Practical strategies for educating children and youth in foster care

1. Practical strategies for educating children and youth in foster care National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth Houston, TX November 9, 2010

2. Overview of today’s workshop Strategies for educating children and youth in foster care: Who is eligible for protections/services? Who are key partners in child welfare? How are schools notified when a child is placed in custody, or moves while in custody? Who determines where a child attends school? How is transportation provided, and by whom? What are the “lessons learned?”

3. Fresno Unified School District Total Enrollment 72,000 4th Largest School District in CA Number of Homeless Students 2,294 9/21/10 Number of Foster Youth 723 9/21/10 McKinney-Vento Grant $68,137 Title I Set-Aside for Homeless $229,100 FUSD

4. Foster Youth Protections • Local Department of Social Services (DSS) does not consider their youth as “Awaiting Foster Care Placement” under McKinney-Vento because they are placed directly into homes. - Director of Social Services, Fresno County DSS • Craycroft Receiving Shelter Closed June 30, 2010 • AB 490 • CA Rules of Court • AB 167 • FUSD

5. Partners in Child Welfare • Director, Deputy Director, Managers, and Supervisors • Four Educational Liaisons at DSS • ILP School Based Social Workers at all High Schools • Partner’s in Education Committee • FUSD

6. Notification • Electronic Data Share into District Computer System • Notification by School Sites for Foster Youth in Foster Homes • All Group Home Students Enrolled Through Foster Care Liaison Office • All School Changes Require a Potential School Change Form Which is Signed by an Attorney • FUSD

7. School of Origin • Team Decision Making Meetings (TDMs) • Potential School Change Form • Student • Education Rights Holder • Foster Care Liaison – in the District • Attorney • Advocate (if assigned) • Parents Transport Homeless Students on City Transit System • Foster Parents and Group Home Staff Transport Foster Youth • FUSD

8. Transportation • Parents Transport Homeless Students on City Transit System, Some Gas Cards Used • Foster Parents and Group Home Staff Transport Foster Youth • Special Education Students Ride First Student Bus if on Their IEP • District Receiving ADA for Student Pays for Transportation FUSD

9. Lessons Learned • Make Friends With DSS Staff at the Highest Level as well as at the Social Worker Level • Offer Tutorials for Elective and Core Class Credit • Have a Way to Code Students So Data Can be Pulled for Program Evaluation Which Will Guide Services for Students • Have Regular Meetings With Other Foster Youth and Homeless Liaisons as Well as Service Providers in Your Area • FUSD

10. Oakland SchoolsGrant Coordinator for Oakland County Michigan Total Enrollment 224,000 *Attending 28 LEAs and 16 PSAs, covering 910 square miles. Includes 186 elementary, 62 middle, and 60 high schools, and 4 vocational technical campuses Number of Homeless Students 1611 served during 09-10 year *It is estimated that there are between 3,000-10,000 McKinney-Vento eligible students in Oakland County Number of Foster Youth 884 McKinney-Vento Grant $110,000 Title I Set-Aside for Homeless Each school district determines their own Title I Set-Aside based on the needs of their students

11. Foster Youth Protections • Michigan Department of Education in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Human Services considers a youth to be in “Temporary” placement for the first 6 months that he/she is residing in a new foster care placement. • During the first 6 months of a placement, the child is considered McKinney-Vento eligible.

12. Partners in Child Welfare • Educational Planner at the Michigan Department of Human Services (14 throughout state, goal is to have all counties served in future) • Foster Care Workers (Oakland County has approximately 6 agencies that provide Foster Care services • School Social Workers

13. Notification • Foster Care Workers contact the Oakland School Homeless Student Education Program office and complete a Notification Form with information on the youth’s current living arrangements and needs. • OSHEP staff contacts the local district liaison and sends a copy of the Notification Form. • The local district contacts the foster family to arrange transportation.

14. District Selection • Team Decision Making Meetings (TDMs) • On-going discussions between OSHSEP staff, district liaison, Foster Care Worker, Educational Planner.

15. Transportation • The majority of transportation is provided by parents with the use of gas cards. • City bus is utilized in urban areas. • Some students utilize cab transportation if no other option is available.

