Effective Collaboration Between Migrant and Homeless State Education Programs Presented By Lisa Phillips, State Coordinator for NC 2012 NAEHCY Conference

"We Could Learn..." Anonymous "We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others are bright, some have weird names, but we have to learn to live in the same box.”

COLLABORATION IS… The act of working together on a joint project or a similar project. Working together to achieve a goal. A process where 2 or more people, groups or organizations work together for similar or the same goals.

Activity! So soon you ask???? Ask your neighbor to the right what collaboration looks like for them. (2 minutes) Be willing to share some other ideas with the group!

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION TAKES TIME TAKES SHARING OF RESPONSIBILITIES TAKES RESPECT

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION TAKES TIME To build trust To understand roles and responsibilities To make decisions

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION CONTINUED… TAKES SHARING OF RESPONSIBILITIES Communicate regularly Ensure each has the same information about the programs Establish the same goals and objectives Provide a positive vibe for program collaboration

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION CONTINUED… TAKES RESPECT No one has all the answers Need to share the vision for collaborating Need to provide recognition to each other Need to evaluate yearly the collaboration initiative

Why Collaborate? To share resources To share knowledge To build consensus To build relationships To increase options Increase flexibility in service delivery Increase professional support

What are the challenges in collaboration? PLAN STAFF TURNOVER TIME RESPONSIBILITIES LIMITED RESOURCES LEADERSHIP

Collaborative Efforts at the State Level (For Homeless and Migrant Education Programs) Attend trainings together – locally, state and Nationally Conduct forums/ meetings together or at same location during the same time Provide training at one another’s meetings Participate in subgrant process, focus groups, Parent Advisory Panel, and other program projects Collaborate on Feed The Children deliveries and other donation events Participate in State Team Meetings together – COP, Child Welfare, Courts and Education, Language Access Policy Discuss regularly one another’s program updates NAEHCY, SOSY (Solutions for Out of School Youth) and state program materials distributed to groups

Local Collaborative Efforts (For Homeless Liaisons and Migrant Recruiters) Case reviews at the beginning and the end of each school year Conduct monthly meetings to discuss cases and ensure no doubling of services are being provided to students Conduct camp and home visits together Train staff and the community together Host family nights at local schools, shelters, and camps together Review student records together (attendance, grades, behavior) Attend teacher – parent conferences for families that both divisions serve Provide a quarterly newsletter to school district staff Provide joint documentation to administration in buildings

Continued… Local Collaborative Efforts Attend conferences and share information received (state forums, regional meetings, OME, NAEHCY) Collaborate together with meeting the needs of community agencies (meetings, events, information) Develop a summer work schedule between the two programs Work with other LEAs or school districts Discuss and resolve enrollment issues Review system policies to make sure barriers do not exist for your students Apply together for funding Work with your state office for additional support for your programs

What does collaboration look like in Henderson County Schools, NC

EFFECTIVELY COLLABORATION WITH YOUR STATE (For LEAs to work with Homeless and Migrant Education Programs) Know who your State Coordinator and Migrant Consultant are and where they are located Learn where migrant programs are located in or near your districts Understand how migrant programs are established in LEAs and who are migrant students Review your state department’s website for each program regularly to learn about  New or revised policies  Procedures  Programs  Learning opportunities  Collaborative events Request training opportunities by your State Coordinator or Migrant Consultant /recruiters Host meetings for State Coordinators and Migrant Consultants Invite State Coordinators and Migrant Consultants or recruiters to your meetings, forums and community fairs Attend webinars by the state office and national partners (NCHE,OME) Participate in events hosted by your state support team

FUNDING IDEAS LOCAL Meet yearly to determine the needs of homeless students and what resources can be shared Apply for local, state, and business grants together Work together in requesting donations and services from the community – Needy children’s fund – Emergency fund – Special needs funds (power, food, first month rent fund, etc.) – Transportation – Dental, medical – home repair Conduct local donation drives and other service projects together – Feed The Children donations – Community fund raiser events – School supply drive – Community fairs STATE Quarterly conferences between the State Coordinator and Migrant Education Consultant to determine how to share resources and meet the needs of LEAs, HLs, and Migrant Recruiters Offer joint mini-grant opportunities to school districts Conduct state, regional or local donation projects together – Feed The Children – Fill the Bus Combine a percentage of resources for special needs or projects to conduct in the state

What does collaboration look like for you in your Homeless and Migrant Education Programs?

Let’s have a ball! Best Practices Funding Challenges Ideas

Directions! 1.Keep the ball moving! 2.When you hear the horn...stop! 3.If the ball lands in your hands then it is your turn! YES….it will be your turn! 4.Answer the question closest to your left thumb. 5.If you cannot answer the question, move 1 question to the left. 6.Audience can add to answers. 7.When you hear the horn, throw the ball!

Conclusion Activity report out Take away from training Other

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION PRIORITIZETIME MANAGEMENT SHARING RESOURCES SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES

Thank you!!!