1. Christina Dukes, Program Specialist, cdukes@serve.org cdukes@serve.org Jennifer Martin, Senior Content Development Specialist, martinj@nasfaa.orgmartinj@nasfaa.org SUPPORTING UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH IN ACCESSING HIGHER EDUCATION

2. Slide 2  The McKinney-Vento Act and Policy Guidance, available at http://center.serve.org/nche/m-v.phphttp://center.serve.org/nche/m-v.php  The Application and Verification Guide (AVG), available at http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS

3. Slide 3  2-step process 1.Does the student’s living arrangement meet the McKinney- Vento Act’s definition of homeless? 2.Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?  Unaccompanied = “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”  Students can be eligible regardless of whether they were forced from the home or left the home  Youth or parents may or may not disclose the full nature of the family issues; these are often very personal discussions WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED STUDENTS?

4. Slide 4  College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)  FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid  EFC = Expected Family Contribution  Dependent Student  Must report parent information on FAFSA  EFC is calculated based on parents’ and student’s income and assets  Independent Student  Does NOT report parent information on FAFSA  EFC is calculated based on student’s income and assets  Youth = age 21 or younger; age 22-23 can be independent by dependency override HIGHER EDUCATION BASICS

5. Slide 5  Independent if ANY of these are true:  Married  24 Years Old  Veteran Or On Active Duty  Graduate Student  Has a Legal Dependent (child/other)  Orphan/Ward of the Court/In a Legal Guardianship  Legally Emancipated Minor  In foster care at age 13 or older  Unaccompanied Homeless Youth  Independent by Professional Judgment CLASSIFICATION AS “INDEPENDENT”

6. Slide 6  Determinations can be made by:  Local liaison (graduating high school seniors)  Runaway and Homeless Youth Act funded shelter director or designee (where youth received services)  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funded shelter director or designee (where youth received services)  College Financial Aid Administrator  Local Liaisons and State Coordinators can play an advocacy role in cases where they are not making the official determination DETERMINING INDEPENDENT STUDENT STATUS FOR UHY

7. Slide 7  CCRAA uses the McKinney-Vento definition of homeless  Includes a student living in the dorms if he/she would otherwise be homeless  Includes a homeless student fleeing an abusive parent, even if the parent would provide housing and support INDEPENDENT STATUS FOR UNACCOMPANIED STUDENTS

8. Slide 8 2012-2013 ONLINE FAFSA

9. Slide 9 2012-2013 ONLINE FAFSA

10. Slide 10 2012-13 PDF FAFSA

11. Slide 11 NOTES FROM THE 2012-13 PDF FAFSA NOTES FROM THE 2012-13 PDF FAFSA

12. Slide 12  Guidance on verification by FAAs  Verification of “yes” answers on the FAFSA is not required unless there is conflicting information  FAA may verify the status with a documented interview with the student  Encourages discretion and sensitivity when gathering information  Some information may be confidential (e.g., protected by doctor-patient privilege)  Child welfare or police reports are not necessary  Recommends consulting with local liaisons, State Coordinators, NCHE, school counselors, clergy, etc.  Eligibility determinations may be appealed to the school or the U.S. Department of Education 2011-12 APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION GUIDE

13. Slide 13  Determination refers to making the original decision that a student meets the definition of unaccompanied homeless youth and, therefore, qualifies as an independent student  Verification has a specific meaning in the “FAA world”:  Verification is the process of checking, through the submission of documentation, that an applicant correctly reported information on the FAFSA. If a student has been selected for verification, it is generally because either ED or the school thinks that information has been reported inaccurately  Other useful terms:  Confirmation  Documentation DETERMINATION VS. VERIFICATION

14. Slide 14  Tax issues and FAFSA issues operate in separate domains  The IRS’ definition of “dependent” for tax purposes is different that the FAFSA’s definition of “dependent” for financial aid purposes  A youth should file a tax return if they are required by the tax code to do so  It is possible for a student to meet the definition of “independent” for financial aid purposes but meet the definition of “dependent” for tax purposes, thereby enabling the parent to claim the student as a dependent legally  If a parent commits tax fraud in any way, the student is not liable for this; they would only be held liable if they participated actively and knowingly in the fraud TAX ISSUES

15. Slide 15  Connect with “team members”: Higher education, homeless education, other educators (guidance counselors, social workers, etc.), pre-collegiate associations (GEAR UP, TRIO, etc.)  Have an updated list of local liaisons available to share with team members  Have a list of HUD and RHYA shelters available  Have the UHY excerpt of the AVG “at the ready” FIRST STEPS

16. Slide 16  Use available templates: NAEHCY determination documentation template and NCHE FAA Documentation Tool  When talking with a higher education audience, team up with a higher education member so they can “talk the talk”  Homeless education issues may be very new to FAAs and other team members; be prepared to be patient and help them “learn the ropes” – you’ll catch more flies with honey…  Want to get involved in NAEHCY Higher Education Committee efforts? Let us know! FIRST STEPS (CONT)

17. Slide 17  When using the determination documentation template with service providers, address HIPPA concerns by having students sign giving consent to share information with institutions of higher education  Fill out a template for all graduating seniors, even if they aren’t sure if they’ll continue on to higher education; give a copy to the student, the local liaison, and the guidance counselor working with the student  Ensure students have e-mail addresses; can get free accounts through yahoo.com or gmail.com, if needed  Ensure students use their legal names that appear on vital documents, not their “street names”, on all financial aid paperwork TIPS

18. Slide 18 NCHE website: http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/best/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php http://center.serve.org/nche/best/higher_ed.php National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth: http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html http://www.naehcy.org/tk/tk.html National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: http://www.nasfaa.org/ http://www.nasfaa.org/ MORE INFORMATION

19. Slide 19  Regional and State Associations of Student Financial Aid Administrators http://www.nasfaa.org/States/Directory_of_Associations.aspx http://www.nasfaa.org/States/Directory_of_Associations.aspx  NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counselors) Affiliates http://www.nacacnet.org/AboutNACAC/Governance/sra/Page s/default.aspx http://www.nacacnet.org/AboutNACAC/Governance/sra/Page s/default.aspx  Council for Opportunities in Education Member Associations http://www.coenet.us/ecm/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Memb er_Associations http://www.coenet.us/ecm/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Memb er_Associations  State College Goal Sunday Associations http://www.collegegoalsundayusa.org/studentsFamilies/wher e.htm http://www.collegegoalsundayusa.org/studentsFamilies/wher e.htm REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONTACTS

20. Slide 20  NCHE Higher Education Brief www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php  NCHE/NASFAA Higher Education Poster www.serve.org/nche/pr/he_poster.php www.serve.org/nche/pr/he_poster.php  NAEHCY Determination Template: Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Verification For the Purposes of Federal Financial Aid www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html  NAEHCY: Income Tax and the FAFSA for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html  NCHE/NAEHCY FAA Tool: Available soon RESOURCES