1. Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Presented by:
Dr. Chris Colwell, Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Barbara Bush, Director ESE/SS
Pam Woods, District Homeless Education Liaison Volusia County Schools

2. Lack fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence
Children and Youth are considered homeless when they lack fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence and they:
Share housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
Stay in emergency or transitional shelters, motels, hotels, travel trailer parks, or camping grounds
Stay in cars, parks, public spaces, abondoned buildings, bus or train stations
Stay in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
Are abondoned or awaiting foster care placement
Legal Obligation: School districts are required to identify and serve homeless children and youth, regardless of funding, under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Each district must have a designated homeless liaison and provide specific services.
Legal Authority: Sections ; Florida Statutes
Laws Implemented:
Section (12), (1)(f); Florida Statutes
McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act
VCS Student/Pupil Policy Number 209 (adopted and effective July 28, 2009)
Definition

3. Statistics:
SY - identified 1990 students who met the federal definition of homelessness
SY – identified 350 students who met the federal definition of homelessness
Homelessness occurs at all grade levels with the majority occurring at the elementary level

4. ARRA funds Funding Competitive Grant $120,000 $102,000 Funding:
Competitive Grant (not Entitlement):
NCLB, Title X, Part C, Homeless Children and Youth
3 year cycle of approval
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds:
Based on 2007 homeless number
One year grant to be spent by September 2010
Only Dade (2378 homeless students) and Hillsborough (2073 homeless students) received more in Florida
Funding

5. Attendance Academic achievement School stability Focus Areas of Focus:
Improve attendance through collaboration of school social workers, schools, and parents
Increase academic achievement through afterschool tutoring at area shelters and Longstreet Elementary
Provide school stability by improved identification, immediate enrollment, and keeping students in school of origin by supplying transportation
Focus

6. Services Community Linkage Initiatives Initiatives: Services
Tutoring
Educational supplies
Transportation costs
Case manager for eastside (ARRA)
Support for homeless unaccompanied youth (ARRA)
Summer enrichment (ARRA)
Staff development
Informational brochures
District Homeless Education Steering Committee
Community Linkage
Food Brings Hope
United Way Women’s Initiative
Volusia/Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless Case Management
Family Promise (New Smyrna Beach)
Initiatives