16. Transportation • The transportation plan is worked out between the district of origin and the district of temporary residence. In most cases, the district of origin coordinates transportation and bills the district of residence half the cost. • Once foster care students are no longer McKinney-Vento eligible they are entitled to continue at their school of origin under the Fostering Connections Act but the Department of Human Services provides for the cost of transportation. Transportation arrangements are made through the foster care worker and the foster parent. Often the liaison will provide information about what transportation has been used previously so the same mode can be continued if possible.

17. Lessons Learned • Form a strong partnership with the Educational Planners and Foster Care Workers. • Provide on-going McKinney-Vento training to Foster Care Workers as the turn over in staff tends to be very high. • Have quarterly meetings with local district liaison’s and Department of Human Services staff. • Form strong relationships with community partners that can provide ongoing support (through donations) for students in need.

18. Anchorage School District Total Enrollment 49,091 Largest School District in Alaska Half the state’s population lives in Anchorage area Number of Homeless Students 2,008 10/1/10 Number of Foster Youth 500 10/1/10 (approximate number in ASD) Funding Sources: McKinney-Vento Grant 7% Title I Set-Aside for Homeless 90% 2010 Legislative Grant 2% Donation Account <1% ASD

19. Alaska “Awaiting Foster Care” Definition EMERGENCY FOSTER CARE IS JOINTLY DEFINED AS: 1. Any child placed in one of the emergency foster care homes or at emergency shelter for children and adolescents without parents and guardians. 2. A child who is placed in a home where the provider received the emergency foster care reimbursement rate for any length of time. 3. A child placed in a home where there has been less than 24 hours notice given to the provider regarding the placement (can be a relative placement, provider emergency licensed for this placement, or existing licensed home). ASD

20. Alaska “Awaiting Foster Care” Definition (cont.) 4. A child who is placed in a home where the intent is for less than a ten day stay. 5. A child ‘awaiting foster care’ (typically those children being released from hospitalization with no identified placement). This criterion applies to relative and non-relative placements. Children and youth who experience one or more of these criteria any time after July 1 qualify for services with the Anchorage School District Child In Transition/Homeless Program through the following summer. BS/BD/SC ASD

21. Partners in Child Welfare • ASD Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent • Office of Children’s Services Director/Manager • McKinney-Vento/Foster Care designees • Foster Care and Education Work Group • Representatives from Child Welfare, McKinney-Vento program, Guardian Ad Litem office, Judicial System, Casey Family Programs, Tribal Agency and others • ASD

22. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASD and OCS • • Ongoing process began in 2006 and it took two years to develop document and have it approved by both child welfare and school district • Purpose was to clarify what info was to be shared, why it needed to be shared and how it was to be shared. • Specific info requested by school district and child welfare delineated in MOU • ASD

23. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASD and OCS • Why: • - A quality education can help a child in foster care achieve and maintain permanency.     • - Schools can be instrumental in assisting a child to adjust to and improve their life circumstances by providing supportive services.     • - Collecting and sharing data can be a driving force in improving the education, and lives, of children and youth in the child welfare system. • ASD

24. Notification • Current Process: • • Electronic court orders of children and youth taken into emergency custody sent to designated McKinney-Vento staff • To be implemented during 2010/2011 school year: • Electronic download to McKinney-Vento Program of all children and youth in foster care • • Bi-monthly downloads of placement changes including new children and youth in custody • • “Flagging” in school district database of children and youth in foster care • ASD

25. School of Origin • • Team Decision Making Meetings (TDMs) • - Notification of all TDMs received electronically by designated McKinney-Vento staff • - Regular participation in TDMs to address potential school changes • • Foster Children and Youth allowed to remain in school of origin and transportation provided by McKinney-Vento or Fostering Connections • ASD

26. Transportation • Homeless Students (funded by ASD general fund) • - School buses routed to shelters, motels and current residences • - Bus passes for city bus system • - Gas Cards for families and unaccompanied youth with vehicles • - Cabs when other plans aren’t available • Foster Youth • Above resources if McKinney-Vento eligible • 2010 State Legislature Grant of $80,000 for cabs, etc. • Fostering Connections $ for cabs, etc. to be implemented • ASD

