Being Their Advocate: Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access Higher Education

Transcription

1 Being Their Advocate: Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access Higher Education Cyekeia Lee National Higher Education Liaison for Homeless Youth, NAEHCY

2 Meet NAEHCY The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national grassroots membership association that connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, and service providers to ensure school enrollment, attendance and overall success for children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing. Website: 2

3 How Many Youth Experience Homelessness? 1.2 million children/youth Public schools 1,168,354 homeless children/youth in % increase over last year 24% increase overall since the school year 44 states (83%) reported increases 58,158 unaccompanied homeless youth 3

4 Understanding the McKinney-Vento Act 4

5 Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights & Services Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including: 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 the lack of adequate alternative accommodations Living in emergency or transitional shelters Awaiting foster care placement

6 Eligibility Continued Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setting Migratory children living in the above circumstances Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances For more info, see NCHE s Determining Eligibility brief at

7 Fixed, Regular, Adequate Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

8 Why the Broad Definition? Shelters are often full and turn away youth No shelters in many suburban and rural areas Eligibility rules of often exclude unaccompanied minors Youth may fear adult shelters Shelters often have time limits Youth may be unaware of alternatives, fleeing in crisis, living in over-crowded, temporary, and sometimes unsafe environments Shelters often are a last resort after all other possibilities are exhausted

9 Paths to Being On Our Own Family conflict: blended family issues, pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, substance abuse Abuse and/or neglect within the home Parental incarceration, illness, hospitalization, or death Lack of space in temporary situations or shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys

10 Paths Continued Child welfare issues Running away from a placement Aging out of the system Significant correlation between involvement with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult 10

11 But the Student Choose to Leave A youth can be eligible regardless of whether he/she was asked to leave the home or chose to leave Sometimes there is more than meets the eye for youth s home life situations Educators do not need to understand or agree with all aspects of a student s home life to comply with federal educational mandates

12 Who are McKinney-Vento Act Professionals?

13 McKinney Vento Overview Main themes: School stability School access Support for academic success Child-centered, best interest decision making

14 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

15 Finding the McKinney-Vento District Liaison Check school district directories or websites Contact your State Coordinator for Homeless Education: Contact NCHE

16 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth 16

17 Unaccompanied Students Under MV 2-step process to determine eligibility 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

18 Barriers to Higher Education Access Lack of access to parental financial information and support Lack of financial means to live independently and safely Inability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in college Limited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areas Struggling to balance school and other responsibilities Lack of adult guidance and support Lack of information about available support systems 18

19 College Cost Reduction And Act (CCRAA) Independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness Can apply for financial aid without parental signature or consideration of parental income Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College financial aid administrator

20 Application and Verification Guide FAA verification Not required unless there is conflicting information Documented interview (even via phone) is acceptable Should be done with discretion and sensitivity Some information may be confidential (e.g. protected by doctor-patient privilege) Child welfare reports are not necessary Guidance recommends consulting with local liaisons, State Coordinators, NCHE, school counselors, clergy, etc.

21 Application and Verification Guide Application and Verification Guide Borrows language from NCHE s Determining Eligibility brief Student can use the college s administrative address as his/her mailing address UHY may be 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA Dependency override required for year olds 24 or older is automatic independent status

22 Best Practices for Higher Education Professionals 22

23 Best Practices on Campus Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing Open a food and clothing bank on campus Consider housing options for homeless students when dorms close: Leaving one residence hall open Allow UHY to stay in housing for international students Provide a list of host homes in the community Establish Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

24 Best Practices on Campus for SPOC s SPOC s can come from any office on campus Assist students with the following Admissions Financial Aid Academic Advising Remediation, Tutoring Student Life Housing, Counseling Center, Health Center, TRIO Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, EOC, GEAR- UP),Learning Disabilities Services, Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mentoring Programs

25 Community Connections Connect students with federal and community resources that they may be eligible for Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funded Shelters (RHYA) Administration for Children and Families

26 Statewide Networks Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12, Foster Care, Higher Education, and RHYA/HUD shelter communities as well as other local service providers and advocates Allow each to share knowledge about their area of expertise UHY and independent student definitions Financial aid Campus and community resources Build an action plan for serving UHY that makes sense for your community

27 Statewide Networks Four Established Statewide Networks Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, New Hampshire Have Single Points of Contact (SPOC s) at each college/university Six New Statewide Networks Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Florida Upcoming Networks Indiana, Montana, New York, New Jersey, Virginia

28 Colorado Network Example Consists of stakeholders from: Colorado Department of Education K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons Higher Education personnel from Financial Aid, Admissions, and Student Support Services Collaborates to streamline the verification process between K-12 and higher education Has established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in all CO colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access

29 Colorado Network Continued Barriers addressed included waiving application fees, deferring housing deposits, and connecting students with community resources In 2011 the Colorado taskforce along with the nonprofit homeless service provider Family Tree established private funding to assist UHY. SPOCs apply for funding through Family Tree to provide student IDs, bedding, toiletry items, and other basic needs not covered by other sources

30 Training Opportunities Conferences National Association for the Educ. of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Kansas City, MO Oct ,

31 Resources 31

32 LeTendre Scholarship How do students apply? Applicants must submit: 1) A completed application form; 2) An essay about the impact of homelessness on the their lives and their desire to attend college (500-1,000 words) 3) An official school transcript 4) A minimum of one letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or other adult who can speak to the applicant's qualifications and experiences Deadline to apply for $2000 scholarship is June 2014

33 Additional Resources National Center for Homeless Education National Resources Center for Permanency and Family Connections html National College Access Network National Network for Youth

34 NAEHCY Resources NAEHCY Higher Education Hotline: Cyekeia Lee, Higher Education Liaison, NAEHCY College Access and Success Toolkit, Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Toolkits, FAFSA Week: NAEHCY Podcast Series FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable Housing Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial Aid Brief