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Christi na Endres
Program Specialist
Nati onal Center for Homeless Educati on
UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS
STUDENTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW
NCHE is the U.S. Department of Educati on’s homeless educati on technical assistance & informati on center
NCHE has:
A comprehensive website: www.serve.org/nche
A toll-free helpline: Call 800-308-2145 or e-mail homeless@serve.org
A listserv: visit www.serve.org/nche/listserv.php for subscription instructions
Free resources : Visitwww.serve.org/nche/products.php
GET TO KNOW NCHE…
Characteristics of unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY)
Identifying UHY
McKinney-Vento and related educational rights
Serving UHY
SESSION OUTLINE
Studies estimate that 1+ million youth will become unaccompanied homeless youth each year
There is a disproportionate representation of minority ethnic groups, LGBT youth, and pregnant or parenting teens
Generally homeless youth are 13 or older, but they can be younger
DEMOGRAPHICS
Longstanding patt erns of family conflict, blended family issues, abuse and/or neglect within the home
Parental incarceration, substance abuse, illness, hospitalization, or death
Pregnancy, sexual activity, sexual orientation, gender identity, school problems, alcohol/drug use
PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN”
Foster care issues: running away from a foster care placement, aging out of the foster care system
Some students become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys
PATHS TO BEING“ON YOUR OWN”
2-step process
1. Does the student’s living arrangement meet the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?
2. Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?
IDENTIFYING UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS
YOUTH
Housing Physical Custody UHY
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nightti me residence, including:
Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason (“doubling up”)
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations
Living in emergency or transitional shelters
STEP 1: IS THE STUDENT HOMELESS?
Awaiting foster care placement
Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setti ng
Migratory children living in the above circumstances
Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
STEP 1: IS THE STUDENT HOMELESS?
Unaccompanied youth: a child or youth “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”
The Act refers to physical custody, not legal custody; in practical terms, this means that the student is living apart from his/her parent(s) or guardian(s)
STEP 2: IS THE STUDENT UNACCOMPANIED?
Lower: No lower age limit for unaccompanied homeless youth
Upper: Your state’s upper age limit for public education, which is usually 21, but can be older
IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT?
Angela is sixteen years old and had to leave home when she told her parents that she was pregnant. She moved in with her 18-year-old boyfriend who has his own apartment and has a job. She has
ANGELA
come to your school, which is near her boyfriend’s apartment, to enroll.
Callers to the National Runaway Safeline:
48% said they were kicked out
30% said they ran away
22% said it was a combination
Examine the housing situation, not the perceived choice
“BUT, THE STUDENT CHOSE TO LEAVE…”
Federal court case
Determined undocumented students are eligible for educational services to the same extent as documented students
Includes students eligible under McKinney-Vento
PLYLER V. DOE
MCKINNEY-VENTO PROVISIONS: ALL HOMELESS
STUDENTS
Immediate enrollment, even if lacking paperwork normally required
School selection: Can att end either the local att endance area school or the school of origin, according to the student’s best interest
Transportation to the school of origin
Comparable services, including transportation
Free school meals
Access to educational programs such as: Title I, special education, English language learners, migrant education, vocational and technical education, gift ed and talented, etc.
Referrals to other services such as health, dental, mental health, and other appropriate services
Policy revisions: special att ention must be given to ensuring enrollment and att endance of homeless students not att ending school
MCKINNEY-VENTO PROVISIONS: ALL HOMELESS
STUDENTS
Enroll without proof of guardianship
Enroll with liaison assistance
Select a school of att endance with liaison assistance
Receive transportati on with liaison assistance
Initi ate dispute resoluti on process for self
Receive assistance with disputes from liaison
Receive writt en noti ce in disputes
MCKINNEY-VENTO RIGHTS: UHY
Subgrant applications may include criteria regarding the extent to which case management or related services will be provided to UHY
Authorized use of funds: “Services and assistance to att ract, engage, and retain… unaccompanied homeless youths, in public school programs and services provided to nonhomeless children and youths”
MCKINNEY-VENTO PROVISIONS: UHY
“Must make reasonable efforts” to appoint within 30 days
Considered the UHY’s parent for special educati on purposes
Cannot be an employee of the SEA, LEA, or any other agency involved in the educati on or care of the child
Must have no personal or professional interests in confl ict with the child’s interests
Must have the necessary knowledge and skills
IDEA: SURROGATE PARENTS FOR UHY
Appointed immediately and considered the parent for special educati on purposes
Shelter, independent living program, and street outreach program staff and qualifi ed school personnel involved in the educati on or care of the child may be appointed
Must have no personal or professional interests in confl ict with the child’s interests
Must have the necessary knowledge and skills
IDEA: TEMPORARY SURROGATE PARENTS FOR UHY
UHY, as determined by a liaison, HUD or RHYA shelter director, or college Financial Aid Administrator (FAA), can apply for federal financial aid as independent students using the FAFSA
Independent students
Don’t need a parent/guardian signature on the FAFSA
Are awarded aid without consideration for parent/guardian income
COLLEGE COST REDUCTION & ACCESS ACT (CCRAA)
Visit www.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php for more information on the FAFSA and additional supports (SAT/ACT fee waivers, GEAR UP, TRIO, etc.)
