2009 HOMELESS AWARENESS DAYNOVEMBER 19, 2009

The Educational Rights and The Educational Rights and Needs of Homeless Children Needs of Homeless Children

Donna Cash, SupervisorHomeless & Even StartState of Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education PO Box 480Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480Phone: 573-522-8763 Fax: 573-526-6698donna.cash@dese.mo.gov

DESE’s Website: http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/fedprog/discretionarygrants/homeless/index.html

CHILDREN IN POVERTYCHILDREN IN POVERTY

“Overall…receive lower grades, receive lower scores on standardized tests, are less likely to finish high school, and are less likely to attend or graduate from college…”

Source: Seccombe 2001, p. 323

Missouri has 256,000 children living in poverty.*

Ages of Homeless Children

Under 6 years….………12,801Grades K-8………………...3,606Grades 9-12…………..…14,071

Total Homeless Children…30,478

*As reported by The National Center on Family Homelessness 2009

THE EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS THE EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF HOMELESS CHILDRENOF HOMELESS CHILDREN

The McKinney-Vento Act ensures homeless children certain rights. It addresses the educational and related needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our society—homeless children and youth.

The Act is a conditional funding act. This means that the federal government gives grants to states and, in return, the grantee states are bound by the terms of the act.

For the purposes of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act, homelessness is described as…

“Children and unaccompanied youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”

DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS

If the living arrangement does not meet all three criteria, it is considered a homeless situation.

FixedA fixed residence is one that is stationary, permanent, and not subject to change.

RegularA regular residence is one which is used on a predictable or routine basis.

AdequateAn adequate residence is one that is sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments.

MCKINNEY-VENTO ACTMCKINNEY-VENTO ACT

McKinney-Vento requires schools to immediately enroll students experiencing homelessness even when they lack:

Proof of residency Guardianship Birth certificates, school records, or other documents Medical records, including immunization records

MOFAQ If unable to obtain prior immunization records within 30 days,

begin the immunization series and demonstrate satisfactory progress has been accomplished within 90 days.

Required dress code items, including uniforms

Determining eligibility is a case-by-case determination made by examining the living arrangement of each individual student.

Some instances will be clear-cut; others will require further inquiry and then a judgment call.

Determinations of eligibility cannot delay immediate enrollment and the prompt provision of services for MV students.

MCKINNEY-VENTO ACTMCKINNEY-VENTO ACT

"You develop coping mechanisms – a fight or flight

response - when you are homeless that are probably

not appropriate in mainstream culture. You get

increasingly defensive and desperate. …We have to

understand that a goal of simply creating more

affordable housing units is not enough; we need …

plenty of compassion and understanding on the part

of the community,"…

Quote from Jessica Welch, former homeless student

What is in the child’s best interestSchool stabilitySchool accessSupport for academic success

First and foremost decisions must be child-centered

MAIN POINTS OF MCKINNEY-VENTO MAIN POINTS OF MCKINNEY-VENTO

THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF HOMELESS CHILDRENOF HOMELESS CHILDREN

Shalonda Haynes, Educational CoordinatorThe Salvation Army: Family Haven A Community In Partnership10740 Page St. Louis Mo. 63132Phone: 314-423-7770 Fax: 314-423-5458shalonda_haynes@usc.salvationarmy.org

Did You Know???Did You Know???

Children living in families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness suffer from hunger, poor physical and mental health, and missed educational opportunities.

General FindingsGeneral Findings

Mental Health: 2009 20% to 25% of homeless families in the US suffers form some form of mental illness.

Physical Health: More than 1 in 7 homeless children have moderate to severe health conditions.

Dental: 1 in 3 poor children have no dental care, low income children have 12 times as many restricted activity days due to dental disease.

Education: Less than 25% of homeless children graduate from high school

Source: National Coalition for the Homeless

Missouri’s Report CardMissouri’s Report Card

The Overall Rank represents the following four domainsExtent of child homelessness 41Child well-being 6Risk for child homelessness 30State policy and planning ModerateOverall rank 27*States ranked 1-50 1=best, 50=worstThe Report Card describes many factors related to child

homelessness in each state.

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Two main risk factors that lead to child homelessness are…

Lack of affordable housingIncome

Lack of Affordable HousingLack of Affordable Housing

In an effort to house families in need, states can supply emergency shelter, transitional, and permanent supportive housing.

Section 8 vouchers and public housing are two of the primary ways for homeless families to secure affordable housing.In Missouri, approx. 91% of the households on the Section 8 waiting lists and 87% on the public housing waiting list are families with extremely low incomes.Unfortunately, current funding for the voucher program meets the needs of only one-quarter of homeless families.

IncomeIncome

As of July 2009 minimum wage in Missouri is $7.25 an hour.

One wage earner, earning the state’s minimum wage($7.25) would need to work 75 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent.

The average monthly income for a single mother in Missouri receiving public assistance is less than $498

For a family in this situation, a minor event (illness, reduce work hours, hospitalization etc.) can force a family onto the streets.

Immediate Needs of Homeless ChildrenImmediate Needs of Homeless Children

Education: Proficiency data for homeless students are unavailable.As a proxy measure, the National Assessment of

Educational Progress reports the following:

18% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient on reading22% of students in grades 3-8 were proficient in mathematics16%of high school students were proficient in mathematics18% or students in grade 3-8 were proficient in reading.

Lack of Representation: IEP meetings, 504 meetings, disciplinary hearings, etc.

Physical HealthPhysical Health

More than 1 in 7 homeless children have moderate to severe health conditions.

Losing one’s home can cause illness and aggravate existing health conditions for homeless children who tend to be in poorer health than their housed counterparts.

Homeless children have poorer access to medical and dental care.

More than 1 in 10 homeless children have not seen a doctor in the past year.

Homeless families use emergency rooms as their primary source of health care, seeking assistance only when problems become severe and urgent.

DentalDental

1 in 7 poor children will go a year without receiving dental care.

Homeless children are at increased risk for tooth decay.

Low-income children have 12 times as many restricted activity days due to dental disease.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children visit a dentist at least once before age one and bi-annually afterwards.

Give Kids A Smile

Mental HealthMental Health

1 in 6 homeless children have emotional disturbances (twice that experienced by middle class children).

1 in 10 homeless children have a emotional disturbance that is serious enough to disrupt daily functioning in home, school, or the community.

Mental health disorders may begin as early as 7-11 year old and often persist into adulthood.

By age 8 one out of three homeless children will have a diagnosable mental disorder that interferes with daily activity.

A Call For HelpA Call For Help

Homeless children are in constant need of resources that will help with…

EducationMental HealthPhysical HealthDental Care

Reflection:Reflection:

The moral test of Government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children, those who are in the twilight of life, the aged, and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.

--Hubert Humphrey

Questions?Questions?