Taking a State Perspective in Taking a State Perspective in Meeting the Needs of Older Meeting the Needs of Older Youth Experiencing Youth Experiencing HomelessnessHomelessness

Thank you for joining us. The webinar will begin shortly.

While you wait, jot down your answers to these two questions:

1.What federal laws and agencies must state coordinators consider when serving older youth?

2.What do state coordinators need to know about their state code when serving older youth?

Taking a State Perspective in Taking a State Perspective in Meeting the Needs of Older Meeting the Needs of Older Youth Experiencing Youth Experiencing HomelessnessHomelessness

Webinar for NCHE, July 17, 2012

Lorraine Husum Allen, FloridaLynda Thistle-Elliott, New HampshirePatricia A. Popp, Virginia

AgendaAgendaIntroductionsSetting the contextDetermining eligibility – UHY v UYParental rightsSchool access (including higher

ed)HealthcareFood stabilityHousingPromising practices & next steps

Getting a lay of the landGetting a lay of the landFederal legislationState legislation and policyWhat’s working? What isn’t? (aka

needs assessment)

Poll – select all that applyIn serving older youth as state coordinator, I have worked with:

Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs

Child WelfareTemporary Assistance for Needy

Families (TANF)Family Educational Rights and

Privacy Act (FERPA)Health Department

What do state coordinators need to know about their state code when serving older youth?

How do we find outHow do we find outWhat’s working?What isn’t working?

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Florida Homeless Education Florida Homeless Education Program Advisory CouncilProgram Advisory Council

Mission and Purpose of Advisory Council Review/Discuss Current Policies, Procedures,

Rules, etc. as they Pertain to Homeless Students and Possible Barriers including◦Enrollment/Attendance◦School Success (including Extracurricular

Activities)◦Exceptional Student Education (ESE)◦Food and Nutrition◦Unaccompanied Homeless Youth◦Proof of Identification/◦Attending Postsecondary Education

Institutions

Who are Unaccompanied Who are Unaccompanied Students?Students?2-step process

1)Does the student’s living arrangement meet the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?

2)Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?

Unaccompanied = “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian”; in practical terms, this means the youth does not live with the parent or guardian

Scenario: KristinScenario: Kristin

Kristin’s mom was incarcerated during her senior year in high school. Her older sister moved back to the family’s house to be with Kristin while her mom was gone.

According to McKinney-Vento, is Kristin an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Scenario: JeroldScenario: JeroldJerold was kicked out of his house in his junior year of high school. He’d had problems getting along with his stepmom for some time and the level of conflict had gotten out of control. He went to live with his friend, Kevin, but Kevin’s parents said Jerold can only stay there until the end of the semester.

According to McKinney-Vento, is Jerold an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Scenario: SaraScenario: Sara

Sara’s dad is a professor at a local college. He will be teaching in another state for one semester as a visiting professor. Because Sara is going into her senior year of high school, she plans to stay with a neighborhood friend while her dad is away.

According to McKinney-Vento, is Sara an unaccompanied homeless youth?

Poll: UHY Data CollectionPoll: UHY Data CollectionHow do your LEAs collect and

report UHY numbers?a.They are flagged in the student

record system.b.Subgrants maintain their own

record and report to the state.c.I don’t know.

798%increase from 2003-04 to present

Parental RightsParental RightsFERPA

Permission slipsExtracurricular activities

HealthcareBirth Certificates

School/Training AccessSchool/Training AccessK-12

◦Immediate enrollment◦School activities◦Extracurricular activities

Higher education◦FAFSA◦Waivers◦Partnerships

Workforce Investment Act◦Youth Services◦Job Corps

Florida Certified Homeless YouthFlorida Certified Homeless Youth

  CS/HB 1351 amends s. 382.002, F. S. , DefinitionsDefines the term “certified homeless youth” as a

minor who is a homeless child or youth, including an unaccompanied youth, as defined in 42 U.S.C. s. 11434a, and has been certified as homeless or unaccompanied by: ◦ A school district homeless liaison; ◦ The director of an emergency shelter program

funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or the director’s designee; or

◦ The director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or the director’s designee.

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1351er.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=135

1&Session=201218

Florida Exemption for Homeless Florida Exemption for Homeless StudentsStudents

Per section 1009.25, Florida Statutes, the following students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that provides postsecondary career programs, Florida College System institution, or state university:

(f) A student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

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Florida Exemption for Homeless Florida Exemption for Homeless StudentsStudents

To qualify, students need documentation from:◦ homeless shelter, ◦ school district homeless liaison, ◦ transitional living program, ◦ or runaway shelter

Other documentation may be required depending on the college.

The definition of homeless status for the fee exemption differs from the definition used for purposes of the FAFSA◦ Just because a student meets one does not

guarantee the student will meet the other.Since each college has autonomy over

policies and practices, the verification process varies from college to college.◦ Verification may fall under financial aid office,

registrar’s office, or business office.

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FAFSA/Florida Fee ExemptionsFAFSA/Florida Fee Exemptions Unaccompanied Homeless YouthWork with Division of Florida Colleges to provide

technical assistance to school district liaisons and local financial aid staff to assist Unaccompanied Homeless Youth in verifying that they meet the “Independent” status

Encourage school district liaisons to work with their local public colleges and universities to determine best process

Homeless Youth (both Accompanied/Unaccompanied)Provide technical assistance to school district liaisons

to establish process to connect homeless youth with financial aid officers regarding the Florida fee exemptions for homeless individuals

Encourage school district liaisons to work with their local public colleges and universities to determine best process 21

HealthcareHealthcareMedicaid and CHIPConsent for medical treatment

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Food StabilityFood StabilitySchool USDA programs (charter and

high)SNAP & WIC http://www.snap-help.com/ Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families (TANF)◦ Monthly cash payment to low-income

families◦ Teen parent can apply◦ Must live with a parent, adult relative or

another approved living situation (couch-surfing barrier)

HousingHousingContinuum of careRunaway and Homeless Youth

programsHost homesGroup homesIndependent living programs

Community colleges v 4-year institutions

First steps and next stepsFirst steps and next stepsIdentify the needIdentify the “keys”Look for the right doorsDon’t be afraid to knock

Voices from HELP Briefing, Voices from HELP Briefing, June 2012June 2012

“I always wanted to be amazing.” – Sunny

“Homelessness is nothing but barriers.” – Brandy

“One caring, compassionate teacher changed my life.” – Nick

““I may be I may be Homeless, Homeless, but I am not but I am not Hopeless.”Hopeless.”--Florida Le Tendre Scholarship Recipient

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Be sure to check out:Be sure to check out:Unaccompanied Youth Toolkit

◦http://naehcy.org/tk/cl.htmlHousing + High School = Success

◦http://naehcy.org/housingyouth.html Higher Education Resources

◦http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php

Student Voices◦http://www.all4ed.org/blog/

student_interviews_how_do_people_become_homeless