Transcript Kids Without Homes: Module for Bus Drivers

Kids Without Homes:
A School District
Responds
Awareness Training
for
Bus Drivers
Contact Information
Homeless Education Liaison
•
•
•
•
Name:
Office Phone:
Other Phone:
Email:
Note-Taking
Pages
Note-Taking Pages
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Kids Without Homes:
A School District
Responds
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Awareness
Training
.
for
Bus Drivers
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Contact Information
______________________________________
Homeless Education Liaison
•
•
•
•
______________________________________
______________________________________
Name:
Office Phone:
Other Phone:
Email:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Note-Taking
Pages
Note-Taking
Pages
______________________________________
Kids Without Homes:
A School District
Responds
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______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Awareness Training
.
for
Bus Drivers
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
Contact Information
________
________
________
________
________
________
________
______________________________________
Homeless Education Liaison
• Name:
• Office Phone:
• Other Phone:
• Email:
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
You are
here
here
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______________________________________
______________________________________
You
You
.are
are
here
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Overview
Questions we’ll discuss …
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Who is homeless?
What does homelessness look like?
How do people become homeless?
What are some of the problems and
concerns of kids without homes?
 Why does it matter which school
they attend?
 How can you make a difference?
.
Question
Who is homeless?
Who is Homeless?
Federal and state laws say that kids
who lack a fixed, regular, and
adequate nighttime residence are
homeless
The federal law is called the
McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act
Question
What does homelessness
look like?
What does homelessness look like?
Stereotypes of Homelessness
.
Question
How do people become homeless?
Think about it
Could this happen to you
or to anyone you know?
• a natural disaster
• a major house fire
• a job cut-back or layoff
• wages that don’t keep up with
housing costs and taxes
Think about it
Could this happen to you
or to anyone you know?
• often behind on monthly
payments
• high balances on credit cards
• unplanned major expense
Think about it
Could this happen to you
or to anyone you know?
• loss of health coverage and
other benefits
• a family member’s addiction
• financial burdens that can
come with long-term care
Question
What are some of the problems and
concerns of kids without homes?
Think about it
How many problems and concerns
can you name?
Special Problems and Concerns
A partial list . . .
• Not sure when and where they
will have their next meal
• Not sure where they are going to
sleep at night
• No way to know when they will
have a chance to bathe or wash
their clothes
Special Problems and Concerns
A partial list . . .
• No easy access to medical, dental,
or counseling services
• No money, even for the basics
• Dirty, very old, or shabby clothing
• No privacy
• No place to study or play
Special Problems and Concerns
A partial list . . .
• Separation from family members
• Loss of friends, pets
• Frequently changing schools
• Difficulty getting to school
• Poor grades
• Being teased and ridiculed
Special Problems and Concerns
Every
day
is
difficult
when . . .
in your life is
.
Question
Why does it matter to kids without
homes which school they attend?
Stability
In a nutshell …
Staying in the school the student
was attending when he or she
became homeless provides
academic and social stability
Benefits of Stability
Stability . . .
• allows kids to establish ongoing
relationships with teachers and
other students
• builds hope and self-esteem
as students experience success
• improves attendance statistics
and achievement scores
Stability
It’s in the law!
Stability is so important that school
districts must provide transportation
to the “school of origin” (unless it is
against the wishes of the parents or
guardians)
Question
How can you make
a difference?
Think about it
If you and your family were
experiencing homelessness,
how would you want your kids
to be treated by:
• School staff?
• Other students?
• Bus drivers?
Think about it
• Would you want your kids
treated with pity?
• Or even with well-meaning
sympathy?
• Would you want your kids to
be singled out in any way?
.
Making a Difference
Avoid saying or doing anything
that might draw attention to the
student’s homeless situation
Making a Difference
Examples
• Don’t announce that the shelter is
the next stop
• If it’s safe to do so and both the parent
and your supervisor have given their
approval, you could let older students
out about a block from the shelter
Making a Difference
Most of all . . .
Do your best to help
your youthful passengers
.
,
feel
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Contact Information
Homeless Education Liaison
•
•
•
•
Name:
Office Phone:
Other Phone:
Email: