BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HOMELESS YOUTH THAT ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION National Partnership for Educational Access 2016 Conference April 29, 2016 Denise Ross, Prince George’s County Public Schools Cyekeia Lee, NAEHCY

UNDERSTANDING MCKINNEY-VENTO K-12 CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS MCKINNEY-VENTO ELIGIBILITY RIGHTS AND SERVICES COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

PRESENTATION OBJECTIVES By the end of the presentation, participants will:  become familiar with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act/Education for Homeless Children and Youth Act.  understand the educational rights of homeless children and youth.  gain insight about the challenges that homeless children and youth face.  become familiar with collaborative efforts to ensure homeless children and youth can graduate being college and/or career ready.

CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS  POVERTY  Loss of loved one  Loss of job  Domestic violence  Natural disaster  Divorce/family disputes  Serious illness/disability/depression/PTSD  Lack of affordable housing  Eviction/Foreclosures

HOW MANY HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE IN K-12 SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.? Source: Federal Data Summary: School Years to , Education for Homeless Children and Youth, National Center for Homeless Education

MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT  Ensure that all homeless children and youth have equal access to FAPE.  Ensure that all homeless children and youth have access to the education and other services that they need in order to meet the achievement standards to which all students are held.  Eliminate barriers to the enrollment, retention, and success in school of homeless children and youth. This includes transportation, uniform or dress code requirements, and enrollment delays due to residency requirements and/or lack of records (immunization, birth certificate, residency, etc.)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOMELESS SERVICES?  An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are:  Residing in a supervised public or private shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations  Living on the street, in hotels, transitional housing shelters, cars, abandoned buildings, and other inadequate accommodations  Temporarily staying in a trailer park or camping area  **Awaiting Foster Care

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR HOMELESS SERVICES?  Doubled-up/sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, etc.  Are “throwaway” (those whose parents or guardians will not permit them to live at home)  Run away from home and live in runaway shelters, hospitals, abandoned buildings, streets, or other inadequate accommodations-even if their parents are willing to provide a home for them  Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for individuals

WHICH SCHOOL CAN THE STUDENT ATTEND?  A homeless student can attend the school that serves the address where the student is temporarily living (boundary school) or the school of origin (school of attendance prior to being displaced).

IS TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED?  Yes, transportation is provided to the school which is determined to be in the child’s best interest (school staff and parent decide).

DOES RESIDENCY HAVE TO BE PROVEN?  No. Schools must enroll homeless students right away with or without records of residency.  School records and other documents can be obtained after enrollment.

WHAT ABOUT IMMUNIZATIONS/BIRTH CERTIFICATE?  Cannot be denied enrollment if new to the school system  30 day allowance  Support from school staff  Birth certificate can’t be a barrier

CAN SCHOOL FEES BE WAIVED?  Yes. Fees such as: field trips, school meals, gym uniforms, school supplies, lab fees, graduation cap and gown, etc. should be waived.

AWAITING FOSTER PLACEMENT  Students whose placement is intended to be 90 days or less qualify for McKinney-Vento services. Placement is intended to be short-term.

HOW CAN THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR HELP?  Assist with sensitive questioning, when needed, during the registration process.  Make sure displaced students are receiving a free breakfast and lunch (no FARMS application needed).  Review Homeless Student Service Forms (HSSF) to be aware of student needs.  Privately notify the student’s teachers of the student’s status.  Ensure that qualifying school fees are waived.  Review electronic reports/data periodically to ensure that they’re aware of displaced students in their school.  Assist seniors with the college application process, including FAFSA.  Ensure that matters are handled with sensitivity, confidentiality and care.  Assess needs of student(s) and their families.

IDENTIFICATION+ENROLLMENT+ACADEMIC SUPPORT+COLLABORATION =SUCCESS (COLLEGE/CAREER READY)  Participation in conferences and meetings with students, parents, school staff, and representatives from housing/community agencies to address academic and/or attendance concerns.  Implement afterschool academic support programs at targeted shelters, schools, and within the students’ temporary living location.  Senior meetings – (Sr. contracts, post-grad plans, next steps)  Provide technical assistance and professional development for schools, community agencies, parents, and unaccompanied homeless youth in order to ensure equal access to all educational services.

MCKINNEY-VENTO ACT  Students can’t succeed in school when their needs are not understood or when the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is not fully implemented for them.  The law is an anchor for our students in many ways. It allows them to have immediate school access and stability during their time of transition.

HOMELESS YOUTH AND HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS BARRIERS FEDERAL GUIDANCE FAFSA COMPLETION STATEWIDE NETWORKS NATIONAL RESOURCES

DEFINING UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH  2-step process to determine eligibility 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?  Unaccompanied  “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”  Note: The Higher Education Act includes the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless and unaccompanied

PATHS TO BEING ON THEIR OWN  Family conflict: blended family issues, pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, substance abuse  Abuse and/or neglect within the home  Parental incarceration, illness, hospitalization, or death  Lack of space in temporary situations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys  Child welfare issues  Running away from a placement  Aging out of the system  Significant correlation between involvement with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult

BARRIERS TO HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS  Lack of access to parental financial information and support  Lack of financial means to live independently and safely  Inability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in college  Limited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areas  Failure to meet state residency requirements  Struggling to balance school and other responsibilities  Lack of adult guidance and support  Lack of information about available support systems

THE COLLEGE COST REDUCTION AND ACCESS ACT  Independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness  Can apply for financial aid without parental signature or consideration of parental income  Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College financial aid administrator

APPLICATION AND VERIFICATION GUIDE  Updated Application and Verification Guide released in 2015  Borrows language from NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief  Student can use the following addresses to complete the FAFSA  Address of a reliable friend or relative  The college’s administrative address as his/her mailing address, with permission  FAA verification  Not required unless there is conflicting information  Documented interview (even via phone) is acceptable

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER  USED Dear Colleague Letter  UHY may be 24 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA  Focuses attention on if student meets homeless status definition, not on the reason they are homeless  Clarifies the role of the Financial Aid Administrator when making determination of a students homeless status  ach.pdf ach.pdf

UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH AND FAFSA COMPLETION

ONLINE FAFSA COMPLETION

CREATING STATEWIDE NETWORKS TO SUPPORT HOMELESS YOUTH THAT  Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12, Foster Care, Higher Education, and RHYA/HUD shelter communities as well as other local service providers and advocates  Allow each to share knowledge about their area of expertise  UHY and independent student definitions  Financial aid  Campus and community resources  Build an action plan for serving UHY that makes sense for your community

NAEHCY’S STATEWIDE HIGHER EDUCATION NETWORKS 

BEST PRACTICES FOR HIGH SCHOOLS  Focus on FAFSA completion!  Inform unaccompanied youth of college options as soon as they are identified as homeless  Make sure high school counselors know about the FAFSA policies for UHY  Arrange for students to visit local colleges and universities  Connect UHY to Gear-Up, Upward Bound, other TRIO programs  Use a template for verification located at:

BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HOMELESS STUDENTS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES  Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing  Open a food and clothing bank on campus  Consider housing options for homeless students when dorms close:  Leaving one residence hall open  Allow UHY to stay in housing for international students  Provide a list of “host homes” in the community  Establish Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

CREATING SINGLE POINTS OF CONTACT FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES  Single Point of Contact (SPOC)- is a supportive college administrator on each campus who is committed to helping homeless youth (and often foster youth) successfully navigate the college-going process on campuses.  SPOCs can be found in the Financial Aid, Counseling, Dean of Students, and Student Support Services offices.

SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT MODEL  SPOC’s can come from any office on campus  Assist students with the following  Admissions  Financial Aid  Academic Advising  Remediation, Tutoring  Student Life  Housing, Counseling Center, Health Center, TRIO Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, EOC, GEAR-UP),Learning Disabilities Services, Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mentoring Programs 

BEST PRACTICES CONTINUED  Connect students with federal and community resources that they may be eligible for  State Health Insurance  Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF)  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funded Shelters (RHYA)  Administration for Children and Families 

NAEHCY SCHOLARSHIP FOR HOMELESS STUDENTS  How to apply:  application application  Applicants must submit:  A completed application form  An essay about the impact of homelessness on their lives and desire to attend college  An official school transcript  A minimum of one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or other adult who has knowledge of the applicant's qualifications and experiences

NAEHCY RESOURCES NAEHCY Higher Education Helpline: or Text “NAEHCY” to  NAEHCY Statewide Higher Education Networks  NAEHCY Podcast Series   College Access and Success Toolkit for Students Experiencing Homelessness 

QUESTIONS Denise Ross, Supervisor Homeless Education Prince George’s County Public Schools Cyekeia Lee, Director of Higher Education NAEHCY (National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth)