Linking Homeless Students Linking Homeless Students to Academic Successto Academic Success

McKinney-Vento Implementation in Akron Public Schools

Identification, Identification, Enrollment Enrollment

and and TransportationTransportation

Identifying StudentsIdentifying StudentsSchools

◦Secretaries◦Counselors◦Principals

SheltersCommunity

◦Social Service Organizations◦Juvenile Court◦Akron Metropolitan Housing

Authority◦Fair Housing Contact Service

EnrollmentEnrollmentSchool Staff Awareness.

◦ See “Project RISE- Model of Seamless Enrollment- What Principals and School Personnel Need to Know”

Specifications are listed in the Board of Education Board PolicyEnrollment form contains checkboxes for:

◦ Student resides in shelter or transitional housing program

◦ Student resides in hotel or motel◦ Student resides in a car/trailer/motor home on private

property◦ Student resides in a place not designated for normal

residence◦ Student not living with ANY parent or legal guardian◦ Student and student’s family are living with another

familyInvolvement of shelter staff and school personnel.Coordination with other school districts

TransportationTransportationWhen transportation is requested all

parties communicate via e-mail for documentation and record keeping purposes. E-mails include the following:◦Student’s name and birthdate◦Temporary address◦Parent/guardian name and contact number

Key Points◦Coordinated transportation between liaison,

principals, counselors, transportation department and shelter staff.

◦Coordination with other school districts◦Parent involvement

Project RISEProject RISEProgramming and Programming and

ServicesServices

After School ProgrammingAfter School Programming

Tutoring◦9 shelter sites have tutoring

at least once a week◦Tutors are certified teachers, service learners from the university and volunteers

from the community◦Fosters increased academic

stabilization

After School ProgrammingAfter School ProgrammingGetting Started

Meet with local shelter staff to assess needs and find out about current programming.

Who will staff the activities?Secure volunteers to support staff

efforts.Designate a space to conduct activities

and store needed supplies.

Parent OutreachParent OutreachParent Pack Folder filled with

useful information.Monthly MailingsParent Letters

Love and Learn Doll ProjectLove and Learn Doll Project

This program utilizes local volunteers who make handmade dolls and tote bags that come with a book and activity booklet. The Love and Learn Doll Project promotes positive parent-child interaction and school readiness.

PACT- Performing Arts Can PACT- Performing Arts Can TeachTeach• Performing arts program that exposes students and

families to live theater.• Each student who attends the performance receives a

study guide and storybook. • Community Partners• First United Methodist

Provides space and food for Dinner Theater event• Weathervane Theater

Provides tickets for local performances• Magical Theater

Provides tickets for performances Performs plays for the Dinner Theater events

• University of Akron Theater Provides tickets for plays and musical performances

Parents RISE-ingParents RISE-ingParents RISE-ing events are focused on

family fellowship, food, and programming that is both fun and

educational for students and parents. Themes include:Harvest Dinner

Soul Food DinnerSpring Celebration

Arts & Literacy ProgramsArts & Literacy ProgramsKidz Art, a local

contracted service provider presents art and literacy programs at the

local shelter sites during the school

year and the summer

Heart: Love and hope.Lace Border: Protection of familyTear: Release of pain and hurt.Peace: Brings it all together for good.Flowers: Growth and beauty from within me

Moms Moms on the on the RISERISE

Traces of a life hoped for- peace, love, happiness, smile.

MAM (Mothers Assisting Mothers) is a local contracted service provider who works with the mothers at the shelters on parenting techniques through art, activities, and discussion.

Summer Field TripsSummer Field Trips

Each summer, staff members accompany youth

and families on five different educational field

trips. Time is spent observing, creating, and

processing.

Clothing RoomClothing RoomProject RISE partnered with Trinity

United Church of Christ to provide students with :◦New and used uniforms◦Clothes◦Shoes◦School Supplies ◦Toiletries

Akron Street CardAkron Street CardPocket directory of local

agencies covering many needs.

Updated yearly by RISE staff and a committee of representatives from local agencies

Funded by community donations.

150,000 printed annually

Resource DirectoryResource DirectoryBooklet format directory similar to

the Street card focused on services for families.

Distributed to the shelters and doubled-up families. Some categories include: Clothing &

Shoes, Fatherhood Initiatives, and Resources for Parents & Grandparents.

Approximately 750 printed annually.

Community Community AwarenessAwareness

Displays and events take place

around the community to

raise awareness about Project RISE

and family homelessness

Advisory CouncilAdvisory Council Since 1998, the Project RISE Advisory Council has expanded and

developed into a strong and diverse collaborative council comprised of community members: ◦ Akron Public Schools

Transportation Student Services Child Study Title 1 Special Education Child Nutrition Services

◦ Local Shelters◦ Continuum of Care ◦ Area Agencies◦ The University of Akron◦ Children’s Services◦ Jobs and Family Services◦ Juvenile Court◦ Akron- Summit County Public Library ◦ Head Start◦ Akron Urban League ◦ Formerly Homeless Parents

This collaboration has brought forth greater understanding of the special issues and needs of homeless children and youth while at the same time generating greater involvement and community resources. These efforts have helped reduce the barriers of homeless children and youth. There are presently 32 Council Members and Resource Persons

Advisory Council cont. Advisory Council cont.

Community Community CollaborationCollaboration

The Benefits of Community The Benefits of Community CollaborationCollaborationProvides enrichment that may not

have otherwise been provided because of funding.

Provides expertise that may not be part of your staff’s skill set.

Helps raise awareness of homeless children and youth.

Community PartnersCommunity Partners

First Book◦Local chapter of the national organization

provides age appropriate brand-new books to the students at various events.

University of Akron and Kent State University◦Service Learners who volunteer with the

tutoring program and at other events.Hospice of the Western Reserve

◦Outreach to shelter residents who have experienced loss

Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.IJN-1 Foundation

◦Provides tickets to performances such as Disney on Ice and the circus

Akron-Summit County Public Library◦Shelter Programming◦Advertise about library programs◦Age-specific programming at

Parents RISEing Dinners

Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.VFW

◦Provides turkey and volunteers for the annual Harvest Dinner

Boy Scouts◦Performs traditional Native

American dances for the annual Harvest Dinner

Sons of Italy◦Provided over 200 wrapped

Christmas gifts for families at the shelters.

Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.• Local Schools

◦Donates clothing and leftover uniforms from school uniform exchanges for the clothing room.

Summit County Department of Jobs and Family ServicesSummit County Children’s Services

BoardLocal Businesses

◦Adopted doubled-up families for Christmas

Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.University of Akron Association

for the Education of Young Children◦Created t-shirts & blankets◦Collected new athletic shoes◦Collected teddy bears to distribute

at the sheltersOther Partners:

Feed the Children◦Provides school supplies, books, and

food packets.

School and Community Collaborations

Getting StartedIdentify key school and community

partnersLocate local chapters of national

organizationsNetwork, network, network!Communicate, Coordinate, and

Collaborate

Contact InformationContact InformationDebra ManteghiDistrict Homeless Education Liaison and

Program Manager Akron Public SchoolsProject RISE70 N. Broadway St. Room 300Akron, Ohio 44308 330-761-2969330-761-3226 faxdmantegh@akron.k12.oh.us