Saturday, October 29, 8:30-10:30 AM — Baby Steps: Data on Infants & Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness
Location: America’s Cup ABCD (4th Fl) | ELE05
There are approximately 1.3 million children ages six and under experiencing homelessness across the US, and SchoolHouse Connection has set a goal that they will be enrolled in high-quality early learning programs at the same rate as their housed peers by 2026. While there is some data available about children ages birth – six experiencing homelessness, less is known about the birth to three segment of this population. During this session, SchoolHouse Connection will share what we are learning, including that nearly 250,000 children experiencing homelessness across 20 states are not identified and being served by early learning programs. Our findings include data from Child Care, Early Head Start, Home Visiting programs, and others. This information is a first step for practitioners, state leaders, and policymakers working to increase and improve services for families and young children experiencing homelessness.
Handouts and Resources:
Learn more about our early childhood work.
Sunday, October 30, 10:00-11:15am — Getting Ahead in Head Start: Referral App for Children Experiencing Homelessness
Location: Cortez Hill ABC | ELE01
There are approximately 1.3 million children under age six experiencing homelessness, yet only 10% are enrolled in a Head Start or Early Head Start program. Enrollment in high quality early learning programs is imperative, as they can play an outsized role in mitigating the traumatic impacts of homelessness on young children. Simultaneously, K-12 liaisons often become aware of younger siblings in a family experiencing homelessness, but lack the connections and tools to quickly refer them to a program. In this session, SchoolHouse Connection will share about a referral app developed in partnership with the National Head Start Association. The app is currently being piloted across eight states and is showing early signs of increased enrollment of young children experiencing homelessness in Head Start and Early Head Start, as well as increased collaboration across early childhood and K12 systems.
Handouts and Resources:
Learn more about our early childhood work.
Sunday, October 30, 1:30-2:45pm — Supporting Immigrant Students
Location: Gaslamp ABCD (2nd Fl) | FED02
Many families and youth arrive to the United States from other countries without safe, stable housing. Whether they are characterized as asylees, refugees, parolees, unaccompanied minors, or other classifications can impact what services they receive from housing and resettlement agencies. However, all of these children and youth have the right to attend public school. This session will share a basic overview of the education rights of immigrant students. We’ll work through scenarios to determine their eligibility for McKinney-Vento services, early childhood programs, higher education, and community supports. Most importantly, an immigrant student will share their experiences and suggest specific steps schools can take to help newcomer students join their school communities fully.
Handouts and Resources:
- Powerpoint Presentation
- https://schoolhouseconnection.org/strategies-for-supporting-immigrant-and-migrant-students-experiencing-homelessness/
- https://schoolhouseconnection.org/immigrant-students-how-schools-can-help-updated-and-translated-brief/
- https://schoolhouseconnection.org/immigrant-students-experiencing-homelessness-liaisons-strategies/
Sunday, October 30, 1:30-2:45pm — A Federal Policy and Advocacy Update with SchoolHouse Connection
Location: Seaport Ballroom (2nd Fl) | FED01
This presentation will provide updates on current federal policy issues related to child, youth, and family homelessness, including K-12 and higher education, the continuation of ARP-HCY funding, housing, health, tax, benefits, and others. The presentation will also provide attendees with training on the ways in which they can effectively advocate at the federal level on behalf of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
Handouts and Resources:
Learn more about our federal policy advocacy.
Sunday, October 30, 1:30-2:45 — Partnering with Law Enforcement to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
Location: Regatta ABC (4th Fl) | PBP05
School districts across the country have resource officers or other security personnel who may not be aware of McKinney-Vento and their role in supporting students experiencing homelessness. This session will provide best practices for training school security staff, including their roles in attendance and truancy, behavior, and identification. Facilitators will share practical steps to engage school security personnel in supporting and identifying students, as well as ways to build awareness within the broader law enforcement community. Participants will also hear from school safety personnel on their partnerships with the liaison to support students experiencing homelessness.
