New Homeless Liaisons: Responsibilities and Best Practices in Consolidated Planning

1. Information for New Homeless Liaisons 2015 ESEA Directors Institute August 27, 2015

2. Consolidated Planning & Monitoring Alyson.Lerma@tn.gov Office: (615) 770-3871 Cell: (615) 864-5507 Dr. Alyson F. Lerma Director of Homeless & Migrant Education

3. Children & Youth in Transition “‎Homeless person or business person, doctor or teacher, whatever your background may be, the same holds true for each of us: life takes on the meaning that you give it.” Liz Murray, Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard

4. Session Overview This session: • Is designed for new district homeless liaisons • Outlines liaison responsibilities • Provides suggestions for best practices • Includes a list of resources

5. Agenda • Introduction: Living in Transition • Overview of McKinney-Vento • Children & Youth in Transition • National & state trends • Responsibilities of District Liaisons • Suggestions & Best Practices • Resources

6. Introduction:Living in Transition

7. Living in Transition • What are the characteristics of a “typical” sheltered homeless family? • What percentage of children in homeless families are under age six? • What is the average age at which a teenager becomes homeless? • What is TN’s state ranking on child homelessness?

8. McKinney-Vento

9. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act

10. Major Themes of McKinney-Vento • Identification • School stability, immediate enrollment, & access • School of origin & transportation • Enrollment documents not required (immunizations, etc.) • Supports for academic success • Child-centered decision making on case-by-case basis • Critical role of the local homeless education liaisons • Unique barriers

11. “Homeless Children & Youth” Individuals who lack a fixed, regular,& adequatenighttime residence: • Fixed: not subject to change, permanent, stationary • Regular: consistent, routine, predictable, normal, standard • Adequate: sufficient to meet physical & psychological needsCan the student go to the same place (fixed) every night (regular) to sleep in a safe & sufficient (adequate) space?

12. AND includes children & youths who are: • sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason;living in motels, hotels, trailer parks,or camp grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations;living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; or awaiting foster care placement;

13. AND includes children & youths who are: • staying at a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; • living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, sub-standard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; • migrantsliving in the conditions described above

14. LEAs Must… • designatealocalhomelessliaison • keepahomelesschildoryouthintheschool oforigin,totheextentfeasible,(unless against wishesoftheparent orguardian) • makeschoolplacementdecisionsbasedonthestudent’s bestinterest • provideawrittenexplanation,includingtherighttoappeal,totheparentorguardian ortoanunaccompaniedhomelessyouth,ifthe LEAsendsthechildtoaschoolotherthantheonerequested From: Local Liaison’s Toolkit; Section 2.1.1

15. LEAs Must… • ensure,inthecaseofanUnaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY), thattheliaisonassistsinplacementorenrollmentdecisions&considerstheviewsoftheyouth • immediately enroll the child or youth, even without required records • contact the school last attended for relevant records • assist with obtaining immunizations or immunization records • make records available in a timely fashion when the child or youth enrolls in a new school or LEA From: Local Liaison’s Toolkit; Section 2.1.1

16. LEAs Must… • enroll the child or youth in the school in which enrollment is sought, pending the resolution of the dispute • refer the child, youth, parent, or guardian to the local liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process • ensure liaisons assist UHY during the dispute process • provide services comparable to those received by non- homeless students • coordinate with local social service &housing agencies

17. Title I Homeless Set-aside Allowable* • Transportation (school of origin) • Clothing & shoes (PE, uniforms) • School & test fees (IB, AP) • School supplies • Dental, medical, mental health services • Enrollment items • Food • Staff serving homeless students • Hygiene items * After exhausting all other resources. NOT Allowable • Rent • Utilities • Clothing for parents • Services or materials from other funds (supplanting) • Programs or services required bystate laws or policies

18. Children & Youth Living in Transition

19. Historical Perspective: National Trends

20. Historical Perspective: State Trends Total Homeless Children & Youth Enrolled in All LEAs in TN

21. State Ranking on Child Homelessness From: http://www.homelesschildrenamerica.org/

22. State Ranking on Child Homelessness Based on 4 Domains: 1. Extent of Child Homelessness 2. Child Well-being 3. Risk for Child Homelessness 4. State Policy & Response http://new.homelesschildrenamerica.org/mediadocs/276.pdf

23. State Report Card www.HomelessChildrenAmerica.org

24. Responsibilities of District Liaisons

25. Liaisons Ensure Homeless Children & Youth… • are identified • areenrolled& haveafull, equalopportunitytosucceedin school • receiveeducationalservicesforwhichtheyareeligible ANDreferralstoappropriateservices; includes families • and theirparents/guardiansareinformedoftheeducational&relatedopportunitiesavailabletotheirchildren&areprovidedwithmeaningfulopportunitiestoparticipateintheir education

