Transcript School Homeless Liaison Meetings October 2014 Elementary

PROJECT UP-START
HOMELESS EDUCATION PROGRAM
OF M-DCPS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS
Division of Student Services
Ms. Martha Harris, Administrative Director
Ms. Debbie Montilla, Executive Director
PROJECT UP-START -MISSION
 Updating
 Personnel
 Support and
 Tutoring
Activities to
Retain
 Transitioning
students
We seek to ensure a
successful educational
experience for homeless
children and youth in MiamiDade County by collaborating
with parents, schools, and
community through opening
the doors to academic
opportunities, removing
barriers, and promoting a
healthy sense of self.
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IDENTIFYING
STUDENTS
WHO IS HOMELESS?
THE
STUDENT LACKING NIGHTTIME
RESIDENCE THAT IS
Fixed
Regular
Adequate
According to the DOE McKinney Vento law, a
person is considered homeless who “lacks a fixed,
regular, and adequate nighttime residence





A Living in emergency or transitional
shelters
B Shares the housing of others due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason,
“doubled up”
D Living in cars, parks, abandoned
buildings, substandard housing, bus or
train stations, or similar settings
E Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks,
camping grounds due to lack of adequate
alternative accommodations
Awaiting foster care placement
AND THE VERDICT FROM THE
2014 STATE AUDIT IS…
We are providing great services, but
our identification needs to
improve, they estimate the
number of homeless students based
on 10% of 2012-2013 FRL: which is
25,886 students!
THE MOST COMMON WAYS TO IDENTIFY
STUDENTS ARE

During registration at school (i.e. no proof of address)

Self Report to school staff

Families/Students calling our office directly (they see
our posters or brochures at school)

Shelter or outside agency referral

Filling out the free lunch form & marking “homeless”

Referrals from other staff at School District
NEW WAY TO IDENTIFY: DOUBLED-UP
CAMPAIGN
PLEASE REMEMBER



Making sure school staff knows never to use the
word HOMELESS instead use, “IN
TRANSITION”
Schools should not seek address verification of
students, please call our office if you have
questions
Project UP-START’s goal is to remove barriers
for students in transition, NOT to give an
advantage (i.e. We do not guarantee admission to
magnet/charter schools)
EXAMPLE: IS THIS STUDENT DOUBLEDUP?
Brianna is an elementary student school student
whose primary residence is with her mother; the
residence is fixed, regular, and adequate.
However, every other week, she stays with her
dad. Her dad is out of zone for the school she
attends under her mother's address and dad lives
with his grandmother and is her caregiver. He
explains that because he is living in "someone"
else's home, this qualifies his daughter for
McKinney-Vento services such as transportation.
Is this student eligible?
EXAMPLE: IS THIS STUDENT DOUBLEDUP?
John is a 3rd grade student who has attending
Sunny Elementary School for the last two years.
This month his family was evicted and his whole
family had to move to his grandmother’s home
which falls under a different home school. They
are now sharing a 1-bedroom apartment for 5
people.
Is this student eligible?
HOW DO I KNOW WHO IS
CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED AS
HOMELESS IN MY SCHOOL?
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HOW DO I SEE WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THIS YEAR?




The information is still confidential on ISIS
However, ITS has opened a tab on the Employee
Portal
For those with WRTS or WRTA permissions, click on
the "Reports" tab and find the report labeled
"Homeless Students" under the "Miscellaneous"
category
Select the school location and click "View Report"
See briefing ID #: 13655 for more information
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REMINDER: HOMELESS FLAGGED VS. DCF
FLAGGED


Before contacting our office for any student, first
check ISIS to see if student is DCF Flagged (PF3)
If the student is flagged, call Mark Zaher’s office
in School Operations who work directly with the
courts & DCF case managers
Contact 305-633-4950 for further
assistance
PROVIDING SERVICES
A STUDENT IS IDENTIFIED AS
HOMELESS…NOW WHAT?
McKinney Vento Act Ensures:
 Immediate Enrollment
 School Stability
 Transportation
 Enrolled During Disputes
 Comparable Services
 *Homeless students are not to
be stigmatized or separated*
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PROJECT UP-START PROVIDES THE
FOLLOWING:
Book Bags *
School Supplies *
Uniforms *
Non-Perishable Food and Toiletries *
TOMS Shoes*
UP-START Shop
Tutoring at select homeless shelters
Counseling at select homeless shelters
Parenting Groups at select homeless shelters
Please call 305-995-7583 to schedule pick up
of supplies or to obtain a uniform referral
EXAMPLE – WILL THE STUDENT ATTEND
FEEDER PATTERN SCHOOL?
Jonathan became homeless while attending
Palm Bay Elementary School. He remained
homeless over the summer. The new school
year will begin soon and Jonathan wants to
go to Palm Cove Middle School; this is the
feeder school for the elementary school.
However, Jonathan is temporarily residing
in the school zone for Beachside Middle
School.
Is Jonathan eligible to attend Palm Cove
HighSchool?
UNACCOMPANIED
YOUTH IN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOLS
WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH?
Any person under the age of 24 who:

Are in unstable living situations due to parental incarceration,
illness/ hospitalization, or death

Become homeless with their families, but end up on their own due
to lack of space in temporary accommodations or shelter policies
(e.g. some shelters prohibit adolescent boys)

Are from other countries sent to live with relatives

Again not under DCF care
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IS THIS STUDENT UNACCOMPANIED?
Natalie has been placed by DCF with her
great-grandparent as her parents have been
arrested and incarcerated, probably for a
long period of time. The great-grandparent
has temporary custody.
Would she eligible for McKinney-Vento services?
What other information might you need?
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
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FOLLOW-UP



Look at your school’s Free and Reduced Lunch
number and take 10%. Then compare to your
current homeless numbers. If your school has a
small number of homeless compared to the FRL
number, consider sending the 7378 home with all
students and posting doubled-up fliers.
Follow-up with school staff
The goal is to at least give everyone in your
building a basic understanding of McKinney
Vento & the rights of homeless students as well
as ideas for identifying & helping them
WHEN IT IS A HOUSING
EMERGENCY
Call the Homeless Helpline
1-877-994-4357
Have the yellow
cards available
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WHEN IN DOUBT…
OUR CONTACT INFORMATION
Debra Albo-Steiger
Program Manager
(305) 995-7318
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Ana Knapp
Maira Leon
Carolina Camacho Herna Bien Aime
(305) 995-7558
(305) 995-7583
Division of Student Services
Project UP-START - Homeless Education
Program
Fax (305) 995-7337