Driving the Bandwagon: How to increase resources and mobilize community support Beth McCullough M.A., L.L.P. McKinney-Vento Grant Coordinator, Lenawee County

Liaison Liaison (noun) li-ai-son Coordination: the exchange of information or the planning of joint efforts by two or more people or groups, often of military personnel This isn’t a desk job. This is about being in the field and in the trenches. This is about fighting for students.

1. Gather data (learn the song) 2. Tell the story (teach others the song) 3. Needs assessments (bring on the band) Becoming a Bandleader…

Gather Data Quantitative and Qualitative

Quantitative Data Abuse and Runaways: “A longitudinal study conducted in 2011 by Tucker et al examined a number of variables to identify the significant predictors of runaway behavior. The research found that substance use, depression, and lack of parental support were all significant predictors of runaway behavior in youth (Tucker et al., 2011).”

In the school year Lenawee County public schools identified and served 704 homeless students.

Lenawee County Statistics

Qualitative Data “I don’t want to ask for help. I want to do it myself. But I ain’t got no family. How are you supposed to do it without a family. I don’t know how to do things. How do you go to the dentist? Do you just go? Where do you go? Do you call first? Do they want money? I have a Medicaid card, but no money. How are you supposed to know how to go to the dentist when you got no family?” -- a Lenawee County high school student

Quantitative Data “Physical or sexual abuse drives youth onto the street – and in some cases, keeps them there for fear that returning home may mean a return to abuse. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention found 21 percent of runaway / thrownaway kids had physical or sexual abuse in their history, or were afraid of suffering abuse if they went home (Hammer et al., 2002).”

Qualitative Data I don’t want to ask for help. I’ll be ok. I will be fine. Do you know where I can stay tonight…if…you know…I can’t stay anyplace else?” --a 17 year old at Adrian High School

The average age of a homeless person in America is: 9

Tell the story: Teach others the song To school personnel Principals, superintendents, teachers, food service workers, transportation, administrative assistants, paraprofessionals, band directors, counselors, PTOs, athletic directors, coaches, What are we telling them? What are we asking for? Do we tell them when it works? when it doesn’t?

To the media Hometown Hope Award Social media Back to school Graduation Monthly article Look for reasons to alert the media What is our message? What are we asking for?

To funders Service clubs, monthly and annually Churches Philanthropists Grants Sororities, Fraternities Retired professionals’ groups Give them solutions to fund.

Bring on the Band Who are your partners? Continuum of Care DHS Homeless Youth Committee Runaway and Homeless Youth Business Community Why should they partner with you? Not all grants come from HUD What do you bring to the table? What do you want from your partners? Ask not what your Continuum of Care can do for you…. but what you can do for them.

Tools for schools (UB&T) Presented at a service club and someone went back to work and talked about homeless education… 8 years later over 100,000 school supplies have been donated and I am never, never without backpacks.

Donated bikes Run by volunteers Requires a bicycle safety course 10 hours of work fixing bikes or $20 donation or both

Shoe Voucher Please bring this voucher to Tilton and Sons Shoes and they will assist you in fin student. ___________________________________ School District ___________________________________ Homeless Education Liaison (Original signature is required.) Tilton and Sons Shoes 134 E. Chicago Blvd. Tecumseh, MI Monday – Friday 9:00 to 5:30 Saturday 9:00 to 5:00

Feed the Body. Feed the Mind. Please feel free to take a book for your child.

Ideas… from service clubs o Tools for Schools (bank president) o Laundry vouchers (Laundromat owner) o Pajama Rama (Community organizer from Midwest Energy) o Library Gingerbread contest (library director)

Ideas… from Continuum of Care Homeless youth committee Roadmap to Graduation Calendars Food pantry extended hours Feed the body. Feed the mind. Goodwill Youth initiative Re-bicycle Lenawee Norma Dell Courage to Care award

Ideas… from churches Shoe vouchers Sock it to me Sunday Undy Sundy Drop your underwear here Blanket project

Ideas… from schools, professional development Partners in Hope Scholarship Lenawee County Homeless Education Conference Hope Award Chuck a duck for a buck (varsity club) Paper drives (no newspaper needed)

Ideas… necessity is the mother of invention Tacos for taxis Promise Project Support the girls

Did you know you are working in: Drop out prevention Suicide prevention GLBT awareness College readiness Reading readiness Special education Parent involvement Migrant education Adult literacy Teen pregnancy prevention Substance abuse Women’s rights Domestic violence Child abuse and neglect Safe children Human trafficking Social justice Ending poverty Ending hunger …and education and homelessness

Sources: Tucker, J., Edelen, M., Ellickson, P., & Klein, D. (2011). Running Away From Home: A Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Risk Factors and Young Adult Outcomes. Journal of Adolescence, 40(5), 507–518. Hammer, H., Finkelhor, D., & Sedlak, A. (2002). Runaway / Thrownaway Children: National Estimates and Characteristics. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

“Someday I will tell my grandchildren, ‘Your great-grandmother was a part of the movement to allow all children to go to school. I know it is hard to believe, but schools once kept children out or made them change schools all the time, just because the children were homeless. It wasn’t like it is today. We actually had kids who were hungry and couldn’t go to a doctor because they didn’t have money. Your great-grandmother helped fix that.’ Today we can’t imagine women not having the vote and someday we won’t be able to imagine children not being allowed to go to school.” -Christian McCullough