1. CREATING PATHWAYS FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO POSTSECONDARY PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS 2013 NAEHCY Preconference

2. 2013 NAEHCY Conference 2 Section I: Choosing a College

3. Students have many options to advance education beyond high school  Two-year community and junior colleges  Four-year colleges and universities  Technical, Vocational, or Trade School  http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for- college/choosing-schools http://studentaid.ed.gov/prepare-for- college/choosing-schools 2013 NAEHCY Conference 3

4. http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator  general school information;  tuition, fees, and estimated student expenses;  types of financial aid provided;  net price;  enrollment;  admissions requirements;  retention and graduation rates;  accreditation;  campus security statistics; and  default rates for students with student loans 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 4

5.  Admission’s Advisor  Know the admissions requirements (GPA, GED, ACT, SAT)  Get SAT/ACT Waiver  http://www.actstudent.org/faq/feewaiver.html http://www.actstudent.org/faq/feewaiver.html  http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/waivers/guidelines/sa t http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/waivers/guidelines/sa t  Adhere to application deadlines for desired semester  Submit application fee  Get Application fee waiver  http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx  Submit additional documentation (Essay, or transcript)

6.  Admissions  Missed application deadlines  Apply at on-site admissions days  Apply for next semester  Student did not meet admissions requirements  Bridge program  TRIO program  http://www.coenet.us/coe_prod_imis/COE/Home/COE/ Home.aspx?hkey=040cec49-d947-4110-b9fa- 1f30bef9c919 http://www.coenet.us/coe_prod_imis/COE/Home/COE/ Home.aspx?hkey=040cec49-d947-4110-b9fa- 1f30bef9c919 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 6

7.  Financial Aid  Complete FAFSA as early as possible Available  January 1 each year for next academic year  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/  Deadlines  State priority deadline  College priority deadline

8.  Documentation  Homeless Student Status  Submit determination of UHY status from verifier to Financial Aid Office  Verification  Separate process than verifying homeless status  Student will need to submit requested tax/income information in a timely manner 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 8

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10.  Before choosing a major students should figure out what jobs or careers they are passionate about  Occupational Outlook Handbook  http://www.bls.gov/ooh/  Students should consider jobs earning potential  Determine what schools offer that major  Where is the school located?  Consider the cost for the degree

11.  To decide if a careers matches a students skills and interests they can take a career assessment  Free assessments can be found at  CareerShip http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership http://mappingyourfuture.org/planyourcareer/careership  Skills Profiler http://www.careerinfonet.org/skills/default.aspx?nodeid=20 http://www.careerinfonet.org/skills/default.aspx?nodeid=20  O*NET http://www.onetonline.org/

12.  Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor  Get overview of degree requirements  Map out course schedule for the year  Create a Plan of Work to outline degree completion (Refer to catalog or bulletin)

13.  There are many fee’s associated with attending college (tuition, student activity, medical insurance, housing, books, meal plans, miscellaneous, )  Students should review bill to go over all fee’s  Ask for assistance from Cashiers, or Student Accounts Office  If a student is being charged for a student activity fee encourage them to use the service (recreation, university transportation)  Seek alternative options for books (online versus bookstore)  Book Vouchers from Financial Aid

14.  It is vital that homeless students determine the best housing/meal plan for them (on/off campus)  If a homeless student is residing on campus communicate with Housing Office for year long housing availability  If not see if host families are in the area  http://www.couchsurfing.org/  Student can consider becoming a Residential Advisor and housing at a reduced fee

15.  Homeless students should see if they are eligible for any free state health insurance  http://finder.healthcare.gov/  Determine if health insurance or immunizations are required for program  http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqm tReport.asp http://www2a.cdc.gov/nip/schoolsurv/schImmRqm tReport.asp  Consider the benefit of student fee (health insurance versus being uninsured)

16.  Student Services offices can include:  Student Life/Student Center, Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, Academic Advising, Tutoring, Career Services/Counseling, Testing Center, Ombudsman Office  Student should know where each office is located and what services they provide  Remind student they are paying for these services so take advantage of them

17. Focus on FASFSA completion! × FAFSA Week – see www.naehcy.orgwww.naehcy.org × Inform unaccompanied youth of college options as soon as they are identified as homeless × Make sure high school counselors know about the FAFSA policies for UHY × Arrange for students to visit local colleges and universities × Use a template for verification – www.naehcy.orgwww.naehcy.org × Connect UHY to Gear-Up, Upward Bound, other TRIO programs 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 17

18.  Campus advisors can work together to create campus networks to focus on meeting needs of homeless youth  Communicate with local homeless liaisons to streamline the transition process  Get involved with local state network for homeless youth that are accessing higher education  Create a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) on Campus

19. 2013 NAEHCY Conference 19 Section II: Paying for College

20. Any source of funds other than from the family used to pay college expenses 2013 NAEHCY Conference 20

21.  Federal government  States  Colleges  Private sources 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 21

22.  Direct costs  Indirect costs 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 22

23.  Standard federal form  Must be completed every year  Asks for demographic and financial information  Some students must provide parental information 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 23

24.  Dependent students must provide parental data on FAFSA  Expectation of parental support  Independent students do not provide parental data on FAFSA  No expectation of parental support 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 24

25.  School district liaisons  Director or designee of a HUD-funded emergency shelter or transitional housing program  Director or designee of a runaway or homeless youth basic shelter or transitional living program  Financial aid administrator 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 25

26.  Determinations are not the use of professional judgment or a dependency override  Use McKinney-Vento Act definitions  Use of a documented interview 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 26

27.  Reach out to homeless education professionals  Use of discretion  Students may appeal financial aid administrator’s determination to Department of Education 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 27

28.  Determination of independent status template  Making determinations tool 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 28

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30.  CSS Profile  Institutional applications 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 30

31. Cost of Attendance (COA) ─ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) ____________________________________ Financial Need 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 31

32.  Financial aid packages consist of a mix of:  Grants/scholarships  Work  Loans 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 32

33. Packaging philosophy varies from college to college so a student’s financial aid offer will also vary from college to college 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 33

34.  College use the same standard cost components  Value of components will vary based on college type, location, and other factors 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 34

35.  EFC will be the same regardless of college  Mix of aid will vary by college  Look at out of pocket costs 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 35

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37.  Common sources  Civic organizations  Houses of worship  Nonprofit organizations and foundations 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 37

38.  Fastweb!: http://www.fastweb.com/http://www.fastweb.com/  College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship- search https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship- search  U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearc h/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=catego ry&nodeid=22 http://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearc h/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=catego ry&nodeid=22 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 38

39.  Could reduce existing aid package from college  Changes depend on school policies and procedures 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 39

40.  Some states have special provisions available for low- income and/or homeless students:  Indiana – Students receiving free lunch receive a tuition waiver when participating in Indiana’s Double Up Program (dual enrollment in college courses for students in 11 th and 12 th grade) http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title21/ar14/ch8.htm l http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title21/ar14/ch8.htm l  Indiana – Twenty-First Century Scholars Program - Income- eligible 7th and 8th graders who enroll in the program and fulfill a pledge of good citizenship are guaranteed to receive up to four years of undergraduate tuition at any participating public college or university in Indiana http://www.scholars.in.gov http://www.scholars.in.gov 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 40

41.  Florida – Homeless students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that provides postsecondary career programs, community college, or state university (2011 F.S. 1009.25); Florida statute establishes the definition of “homeless” used http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App _mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=10 00-1099/1009/Sections/1009.25.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App _mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=10 00-1099/1009/Sections/1009.25.html  Look for resources in your state! 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 41

42.  Check with the high school’s guidance counselor for a list of private scholarships available to area students  The LeTendre Education Fund Scholarship: www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html (application period closed until 2013) www.naehcy.org/letendre_ab.html  Give Us Your Poor/Horatio Alger Scholarship: https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/ https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/ 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 42

43.  Not eligible to receive federal student aid  May be eligible for state and/or institutional aid  Depending on state, may qualify for in-state tuition  General requirements 2013 NAEHCY Conference Slide 43

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46.  Cyekeia Lee, clee@naehcy.orgclee@naehcy.org  Jennifer Martin, martinj@nasfaa.orgmartinj@nasfaa.org 2013 NAEHCY Conference 46