1. The Sanity Project A Survival Guide and Celebration of Homeless Education Liaisons Beth McCullough Adrian, Michigan

2. “I don’t know if we have any homeless kids here, but the feds say we need to hire someone to go look for them.” Homeless liaisons are the only one doing what we do in the district. Many of us do not have other staff.

3. …10 years later… “Write about success” was a job goal. “Write about success” was a job goal. “I want to feel less isolated.” “I want to feel less isolated.” I made a commitment to 4 women that I would write weekly. I made a commitment to 4 women that I would write weekly.

4. My Rules Every week, no matter what Every week, no matter what Honesty is a must Honesty is a must Speak your truth Speak your truth First and foremost, it is to keep you going First and foremost, it is to keep you going Try never to go over 1 page Try never to go over 1 page Not all of them are sent out Not all of them are sent out

5. Themes emerged Power of the job Power of the job –We have unique opportunities to make such a significant difference. –“Something has changed about Joey.” –“Something good happened for Joey.” –“Sticky frantic, wringing hands, miracles and getting home late”

6. Know your limitations. “If Mom could be the Mom she wanted to be.” “If Mom could be the Mom she wanted to be.” “A big lug of a guy” “A big lug of a guy” “This is why…” “This is why…” “Mama said there would be days like this.” “Mama said there would be days like this.”

7. Check in with your gut and pay attention to your physical reactions. Check in with your gut and pay attention to your physical reactions. The fog The fog Traveling light Traveling light Pancakes and French Toast too. Pancakes and French Toast too. Savor the Success. Savor the Success. I love this law I love this law Immunization against homelessness Immunization against homelessness Climb every mountain Climb every mountain Find a new frame. Find a new frame. Wrestling with worth Wrestling with worth Scuffed shoes Scuffed shoes 48 month rule 48 month rule

8. Themes continued… 1. Pick a story, situation, experience with this work. 2. Write, don’t edit. 3. Decide how you will make it safe for the people in the situation or ask permission to share it. 4. Go

9. What theme emerged? What theme emerged? What did you really want to say? What did you really want to say? Did you have themes that emerged? Did you have themes that emerged? Where do you go from here? Where do you go from here?

10. “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

11. Beth McCullough M.A., L.L.P, Adrian Public Schools 785 Riverside Ave. Adrian, MI 49221 (517) 266-4529 bmccullough@adrian.k12.mi.us