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McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney - Vento Homeless Assistance Act , reauthorized by Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act 2002. What is this Act?.
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McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized by Title X, Part C, of the No Child Left Behind Act 2002
What is this Act? • The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act (M-V) is an Act of Congress that provides preschool-aged and school-aged children certain rights or protections. • These rights and protections are established to provide them with a source of stability and normalcy in otherwise chaotic and frightening circumstances. • Studies show that school stability supports academic achievement and mental and emotional security.
How is “homeless” defined? A “homeless individual” includes: Any school-age child/youth who lacks a fixed, regular; and adequate night-time residence; or
Families In Transition • … a school-aged child/youth who has a primary nighttime residence that is: • Living in a emergency or transitional shelter, motel/hotel, vehicle, or campground, • Living on the street or “couch surfing”,
Families In Transition • Living in an inadequate shelter, no water, no electricity or poor insulation • “Doubled up” with friends or relatives because they cannot find or afford housing
Families In Transition • Awaiting stable foster care placement • Not enrolled in school due to any of these reasons … they are all identified as homeless and are to be served.
How we Identify The Homeless? • School Surveys • Shelter Personnel • School Personnel • Community Members • Concerned Peers • And directly from the Families themselves.
Identification • Children and youth are referred to Families In Transition by school staff; parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, public agencies, and community service providers. • An “Observation/Identification Checklist” is completed and sent Debbie Niekamp at our Families In Transition program.
Observation/Identification Checklist • The checklist can be found on our website, it consists of four sections: • One, basic student enrollment information, • Two, current housing environment, • Three, referring agency or person and • Four, actions or services needed.
Program Enrollment • Once the Observation/Identification Checklist has been received our M-V liaison reviews it. • The student in then enrolled and services are provided as needed
Services / Actions Possible: • Enrollment assistance, • Transportation assistance, • School supplies, • Laundry/shower vouchers, • Medical referrals, • Energy assistance referral, • Emergency food and housing referral,
Services and Actions • Alaska Housing Homeless Verification Letter, • Free and Reduced lunch enrollment, • Clothing vouchers, • HSGQE assistance, • Academic tutoring … and • Referral to other community care agencies.
Enrollment Rights • Homeless children and youth have the right to: • be immediately enrolled (attending) in school, even if the child or youth lacks records normally required for enrollment, • Stay in the school they attended before they became homeless,
School Choice • A homeless child or youth’s right to attend their school of origin, this right extends for the entire duration of homelessness. • If housing is obtained during the year, the • student can stay in the same school for the rest of that school year.
Enrollment Rights • Participate in all school programs, as appropriate, • Receive assistance in obtaining immunization, academic and other enrollment documents, • Receive nutritional assistance as needed, • Receive transportation assistance as needed
Transportation • Lack of transportation is one of the most pervasive barriers to enrollment and success in school for students in homeless situations. • To meet transportation needs we may extend or add bus routes, use MASCOT or provide gas cards.
Transportation • Currently our District Transportation Coordinators are very helpful in finding ways to extend or add bus routes to serve our homeless students. • This month alone we have 16 students on extended routes for transportation to “schools of origin”.
Disputes • Should a dispute arise over school selection or enrollment, the child/youth must be immediately enrolled in the school in which he/she is seeking enrollment, pending resolution of the dispute, and • The M-V Liaison, Debbie Niekamp, should be contacted immediately.
Unaccompanied Youth Situation • If a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian they are considered to be “unaccompanied youth”, • In this case… • the homeless liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute. • an “unaccompanied youth” does not need a guardian to enroll.
Liaison Definition • M-V requires that school districts designate an appropriate staff person, as a liaison for homeless children and youth. • The School Liaison: • responds to community inquiries regarding homelessness, • assists agency and shelter personnel, and parents with enrollment of children and provides support services.
Liaison Definition, cont. • The School Liaison also: • serves on community interagency task forces. • provides and posts information outside the central administrative office that encourages identification and enrollment of homeless students, • implements district-wide procedures to identify and serve homeless children and youth.
How is the Community Helping? • Community Awareness Opportunities • Host a presentation • Place a poster in your lobby • Tell others of Families In Transition • Community Referrals • Call Debbie Niekamp at 746-9228 • Participate in Clothing Drives • Make a donation to help with supplies, or service voucher.
Collaborating Agencies • Family Promise • Bishop’s Attic • Mat-Valley Community Charities Assoc • Treasure Loft
Collaborating Agencies • Food Bank of Alaska • Salvation Army • KMBQ Radio • And _________________________
Things to Come • Clean Out the Closets, Help Cloth the Kids! Current Clothing Drive • Family Promise Winter Gala February 21, 2009 // Colony Middle School 8pm • Homeless Connections // Coming this Spring, connecting needs with services.
Frequently Asked Questions… • How many homeless students are the? • Why are most of them homeless? • What can be done to help them? • Are you careful to assist, but not over assist… , do you know what I mean?
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Federal Programs Department Families in Transition Debbie Niekamp Debbie.niekamp@matsuk12.us Homeless Liaison 746-9228