27. Lessons Learned • Allow for time for relationship with child welfare and school district to develop • Demonstrate what child welfare has to gain in a working relationship with educators • school stability = placement stability which means less moves for children therefore less ‘dings’ for child welfare • easier access to school records • Have regular meetings with child welfare staff including GALs and other agencies working with children and youth • Foster Care and Education Work Group • • Educate educators about child welfare • ASD

28. Lincoln intermediate unit #12 YORK, PA • In Pennsylvania . . . PDE BEC Education for Homeless Youth & OCYF Bulletin Educational Stability and Continuity for Children in Substitute Careunderscores that the “awaiting placement provision applies to any placement “not likely to become permanent.” • Placement Decision • Child’s FSP must include “assurances that the placement of a child in foster care takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled at the time of placement.”

29. Partners in Child Welfare • In PA- Children and Youth Services (in this particular region) are responsible for all Foster Care placements • Each CYS agency has a liaison who is to be educated on Child Welfare laws • A Joint Training was conducted on October 8, 2010 with Regional Coordinator (McKinney-Vento), National Ed Law Center and American Bar Association.

30. Notification -School Districts are notified by CYS caseworker of student being placed in Foster Care. -If student is identified as “Awaiting Foster Care” as defined by McKinney-Vento and PDE’s BEC- then district will follow guidelines and law to ensure student’s school attendance is not interrupted.

31. School of Origin • If “Awaiting Foster Care” the student has a choice between School of Origin or School where they are currently placed. • CYS agency and school districts will consult to determine what is in the best interest of the student being placed. • The student will be asked what s/he would like • School District has final say in determining school of origin.

32. Transportaion • If the student is identified as “Awaiting Foster Care” as defined by PDE guidelines, the school district will provide transportation as required by McKinney-Vento • If student is placed in a different school district then school of origin, the school of origin will arrange for transportation. • During the 3-5 days it may take to arrange transportation, transportation will be arranged between foster parents, CYS and other means

33. Transportaion • A transportation protocol was composed between York County Human Services and School Districts in York County. • Once a child is “permanently” placed in Foster Care, CYS agrees to pay for transportation to School of Origin. • School District will continue transportation arrangements and bill the agency

34. Lessons Learned • Identify and meet with key folks in Human Services and CYS agency • Conduct presentations to agencies to educate about McKinney-Vento • Conduct presentations to School Districts to educate about Fostering Connections and the overlap with McKinney-Vento Act • Arrange for all folks involved in determining a foster care placement and area school districts to be part of a joint training.

35. Lessons Learned • The biggest lesson to be learned is that agencies and school districts don’t communicate with each other. • Be the bridge to join these two connections • Teach all involved to COMMUNICATE and who they should COMMUNICATE with, a list of School District Education Liaisons and a list of Agency liaisons should be shared. • Encourage COMMUNICATION

36. Casey Family Programs www.casey.org Legal Center on Foster Care and Education http://www.abanet.org/child/education National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth http://www.naehcy.org National Center on Homeless Education http://www.serve.org/nche resources

37. Contact information Laura Tanner-McBrien, Ed.D., Coordinator Fresno Unified School District, Fresno, California laura.mcbrien@fresnounified.org Phone: 559-457-3359 Sara Orris Oakland Schools Homeless Student Education Program Coordinator Oakland County Michigan Sara.orris@oakland.k12.mi.us 248.209.2414 Barb Dexter, Secondary Teacher Specialist Child In Transition Program Anchorage School District, Anchorage, Alaska dexter_barb@asdk12.org Phone: 907-742-3833 Sonia Pitzi Regional Coordinator (Region 3 in PA) Lincoln Intermediate #12 York Learning Center 100 East Seventh Avenue, Suite 600 York, PA 17404 717-843-1128 717-718-5924 Slpitzi@iu12.org Tamiko Thomas, MSW, LISW Homeless Liaison Osseo Area Schools, Minnesota 763-391-7256 ThomasT@district279.org