1. 2011 NAEHCY CONFERENCE Thinking Beyond the Budget Crunch: Building Relationships to Maximize Resources for Homeless Youth and Families

2. Introductions Beth McCullough, M.A., L.L.P. Homeless Liaison and McKinney-Vento grant coordinator Kathi Sheffel, MA, FCPS Homeless Liaison and Foster Care Liaison Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch, MSW, FCPS Social Worker Sherry Noud, MSW, FCPS Social Worker

3. Tale of Two Cities (or School Divisions) Why are we presenting these two programs together? Why are we presenting these two programs together? Opportunity to create a program that fits Opportunity to create a program that fits

4. Lenawee County, Michigan 13 school districts 13 school districts 56 schools 56 schools 17,152 students 17,152 students Population: 99,892 Population: 99,892 612 homeless students in 10-11 school year 612 homeless students in 10-11 school year Staff of one Staff of one

5. Gather data – tell the story Needs assessments – –What are the resources? – –What are the holes? – –Who is already working with this population? – –Know what committees you need to be on. 1. Identifying the Problem

6. 80% of runaway and homeless girls reported having ever been sexually or physically abused. 34% of runaway youth (girls and boys) reported sexual abuse before leaving home and 43% of runaway youth (girls and boys) reported physical abuse before leaving home. Molnar, B., Shade, S., Kral, A., Booth, R., Watters, J. (1998) Suicidal Behavior and Sexual/Physical Abuse Among Stree Youth. Child Abuse and Neglect. Vol. 22, NO. 3, pp. 213-222 Quantitative and Qualitative Data

7. 32% of runaway and homeless youth have attempted suicide at some point in their lives. 12% of runaway and homeless youth spent at least one night outside, in a park, on the street, under a bridge or overhang. Westat, Inc. 1997. National Evaluation of Runaway and Homeless Youth. Washington DC: US Dept of HHS, Admin on Children, Youth and Families.

8. Here are just a few of their stories… “There is no love for me. No one cares for me. When my mother died…there is no love for me, but me. I’ve got to love myself.” --an Adrian High School student

9. “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

10. “I stayed in a barn. I stayed in an aluminum shed with a little heater somebody gave me. I had a pile of blankets and I was always afraid they would catch fire and I’d die. I kinda felt like I did die, like I was dead. Then I came here and now I am back in school. Its hard, but its ok. I have a place now. Its really hard. But it is ok now. I’m not dying, you know?” --a homeless 17 year old in Adrian

11. “There is no one to wake me in the morning. I have to figure out how to get in to school on time. I miss the bus and it’s a long walk.” --an Adrian High School senior

12. “I want to graduate. I have to graduate. It is my only way out.” --18 year old homeless student at Adrian High School. She graduated in 2007 and is attending college.

13. Department of Human Services Child Protective Services Criminal Justice Community Mental Health Runaway and Homeless Youth contractor Shelters Continuum of Care Faith Community Employment agencies Special education directors 2. The Homeless Youth Committee

14. Out of the homeless youth committee… Runaway and homeless youth contract available in our county Parents facing incarceration Alternative sentencing for teen offenders Employment program through Goodwill Permission for youth to reside in adult shelters Roadmap to Graduation program

15. 3. Roadmap to Graduation – –Find a community partner – –Mentor homes, mentoring 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. – –Seniors on track to graduate – –Power of Attorney if under 18 – –Use family and friends as well as recruiting homes – “old” foster care homes – –Monthly stipend

16. Service clubs – Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. Faith based funding Mentoring funding ARRA funding Individual contributions Drop out prevention Suicide prevention Social Security Funding for Roadmap

17. $1,430: The average annual cost to taxpayers associated with a child born to a teen mother aged 19 and younger. $4,080: The average annual cost to taxpayers associated with a child born to a teen mother aged 17 and younger. $8.6 billion: The public costs of childbearing to teens aged 17 and younger. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy www.teenpregnancy.org/costs Cost of Teen Pregnancy

18. The United States could save between $7.9 and $10.8 billion annually by improving educational attainment among all recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps, and housing assistance (Garfinkel et al., 2005). Garfinkel, I., Kelly, B., & Waldfogel, J. (2005). “Public assistance programs: How much could be saved with improved education?” Paper prepared for the symposium on the Social Costs of Inadequate Education, Teachers College Columbia University, October 2005. Cost of Dropping Out of High School

19. If the male graduation rate were increased by only 5 percent, the nation would see an annual savings of $4.9 billion in crime-related costs (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2006b). Alliance for Excellent Education. (2006b). Saving futures, saving dollars: The impact of education on crime reduction and earnings. Washington, DC: Author.

20. “It estimated states spent a record $51.7 billion on corrections in fiscal year 2008 and incarcerating one inmate cost them, on average, $29,000 a year.” Reuters: Washington DC | Mon Mar 2, 2009 2:49pm EST Cost of Incarceration

21. $300 a month $2700 a year What is graduation worth? Cost of One Student in Roadmap to Graduation

22. 100 % Graduation rate 87% attend college 100 % employment rate Success Rate

23. Other fundraisers from the community… Partners in Hope scholarship Tutor in our largest shelter Head Start family worker in our largest shelter Promise Project Tools for Schools Hop for the Homeless Tacos for Taxis Hospital cafeteria program A meal in your pocket (Fast food cards)

24. Wearing pajamas meant you didn’t sleep in your clothes last night.

25. Where do you go from here?

26. “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 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

27. FCPS Program Highlights Identification, advocacy and support for homeless youth Identification, advocacy and support for homeless youth Transportation to school of origin Transportation to school of origin Homeless youth initiative, college prep Homeless youth initiative, college prep Comprehensive tutoring program Comprehensive tutoring program Supplemental food program Supplemental food program

28. Highlights Trainings, presentations, and on going consultation with school division personnel Trainings, presentations, and on going consultation with school division personnel Supplemental food program Supplemental food program Backpack and school supply distribution Backpack and school supply distribution Holiday assistance for Unaccompanied Youth Holiday assistance for Unaccompanied Youth Coat project Coat project Community and state workgroups Community and state workgroups Multi-county collaborations Multi-county collaborations Non-profit and faith based partners Non-profit and faith based partners Dorm project Dorm project

29. Program History Initially a small program: part time liaison, small MV grant, a few tutors Initially a small program: part time liaison, small MV grant, a few tutors Increased funding from Title 1, FCPS, and MV allowed staffing increase and growth Increased funding from Title 1, FCPS, and MV allowed staffing increase and growth Homeless student count growth = more comprehensive program with more resources Homeless student count growth = more comprehensive program with more resources Relationship building created benefits within our school system Relationship building created benefits within our school system

30. Our Community Fairfax County covers a total area of 395 square miles. Fairfax County covers a total area of 395 square miles. FCPS is the 11th largest school system in the United States with 244 schools and an enrollment of 175,296 students for the 2010-2011 school year FCPS is the 11th largest school system in the United States with 244 schools and an enrollment of 175,296 students for the 2010-2011 school year FCPS identified over 2,240 homeless students last school year FCPS identified over 2,240 homeless students last school year

31. Community Needs Affordable housing Affordable housing Emergency food Emergency food Mental health services for children and adults Mental health services for children and adults Medical/dental services Medical/dental services Basic needs assistance Basic needs assistance Child care Child care Employment Employment

32. Community Supports Coordinated Services Planning Coordinated Services Planning Four family shelters, one teen shelter Four family shelters, one teen shelter Transitional Housing Programs Transitional Housing Programs Permanent Supportive Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Other adult shelters Other adult shelters Non-profits Non-profits Faith-based supporters Faith-based supporters Community Services Board Community Services Board Community health clinics Community health clinics Community members and organizations Community members and organizations

33. Current Relationships Regular communication with shelters and community programs Regular communication with shelters and community programs Defined process for health services Defined process for health services Developing referral process for mental health services Developing referral process for mental health services Partnering with faith-based community members Partnering with faith-based community members Partnering with non-profit Partnering with non-profit Internal FCPS members Internal FCPS members Community members and organizations Community members and organizations

34. Worksheet Community Resources Community Resources

35. Climate in the Community Within the community at large Within the community at large –What are the homeless services and how are they working? –How is your community implementing the 10 year plan to end homelessness? Within the school community Within the school community –How are homeless families identified within your school division? –What is the cultural competence level regarding homelessness within your schools?

36. Barriers: Real and Perceived Eligibility requirements Eligibility requirements Long waitlist for help Long waitlist for help Competition for limited resources Competition for limited resources Definition differences Definition differences Suburban homelessness not apparent Suburban homelessness not apparent Lack of understanding regarding demographics and causes of homelessness Lack of understanding regarding demographics and causes of homelessness Personal bias/fear Personal bias/fear

37. Worksheet Climate and Barriers Climate and Barriers

38. Defining Unmet Needs Limited housing options Limited housing options Limited housing support for struggling families on the edge of homelessness Limited housing support for struggling families on the edge of homelessness Basic needs, warm clothing, food, advocacy within the community Basic needs, warm clothing, food, advocacy within the community Program eligibility criteria restrictions Program eligibility criteria restrictions Transportation Transportation Child care waitlists Child care waitlists

39. Unmet Needs, Con’t Head Start (challenges with enrollment process and over-enrolled classrooms) Head Start (challenges with enrollment process and over-enrolled classrooms) Vocational and literacy training Legal/immigration challenges Limited employment opportunities Lack of mental health resources Lack of medical and dental resources

40. Unmet Needs for Unaccompanied Youth No shelters specifically for youth over 18 No shelters specifically for youth over 18 Gap in emergency services for youth Gap in emergency services for youth Adult shelters not equipped for late teens Adult shelters not equipped for late teens Health and other services difficult to access for youth without parent involvement Health and other services difficult to access for youth without parent involvement Lack of programs designed to address aging out Lack of programs designed to address aging out Need for post graduation planning and guidance Need for post graduation planning and guidance

41. Going Fishing Finding and organizing resources in the community Finding and organizing resources in the community Presenting a compelling case and securing commitment from prospective supporters Presenting a compelling case and securing commitment from prospective supporters –Data –Case examples –Success stories –Keep it simple

42. Worksheet Finding partners Finding partners

43. Staying Fluid with Program Development Learning as we go….. Learning as we go….. Utilizing “feedback” to make changes Utilizing “feedback” to make changes On going relationship building with community partners On going relationship building with community partners A few examples of our growth: A few examples of our growth: –Driving lessons –Shelter tutoring site issue –Host home goals –Youth event

44. Looking at Results Modifying program design Modifying program design Meeting constantly changing needs Meeting constantly changing needs

45. Care and Feeding Nurturing Partnerships Nurturing Partnerships –Understanding the natural tension based on different missions Maintaining existing relationships Maintaining existing relationships –In spite of the different parameters, finding the common goals –Creating recognition programs to support current and prospective partners

46. Worksheet Prioritize list of needs Prioritize list of needs Choose 1 or 2 that are most pressing Choose 1 or 2 that are most pressing Identify ALL of the possible resources Identify ALL of the possible resources Outline strategies for engagement Outline strategies for engagement

47. Q and A

48. Contact Us Beth McCullough bmccullough@adrian.k12.mi.usbmccullough@adrian.k12.mi.us (517) 266-4529 Kathi Sheffel klsheffel@fcps.eduklsheffel@fcps.edu 571-423-4332 Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch fcmeyerdeloa@fcps.edufcmeyerdeloa@fcps.edu 571-423-4336 Sherry Noud smnoud@fcps.edusmnoud@fcps.edu 571-423-4358