of Statewide Networks Define roles and responsibilities for champions, taskforce, and SPOC’s Discuss communication (email, webex meeting, conference call, in person, newsletter) Discuss how often you will meet as a group At least one in person meeting per year Get data for population you are serving How many youth? Retention? Graduation? Develop one year plan of taskforce work

9. Create SPOC’s on Campuses A Single Point of Contact or (SPOC) is a safe and supportive college administrator who is committed to helping unaccompanied homeless youth successfully navigate the college-going process SPOC’s also identify offices that unaccompanied homeless youth can go to for additional campus services

10. Network Model Identify MV Champion Identify HE Champion Step 1 Identify Champions Define purpose Identify Stakeholders Step 2 Conduct Focus Group Discuss Network Goals Assess Needs of Homeless Youth Step 3 Develop Task Force

11. Network Model Use NAEHCY & NCHE Training Materials for trainings Step 4 Train Task Force Identify SPOC’s at each institution Conduct SPOC Training Step 5 Identify Single Points of Contact s Contact NAECHY Higher Ed. Liaison Use NAEHCY/NCHE web resources Step 6 Get NAEHCY Support

12. Best Practices: Colorado Network Consists of stakeholders from:  Colorado Department of Education,K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons, Higher Education personnel from Financial Aid, Admissions, and Student Support Services Collaborates to streamline the verification process between K-12 and higher education Has established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in all CO colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

13. Best Practices: Colorado Network Barriers addressed included waiving application fees, deferring housing deposits, and connecting students with community resources In 2011 the Colorado taskforce along with the nonprofit Family Tree established private funding to assist UHY Meet three times a year, and conducts individual SPOC training at each college

14. Existing Statewide Networks Colorado*, North Carolina*, Kentucky, New Hampshire Have identified champions Created Taskforce *Has established SPOC’s at each institution in state Meets regularly to discuss new initiatives for network

15. New Network States Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Oklahoma, Massachusetts Identifying MV/HE Champions Assessing needs of youth in area Identifying taskforce members TRIO, GEAR-UP, NCAN, NACAC, NASFAA Gathering training material from NAEHCY/NCHE

16. Panel Discussion

17. Resources from NAEHCY NAEHCY Toolkit: College Access and Success for Students Experiencing Homelessness available at http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/he- toolkit http://www.naehcy.org/educational-resources/he- toolkit NAEHCY Higher Education Helpline (855) 446-2673 (toll-free) highered@naehcy.org http://www.naehcy.org/educational- resources/helpline highered@naehcy.org http://www.naehcy.org/educational- resources/helpline FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable Housing and Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial Aid at http://www.naehcy.org/educational- resources/higher-ed http://www.naehcy.org/educational- resources/higher-ed

18. Resources from NCHE Helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.orghomeless@serve.org Website: http://center.serve.org/nchehttp://center.serve.org/nche Access to Higher Education for Students Experiencing Homelessness http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php Scholarships http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/scholarships.php http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/scholarships.php Sample Forms and Materials http://center.serve.org/nche/forum/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/forum/higher_ed.php

19. Questions? Cyekeia Lee National Higher Education Liaison for Youth clee@naehcy.orgclee@naehcy.org, 734-258-8175 Website www.naehcy.orgwww.naehcy.org NAEHCY Helpline, 855-446-2673 highered@naehcy.org