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A Seat at the Table : Homeless Liaisons Building Collaborations on the Federal, State and Local Levels.

A Seat at the Table : Homeless Liaisons Building Collaborations on the Federal, State and Local Levels. College Connections for Student Success Conference A Focus on Foster Care, Homeless and Other Disconnected Youth February 19, 2014 . Why are we here? . Statistics . Session Goals.

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A Seat at the Table : Homeless Liaisons Building Collaborations on the Federal, State and Local Levels.

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  1. A Seat at the Table:Homeless Liaisons Building Collaborations on the Federal, State and Local Levels. College Connections for Student Success ConferenceA Focus on Foster Care, Homeless and Other Disconnected Youth February 19, 2014

  2. Why are we here?

  3. Statistics

  4. Session Goals • Participants will gain an understanding of federal, state and local community based initiatives to enhance program objectives. • Participants will learn tools for engaging community stakeholders and creating a “seat at the table.” • Participants will gain insight on how to leverage community partnerships that result in meeting the educational needs of students facing homelessness and being in foster care. • Participants will learn to navigate the Fostering Connections Act, McKinney-Vento Act and Opening Doors 2010 definitions or education and housing agencies to better service youth facing housing and family setting transition.

  5. Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness:Place – Based Strategies to Prevent and End Homelessness Opening Doors – 2010 Obama Administration First comprehensive federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness that calls for an alignment of federal, state, local, and private resources with four goals.

  6. Goals of 2010 Opening Doors Plan • Finish the job of ending homelessness by 2015; • Prevent and end homelessness among veterans by 2015; • Prevent and end homelessness for families, youth and children by 2020; and • Set a path to ending all types of homelessness.

  7. Opening Doors Strategies End homelessness by leveraging collaborations: • Mainstream Housing • Health • Education • Human Services

  8. Dedicating Opportunities to End Homelessness (DOEH) Cont. Joint effort between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) – community based strategy development to better and maintain itself. Ten Cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Fresno County, Los Angeles County, Houston, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Maricopa County, Seattle, and Tampa.

  9. DOEH & McKinney Vento Themes • Awareness – DOEH Families and Children, Social Services and Public Affairs subcommittees. • Collaboration and Coordination of Services – DOEH collaborations gives access to federal, state and local resources needed.

  10. DOEH – Agencies at the Table • Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS) • HUD & USICH & Veterans Affairs • Department of Community Affairs • Continuum of Care • County Government • Shelters • Transitional Housing Agencies • Faith Based/ Ministries • Law Centers for Homeless • Mental Health Divisions of Hospitals

  11. McKinney-Vento Homeless Act Subtitle VII-B (42 U.S.C. 11431 et seq.) Reauthorized as Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act in January 2002 Main Themes : • Awareness • Identification and Enrollment • School Selection • Equal Access to Comparable Services • Collaboration and Coordination of Services

  12. McKinney – Vento Defined • Individuals whose nighttime residence is NOT: Fixed, Regular, or Adequate • Who is considered homeless? • Shelters • Transitional housing, Awaitingfoster care • Doubled-up • Living with another family due to economic hardship • Unsheltered • Cars, Parks, Campgrounds, Abandoned buildings, Temporary trailer • Hotels/Motels • Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT(regular) to sleep in a SAFE and SUFFICIENT SPACE(adequate)?

  13. Fostering Connections Act The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 became Public Law 110-351 on October 7, 2008.  Experts hail it as the most significant and far-reaching reform to federal child welfare policy in more than ten years. The new law aims to promote permanency and improved outcomes for children in foster care through policy changes in six key areas: • support for kinship care and family connections, • support for older youth, • coordinated health services, • improved educational stability and opportunities, • incentives and assistance for adoption, and • direct access to federal resources for Indian Tribes.

  14. Independence Passport

  15. DOEH/ McKinney-Vento/ Fostering Connections

  16. A case in housing: • HEARTH Act: Initial Assurances: • The Continuum of Care (CoC)Applicant must demonstrate collaboration with education agencies. • The CoC must consider the educational needs of children and not disrupt children’s education. • Project applicants must demonstrate practices consistent with McKinney –Vento Act. • Applicants must designate staff to ensure children are enrolled in school and connected to services.

  17. Collaboration Experts Speak… Jatisha Marsh, Atlanta Public Schools Stephen Vault, Ph.D., WellStar Health System

  18. Why is it important to develop community based partnerships? • Parents need multiple sources of support to help their children succeed in school and in their communities. • Research demonstrates that effective schools/education programs have high levels of parental and community involvement.

  19. Strategies for Developing Relationships: All providers can: • Learn each other’s definition of homelessness • Create a space for open discussion about shared values and gaps in service • Identify community stakeholders to partner with on activities that advance common values and goals • Attend each others’ meetings • Develop MOUs for cooperation and information sharing

  20. Promising Partnership Practices • Determine Shared Vision and Values • Develop a Plan • Communicate • Establish Connections • Share Leadership • Build Collaborations • Determine your needs

  21. Mutual Stakeholder Engagement • Children – includes student and family needs. Parent Teacher Organizations, Non Profit arm, Parents As Leaders • Teachers – instructional support insight. M-V teacher tutors • Administration – instructional/ school supports. Continued awareness and technical assistance • Community Based Non Profits – varied missions. Early Child hood Education Centers, United Way, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boy/Girl Scouts, Junior Achievement, Operation Hope, Junior Leagues, Kiwanis Clubs • Neighborhood Coalitions – betterment of residents. Business Associations, In Town Associations, Foundation Civic Sites • Faith Institutions – betterment of surrounding communities. Churches, Mosques, Synagogues • Businesses – venues and consumer needs. Corporate Foundations, Neighborhood Businesses, Future Business • Government Agencies – citizen services. Police Department, Health Clinics, Social Services and Libraries • Universities – sporting events tickets for family bonding and attendance incentives.

  22. Atlanta Public Schools Advisory Board as an Example Homeless Education Advisory Board Mission: The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program seeks to actively and regularly engage key, Atlanta – based community stakeholders in ensuring the academic success of students in transition. Vision: The Atlanta Public School Homeless Education Program Advisory Board will meet twice per school year to be updated on the issues facing students in transition. The board will leverage their networks in providing opportunities for students to gain life skills and exposure to activities that ultimately boosts the academic esteem of this at-risk population.

  23. Other Partnership Results: Every year:

  24. Springdale Place Center A case in collaboration…

  25. Sustainability • Share responsibility with schools and other community organizations committed to engaging families in meaningful, culturally respectful ways, as well as families actively supporting their children’s learning and development. • Continue across a student’s life, beginning in infancy and extending through college and career preparation programs. • Carry out everywhere children are raised and taught - including homes, early childhood education programs, schools, after-school programs, faith-based institutions, playgrounds, and community settings. Position Statement on School-Family-Community Partnerships for Student Success (2009). Connecticut State Board of Education. http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/LIB/sde/pdf/board/SFCP.pdf

  26. Sonya O. Hunte, MSW shunte@atlanta.k12.ga.us Homeless Education Liaison 130 Trinity Avenue 2nd Floor Atlanta, GA 30303 Office (404) 802-2245 Fax (404) 802-1205

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