Providing a Bright Beginning for Preschoolers Experiencing Homelessness

1. Providing a Bright Beginning for Preschoolers Experiencing Homelessness Stephanie Leek, Homeless Liaison Sabrina Clemons, Homeless Education Coordinator Williamsburg James City County Public Schools

2. Objectives/Goals • Describe a program for serving preschoolers and their families experiencing homelessness in WJCC • Provide examples of district and program level strategies utilized to support families

3. Objectives/Goals • Provide a brief overview of the intake and family assessment process used to identify students with risk factors likely to negatively impact Kindergarten success

4. Williamsburg James City County Demographics City of Williamsburg • Population: 15,167 • 16.1% living below the poverty level • 11.3 % unemployment • Population: 68,971 • 7.1 % living below the poverty level • 4.6 % unemployment James City County

5. Available Resources • Avalon Shelter • Transitional housing program • Hands Together Historic Triangle • Child Development Resources • United Way • Departments of Social Services • Colonial Behavioral Health and other counseling services • Faith Based Community • Supports the United Way Community Resource Center • GWOM – Friend in Need program • Shelter program – Community of Faith

6. WJCC Public Schools • Population: 11,265 (as of September 2013) • 15 schools – 9 Elementary, 3 middle, 3 High • 4 Preschool sites • Homeless identification trends • 2005/2006 – 86 • 2006/2007 – 109 • 2007/2008 – 223 • 2008/2009 – 106 • 2009/2010 – 217 • 2010/2011 – 353 • 2011/2012 – 428 • 2012/2013 – 425

7. Available Resources • Project HOPE • School Social Work staff • Erase the Need Center • School Based Resources • Bright Beginnings Preschool program • Central Point of Entry • Homeless Education Program

8. Division Wide Interventions • Awareness and Education program • Training program for all school staff/employees • Strategies appropriate to the group, i.e. teachers, administrators, registrars, bus drivers, custodians • Resource and Guidance manual – Connecting the Pieces: Access, Stability, Success • Outreach materials specific to school division • Needs assessment completed in spring 2013 – will guide continued interventions

9. Williamsburg James City County Schools Preschool Program WJCC has provided preschool services to children at risk for the past 29 years Bright Beginnings established for children at risk as a federal demonstration grant in1983

10. Bright Beginnings Preschool Program • Currently 305 students enrolled • 4 sites • 21 Homeless students identified this year • Homeless trends • 2009/2010 – 14 • 2010/2011 – 28 • 2011/2012 – 36 • 2012/2013 – 41

11. Risk factors include: • Poverty • Homelessness • Child Protective Services or Foster Care • Incarcerated Parent • Parent did not complete high school • Family Stressors – domestic violence, death, divorce, mental health needs, military deployments • Child is an English Language Learner • Prenatal Substance Exposure or Substance Abuse in the home • Sibling or Parent with Special Needs • Atypical Behavior • Risk factors are conditions known to negatively impact school success

12. Bright Beginnings Preschool: Central Point of Entry,Intake and Family Assessment Presented by LaVerne T. Russell, M.Ed. Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools

13. Introduction • This presentation will give a brief overview of the intake and family assessment process used to identify students with risk factors likely to negatively impact Kindergarten success • Particular focus in this presentation will be given to students within the homeless population

14. Williamsburg James City County Public Schools A Bright Beginning lasts a lifetime….

15. Williamsburg James City County Preschool Program-Bright Beginnings “Ability gaps open at early ages. Schooling after the second grade plays only a minor role in alleviating these gaps.” James J. Heckman Director, Economics Research Center and the Center for Social Program Evaluation at the Harris School for Public Policy Nobel Prize Winner in Economic Sciences

16. Our community recognizes the value of high quality early childhood programs and the direct relationship to school readiness & lifelong success

17. Screening Process-Begins with Central Point of Entry • Child referred to program • Referral sources • Self • School Social Workers • School Staff • DSS Social Workers • Part C Program • Other Community Agencies

18. Intake • Initial Intake • Demographics • Reason for Referral • Concerns • Developmental • Family Dynamics • Attempted Strategies

19. Screening Process • Ages and Stages Questionnaire • Hearing and Vision (School Nurse) • Developmental (Special Education Teacher) • Speech/Language (Speech/Language Pathologist) • Family Interview (CPE Staff)

20. Family Interview • Items • Comprehensive • Medical • Prenatal/Postnatal Information • Child’s current medical history • Family Medical History (including Mental Health Diagnoses) • Social History • Current Family Situation • Stressors • Family/Child/Siblings’ educational history • Home Language Survey (Teaching Strategies) • Structured face-to-face (preferred method) • By phone (if needed)

21. Homelessness Suspected • CPE staff completes Homeless Section of Family Interview (adapted from the National Center for Homeless Education) If Homeless, Complete This Section Where is child presently living?  in a shelter  with more than one family in a house or apartment  in a motel, car or campsite  with friends or family members (other than parent/guardian) CONTINUE: If you checked a box above, who does the child live with?  1 parent  a relative, friend(s) or other adult(s)  2 parents  alone with no adults 1 parent & another adult  an adult that is not the parent or the legal guardian

22. Homelessness Suspected • CPE staff contacts the school social worker of the zoned school • School social worker contacts family to verify • School social worker contacts CPE staff, Preschool Administrators and Administrative Assistant of status • If child flagged as homeless, information is entered • In Preschool Database • In WJCC School Division Database • Student falls under McKinney-Vento if enrolled

23. The Next Steps…

24. Homeless Education Coordinator • Case management/direct intervention services for high risk preschool students and families • Parent programming – both at school and in home • Coordinates and facilitates a group compromised of community service providers • Needs assessment of preschool staff - results provided to staff and used to guide activities • Available for onsite consultation for staff and administration • Provide continued training on M-V and strategies for classrooms and interacting with families • Link with school age programs

25. On Site Collaboration • Central Point of Entry Coordinator • Administrative Assistant – transportation • School Social Work staff • Homeless Liaison • Special Education Department • Program Administrators • Bright Beginnings Nurse

26. Results • All families that received services from the HEC in 2011/12 and 2012/13 increased their self-sufficiency scores • Requests for consultation and support from BB staff members increased 67% in 2012/13

27. Results Con’t • Referrals to families increased by 38% in 2012/13 • Referrals received by the HEC from school division staff increased by 37% in 2012/13

28. Academic Data • For Bright Beginnings students that were identified under M-V in the 2012/13 school year • PALS – Phonemic Awareness and Literacy Screening • Teaching Standards Gold Kindergarten Readiness • Teaching Standards Gold Widely Held Expectations

29. Academics Continued • No student identified as homeless in the 2011/12 school year required PALS intervention in kindergarten in the 2012/13 school year

30. Looking Ahead: • Developing a lending library for both staff and parents • Fostering relationships with community partners

31. Questions?

32. Contact Information Stephanie Leek, MSW School Social Worker Homeless Liaison 757-603-6436 leeks@wjcc.k12.va.us Sabrina Clemons Homeless Education Coordinator 757- 564-8721 x 47509 clemonss@wjcc.k12.va.us