National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

© NASFAA 2011

The following is a presentation The following is a presentation prepared for NASFAA’s prepared for NASFAA’s

2011 Conference in Boston, MA2011 Conference in Boston, MAJuly 17-20, 2011July 17-20, 2011

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

© NASFAA 2011

Being Their Advocate: Helping Being Their Advocate: Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Access Higher EducationAccess Higher Education

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How many youth experience homelessness on their own?

• 1.6 to 1.7 million youth

• Public schools 956,914 homeless children/youth in 2008-2009– 41% increase over past two years– 69% increase for unaccompanied youth

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Homelessness and Foster Care What’s the Connection?• 22% of homeless children are put into foster care

• 30% of children in foster care could return home if their parents had access to housing.

• Approximately 27% of homeless adults and 41% of homeless youth report a foster care history.

• 25% of youth “aging out” of foster care experience homelessness.

Who is considered homeless?

• Anyone who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence—– Sharing the housing of others due to loss of

housing, economic hardship, or similar reason

– Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations

– Living in emergency or transitional shelters

– Abandoned in hospitals

Who are Unaccompanied Homeless Youth?Defining Homelessness

Unaccompanied Not in the physical custody of parents

Homeless Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and

adequate nighttime residenceadequate nighttime residence

Youth Under 21 years of age

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Agenda

• Implementing changes made by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)

• Who are McKinley-Vento Act professionals?

• How can McKinley-Vento Act professionals and aid administrators work together?

• Brainstorming

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Expanded Definition of Independent Student

• Unaccompanied homeless youth

• Youth in foster care at any time after age 13 or older

• Emancipated minors and students in legal guardianships

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Impact on Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

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Certifying a Student’s Status

• McKinney-Vento Act school district liaison

• U.S. Department of Health and Urban Development (HUD) homeless assistance program director or designee

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Certifying a Student’s Status

• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program director or their designee

• Financial aid administrators

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Verifying the Status of Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

• Verification not required

• When is verification appropriate?

• Documenting status

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Who are McKinney-Vento Act Professionals?

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McKinney-Vento/ Title X, Part C of NCLB

• Reauthorized in 2002 as Title X, Part C of No Child Left Behind

• Mandated that state and local educational agencies change policies and practices that create barriers to the access and success of homeless children and youth in public schools

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McKinney Vento Overview

Main themes:• School stability• School access• Support for academic success

Child-centered, best interest decision making

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McKinney-Vento Act Educational Rights

By law, Districts must:

• Appoint a homeless education liaison

• Assist in school enrollment and placement

• Enrolled students immediately

• Facilitate dispute resolution processes

• Connect students with school and community resources

• Review and revise district policies to address barriers

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Finding the McKinney-Vento District Liaison

• Check school district directories or websites

• Contact your State Coordinator for Homeless Education: http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/sccontact.pdf

• Contact NCHE http://www.serve.org/nche/contact.php

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Training Opportunities

• National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) Webinars– October 5, 2011, and February 9, 2012

• Conferences

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Regular Communication

• NASFAA representative on National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY)

• Encourage communication between state liaisons and financial aid associations

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Working Together to Provide Services to Students

• Identify a safe single point of contact (SPOC) at each postsecondary institution

• Develop streamlined approach for other campus services

• Centrally store personal documentation

• Single form for verification within same academic year

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Contact Us

Jennifer Martin, martinj@nasfaa.org

Misti Ruthven, Misti.Ruthven@dhe.state.co.us

Dana Scott, Scott_D@cde.state.co.us