THE INVISIBLE CHALLENGE STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WEST ADA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE INVISIBLE CHALLENGE

STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Jeanne Buschine, Homeless Grant Liaison Phone: 350-5043 Email: buschine.jeanne@westada.org Molly Patchin, Homeless Grant Social Worker Phone: 855-4331 Email: patchin.molly@westada.org

WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT

382 square miles of Ada County Includes:  Meridian  Eagle  Star  West & Southwest Boise  Portion of Garden City

2015-2016 Student Enrollment = 37,578 32 Elementary Schools 10 Middle Schools 11 High Schools

WEST ADA STUDENT ETHNICITY

WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT POVERTY RATE

School Year % of Free/Reduced # of students

2009-2010 27.3% 9,354 2010-2011 30.3% 10,478 2011-2012 34.6% 11,435 2012-2013 31.37% 11,302 2013-2014 29.59% 10,729 2014-2015 28.68% 10,563 2015-2016 28.08% 10,640

WEST ADA STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

School Year # Identified 2008-2009 276 2009-2010 304 2010-2011 464 2011-2012 444 2012-2013 386 2013-2014 442 2014-2015 420

MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT (FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION)

Defines “homelessness” as… any student who lacks a regular fixed permanent night time residence…..

EXAMPLES OF “HOMELESS”

(MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT) Anyone who, due to a lack of housing, lives…

• Doubled up with relatives or friends
• Emergency or transitional shelters
• Motels, hotels
• Campgrounds
• In cars, parks, public places, bus or train stations, or

abandoned buildings

• “Awaiting foster care”
• Abandoned in hospitals
• Migratory children living in these above conditions

UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH

• 62 identified in 2014-2015

Unaccompanied homeless children or youth are defined as individuals who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. The majority of the “unaccompanied” in our school district have been high school students who are either kicked out of their home or who have chosen to leave dangerous or perceived unsupportive situations.

WHY IS THERE A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING “HOMELESS” STUDENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION?

Research on school mobility….

Students who switch schools frequently score lower on standardized tests; It takes children an average of 4-6 months to recover academically after changing schools. Mobility during high school greatly diminishes the likelihood of graduation. Mobile students can suffer psychologically, socially. They are more likely not to participate in extra-curricular activities and more likely to act out or get into trouble…

Source: NCHE www.serve.org/nche

WHAT DOES THE FEDERAL LAW REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DO?

McKinney Vento Law requires a school district to:

• Keep students in their schools of origin to the extent

feasible, unless it is against the parent’s wishes.

• Provide transportation to the school of origin.
• Remove barriers to enrollment of homeless youth and
• children. (School records, immunization records, etc.).
• Homeless students immediately qualify for

Free/Reduced Lunch.

2 FUNDING SOURCES

• 1. 3 year Federal McKinney-Vento Grant (2014-17)

Program goals: Case-management; mentor support for unaccompanied youth; after-school tutoring; training for staff

• 2. Title I “Set-Aside” funds for Homeless

After-school tutoring, education support/interventions

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

• Catch, Inc began a partnership with West Ada School

District in January 2013

• Mission----rapid rehousing for families who are homeless
• 25 families have been housed since January 2013

HOUSING + HIGH SCHOOL = SUCCESS

• During 2014-15 school year

Leadership Meridian---Raised over $15,000

• Provides housing stipends for unaccompanied youth ages 18-21
• Our Goal: Is to provide an incentive for unaccompanied homeless

students to remain in school and graduate, rather than dropping out to work full-time.

• How It Works:

Unaccompanied Students are screened by West Ada Social Worker. Application is filled

• ut by host home and student. Project Board reviews application. Stipends are given

monthly after school attendance and passing grade are verified.

PROJECT GRADUATION MENTORING PROGRAM WEST ADA SCHOOL DISTRICT

• Mentoring for students experiencing homelessness.
• Established a mentoring program in 2008
• Grades 8th-12th
• Target unaccompanied youth
• Mentoring occurs at school during school hours
• Mentors screened and trained
• Mentors meet with students during school hours one hour week

PROJECT GRADUATION STATISTICS

School Year Students Mentored 12th graders # Graduated/ % Graduated College 2011-2012 32 19 9/47% 4 2012-2013 30 15 11/73% 7 2013-2014 29 10 8/80% 5

2014-2015 20 9 7/78% 6

WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL NEEDS?

Housing for families experiencing homelessness Housing assistance for unaccompanied youth