Handouts and Resources:
Sunday, October 30, 3:00-4:15 — ARP-HCY: Best Practices and Sustainability
Location: Balboa ABC (2nd Fl) | FUN02
This session will focus on American Rescue Plan-Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) best practices and sustainability. Presenters will open the session with ARP-HCY framing information and updates, and then dedicate the remainder of the session on roundtable discussions. Each roundtable will be hosted by a local educational agency (LEA) or consortium that will share a spotlight practice, including partnerships with community-based organizations, short-term temporary housing, and supporting academic achievement. Each LEA will highlight their work and provide considerations for sustainability beyond the current ARP-HCY funding timeline. Participants will engage in interactive discussions, followed by a large group debrief and key findings discussion to close out the session.
Handouts and Resources:
Learn more about the American Rescue Plan – Homeless Children and Youth
Monday, October 31, 11:15am-12:30pm — What’s Up Your Sleeve? Tricks and Tools for Serving Unaccompanied Youth
Location: Balboa ABC (2nd Fl) | UHY02
Decision-making, participation in extra-curricular activities, contacting child welfare, parental rights, accessing services outside of school…. Tough questions abound when working with youth experiencing homeless who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian. Often, there is no clear “answer.” But we’ve developed a fun game that will put some tricks and tools up your sleeves to help you address questions carefully, systemically and appropriately. You’ll also learn strategies to support LGBTQ+ youth directly from a young person. Come ready to compete—there will be prizes!
Handouts and Resources:
Monday, October 31 11:15-12:30 — Federal and State Policies on FAFSA Provisions for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Location: Gaslamp ABCD (2nd Fl) | CCH01
According to a 2016 GAO report, homeless and foster youth face many barriers obtaining financial assistance. After years of advocacy, the FAFSA Simplification Act was passed in 2020 which removes many of these obstacles by streamlining the process and codifying already existing guidance. Students experiencing homelessness need targeted outreach and support for filling out the FAFSA. This presentation will share updates on these provisions for homeless and foster youth and implementation strategies. While these provisions are on a federal level, some states have specific FAFSA laws to increase FAFSA completion for graduating students, which would increase the amount of students experiencing homelessness completing the FAFSA and pursuing a postsecondary education.
Handouts and Resources:
- Powerpoint Presentation
- “Working Harder Just to Be Seen and Heard:” Barriers to Financial Aid for Homeless and Foster Youth
Learn more about our work on the FAFSA and higher education.
Monday, October 31, 1:45-3:00 PM — Lessons from the First FAFSA Challenge for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Location: Hillcrest ABCD – 3rd Fl | CCH02
John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY), in partnership with SchoolHouse Connection and the California Department of Education, launched the first-ever Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Challenge for Students Experiencing Homelessness. With FAFSA completion rates continuing to decline due to the pandemic, now more than ever targeted outreach and assistance for students experiencing homelessness filling out the FAFSA is needed. This challenge worked with over 19 counties and districts in California to increase identification and FAFSA completion for students experiencing homelessness. This presentation will provide an overview of the FAFSA Challenge, including the roles of homeless education liaisons, lessons learned, and share resources for adult supporters of homeless students to increase financial aid application completion and college success.
Handouts and Resources:
- Powerpoint Presentation
- High School Counselor FAFSA/CADAA Toolkit
- “Working Harder Just to Be Seen and Heard:” Barriers to Financial Aid for Homeless and Foster Youth
Learn more about our work on the FAFSA and higher education.
Resources
At SchoolHouse Connection, we listen closely, then work with practitioners to create tools and resources to meet their needs. SchoolHouse Connection resources, and some created by our partners, are listed below. We also conduct webinars on many of these same topics. If you have an idea for a tool, resource, or webinar, please email us.
Resources are categorized by the following subject areas:
- Early Childhood
- PreK-12
- Higher Education
- Housing
- Unaccompanied Youth