CCRAA INFORMATION
Consider state-specific issues: Reporting, medical consent, etc.
FERPA: Parental consent is not required for transfer of records to an enrolling school
General liability concerns: The relationship between liability and negligence
“OTHER STUFF”
FERPA ► Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act
Jeremy couldn’t get along with his stepfather and is living temporarily with his grandmother. He wants to enroll in your school,
JEREMY
but his mom called to insist that the school force Jeremy to come home and threatens to sue the school if you enroll Jeremy.
Provide awareness activities for school staff (registrars, secretaries, counselors, social workers, nurses, teachers, bus drivers, administrators, truancy and att endance offi cers, security offi cers, etc.) about the specific needs of runaway and homeless youth
Develop relationships with dropout prevention programs, truancy offi cials, and other att endance offi cers. Many unaccompanied homeless youth are out of school!
IDENTIFICATION STRATEGIES
Reach out to community agencies and ask them to be your “eyes and ears” in the community to support school eff orts to reach UHY
Enlist other students to help spread the word
Post outreach materials where students may spend ti me, including laundromats, parks, campgrounds, skate parks, clubs/organizati ons
IDENTIFICATION STRATEGIES
NCHE youth outreach materials:
Youth educational rights poster: http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/er_poster.php
Higher education poster: http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/he_poster.php
Surviving on Your Own booklet: http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/youth_booklet.php
IDENTIFICATION STRATEGIES
Think like a youth Inform students up-front about circumstances
that require reporting to child welfare or law enforcement and make reports with them present
Keep in mind the challenges that UHY are facing as you work with them and provide support as able
Encourage UHY to stay in school; support them and advocate for them in getti ng their education
Remember: they’re evaluating you as you evaluate them!
BUILD TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS
US ED Guidance: “Develop caregiver affi davits, enrollment forms for unaccompanied homeless youth, and other forms to replace typical proof of guardianship…such forms should be carefully craft ed so they do not create further barriers or delay enrollment”
July 2004 Policy Guidance, Questi on G-8
ENROLLMENT STRATEGIES
Three common methods for enrolling UHY The student enrolls himself/herself
A caregiver enrolls the student (see http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/toolkit/app_d.pdf for sample enrollment forms)
The liaison enrolls the student
ENROLLMENT STRATEGIES
A school district cannot require a caregiver to obtain legal guardianship at any point prior to or following an UHY’s enrollment
A school district cannot discontinue a student’s enrollment due to an inability to identify a caregiver, guardian, or parent or to produce guardianship or other paperwork following enrollment
ENROLLMENT REMINDERS
McKinney-Vento defi nes enrollment as “att ending classes and parti cipati ng fully in school acti viti es”
Includes extra-curricular activities offered through school
SEAs and LEAs must develop, review, and revise policies to remove barriers to the enrollment and retenti on of homeless children and youth in schools
Program fees and deadlines can be waived (For sample policy: www.serve.org/nche/forum/extra_curr.php)
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
McKinney-Vento funds can be used to assist with program fees, if needed
States have implemented a variety of policies regarding signing/decision-making for UHY to participate in school activities Youth sign for themselves Local liaison signs for the youth Caregiver signs for the youth
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Provide access to diversifi ed learning opportuniti es (vocati onal educati on, credit-for-work programs, fl exible school hours, etc.) but don’t assume youth will need or desire this opti on
Provide before- or aft er-school support
Permit excepti ons to school policies on class schedules, tardiness, absences, and credits to accommodate needs
Assist with credit accrual and recovery (chunking credits, parti al credits, fl exible school hours, etc.)
Provide access to a “safe place” and trained mentor at school
EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT
Barbara GreeneState CoordinatorMississippi Department of Educati onbgreene@mde.k12.ms.us(601) 359-3499
Christi na EndresProgram SpecialistNati onal Center for Homeless Educati on cendres@serve.org(336) 315-7438
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NCHE website: www.serve.org/nche/ibt/sc_youth.php
NCHE helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.org
Homeless Youth in the United States: Recent Research Findings and Intervention Approaches , htt p://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/symposium07/toro/index.htm
Why They Run www.1800runaway.org
DATA SOURCES
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