being their advocate: helping unaccompanied homeless youth access higher education
DESCRIPTION
The following is a presentation prepared for NASFAA’s 2011 Conference in Boston, MA July 17-20, 2011. Being Their Advocate: Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access Higher Education. How many youth experience homelessness on their own?. 1.6 to 1.7 million youth - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
Slide 3 © NASFAA 2011
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
4
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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