26. Liaisons Must Ensure… • publicnoticeoftheeducationalrightsofhomelesschildrenandyouthisdisseminatedwheretheyreceiveservices • enrollmentdisputesaremediatedaccordingto local,state,& federalpolicies • theparentorguardianofahomelesschildoryouth,andanyUHY,isfullyinformedofalltransportationservices,includingtransportationtotheschooloforigin

27. Liaisons Must… • helpobtainimmunization &/or medicalrecords • assisthomelessstudents withenrollingin school& accessingservices • informparents,students, school personnel,&othersofrights • workwithstafftomakesurehomelesschildren&youthareimmediatelyenrolledinschoolpendingresolutionofdisputes • help coordinatetransportationforhomelesschildren&youth • collaborate& coordinatewiththe State Coordinator&withcommunity&schoolpersonnel

28. Related Legislation

29. Collaboration At the District Level Federal Programs Family Resource Center Transportation School Nutrition Exceptional Students Preschool Supervisor Social Workers Fiscal Department Accountability Technology / EIS Team At the School Level Administrators Enrollment Personnel Front Office Staff Attendance, Truancy officers Cafeteria Workers Bus Drivers School Counselors Nurses Teachers & Aides

30. Collaboration • Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) • Department of Children Services • Health & Human Services Department • Community food pantries; USDA • Faith-based organizations & community charities • Local shelters & transitional housing • Local businesses • Post-secondary institutions • McK-V liaisons in other districts • Juvenile justice system

31. Reporting Responsibilities of All LEAs • Immunization Report (due before July 30 in ePlan) Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-5001(g) The Commissioner of Education must report annually the number of homeless children who enrolled in public schools without immunization or proof of immunization and the average length of time required for these children to be immunized or to obtain immunization records. • Reporting Student Counts & Classifications • Verify (& enter) nighttime residence code (1-4) • Check local list against EIS list • When reporting numbers, be sure to remove duplicates

32. Responsibilities: McKinney-Vento Subgrant • Competitive grant awarded to LEAs • Next competition: Spring 2016 • Next cycle:funding for FY17 & 18 http://www.dnj.com/story/news/2014/11/29/county-atlas-program-helps-homeless-students-attend-school/19685625/

33. Suggestions &Best Practices

34. Suggestions • Familiarize yourselfwith McKinney-Vento,related briefs & articles • Join listserves of relatedorganizations (NCHE, etc.) • Reach out to communityagencies & organizations • Partner with post-secondary programs http://usich.gov/blog/two-tennessee-partnerships-create-effective-solutions-for-youth-experiencin

35. Suggestions • Communication log • Track activities, phone numbers,& communication • Create a task force of stakeholders • Meet monthly/bi-monthly • Solicit input & feedback • Publish a district manual • Create lists of resources & contacts • Print copies, email to school staff,& post on district website http://www.bestofsno.com/1721/features/homelessness-affects-students-while-school-system-offers-support/

36. Important Reminders DO • Recognize manyreasons for homelessness • Respond & follow up quickly • Be mindful of words, tone, & actions; be respectful • Visit families & community partners DON’T Judge Violate FERPA Be afraid to say, “I’ll have to check on that.” Jeopardize living situations

37. Resources

38. Resources • U.S. Department of Education: McKinney-Vento • http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg116.html • ePlan • https://eplan.tn.gov • National Assoc. for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth • http://www.naehcy.org/ • National Center for Homeless Education • http://center.serve.org/nche/ • Liaison’s toolkit: http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/liaison_toolkit.php • 1-800-308-2145; homeless@serve.org

39. Resources for Training & Research • Hear Us: My Own Four Walls; Jonathon’s Heart • The Homestretch • The Brookings Institute, E. Kneebone • Suburban poverty • M. Shinn, J. C. Buckner, K. Guarino, more • Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University • Videos: http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/aw_video.php#60

40. Living in Transition: Answers

41. Living in Transition: Answers • A “typical” sheltered homeless family includes a mother in her late 20s with 2 children. • More than 51% of children in homeless families are under age six. • The average age at which a teenager becomes homeless is 14.7 years old. • Tennessee ranks #41 for child homelessness (with #50 being the lowest).

42. QuestionsFeedbackTASL Credit Keyword

43. Questions?

44. Feedback Survey • At the end of each day, please help us by providing feedback. • Today, please use the survey link below. • https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015-ESEA-Aug-27

45. TASL Credit • In order to receive 14 TASL credits for the 2015 ESEA Directors Institute, the participant must attend two full days, August 26 – 27. • Partial credit cannot be earned. • Use the form provided at the back of the agenda to collect keywords throughout the conference. • After the conference, go online to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2015-ESEA-TASLand enter your information. • You will not receive credit if you do not complete the online form by September 4, 2015.

46. FRAUD, WASTE or ABUSE • Citizens and agencies are encouraged to report fraud, waste or abuse in State and Local government. • NOTICE: This agency is a recipient of taxpayer funding. If you observe an agency director or employee engaging in any activity which you consider to be illegal, improper or wasteful, please call the state Comptroller’s toll-free Hotline: • 1-800-232-5454 • Notifications can also be submitted electronically at: • http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline