Most children and youth displaced by disasters — including wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes — are likely eligible for the protections and services of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This page compiles SHC’s resources for children and youth displaced by disasters, with guidance and tools for both school staff and families.

Disasters uproot families and youth and create many educational and other challenges. Schools and early childhood programs are on the front lines of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, and play a critical role in providing stability and support.

Resources for Schools and McKinney-Vento Liaisons

Supporting Children and Youth Displaced by Disasters: Five Key Policies for Schools

Brief | Video

Schools can provide stability, normalcy, and support for children and youth who are displaced by disasters. This brief summarizes five key federal policies and provides quick tips for their implementation, including rights to immediate school enrollment, school stability, transportation, and essential support services. Includes downloadable flyers in English and Spanish.

Best for: School district staff | School staff | McKinney-Vento Liaisons | LEA
Date published: September 2023

Lessons from the Field: What McKinney-Vento Liaisons Learned from the 2018 Camp Fire

Article | Video | Tip Sheet

This resource shares field-tested lessons from McKinney-Vento liaisons who supported students displaced by the 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Watch the full video or individual segments covering eligibility, immediate response, preparation, and long-term impacts, and download the tip sheet to apply these strategies in your own district.

Best for: McKinney-Vento Liaisons | School district staff | LEA
Date published: February 2025

Know Your Rights: Resources for Families Displaced by Disasters

Displaced By Disasters: Know Your Rights Flyers

Flyer | PDF

This informational flyer helps families who have lost housing due to disasters understand their children’s educational rights under the McKinney-Vento Act, including eligibility, key legal protections, and how to connect with local support. Available in English and Spanish.

Best for: Families | School staff | McKinney-Vento Liaisons
Date published: October 2024

Additional Resources and Support

Quick Reference Resources

• McKinney-Vento Act: Quick Reference
• Two-page summary of the homelessness-related provisions in Title I, Part A 
• National Center on Homeless Education’s Disaster Preparation and Response Page
• Explainer Video: “What is the McKinney-Vento Act?”

Collaboration and Coordination Resources

The ability to share information quickly among schools, disaster response agencies, shelters, and other service providers will expedite connections to the services that families need. Liaisons are encouraged to connect with disaster response agencies and other service providers to build awareness around McKinney-Vento and processes to refer youth and families to the LEA’s liaison. To facilitate appropriate information-sharing, ask community partners to include your LEA specifically on release of information forms, and include disaster response agencies, shelters, and other service providers on release of information forms that parents, guardians and youth sign upon enrollment in your school.

• A McKinney-Vento Toolbox: Constructing a Robust and Rigorous Homeless Education Program, in Case of Disaster and Every Day
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Long Term Recovery Guide (See Appendix 1, 2, and 3)

Supporting Students’ Mental Health After a Disaster

In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, as well as over the following months and even years, children and youth can suffer from anxiety, fear, and other emotional consequences of trauma. Parents and other caregivers also may be struggling emotionally with loss of home, possessions, pets, and even lives. Connecting students and families to mental health supports immediately can help parents, caregivers, and students feel safe and ready to focus on school.

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  • Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Arson and Fires
  • Trinka and Sam: The Big Fire
• American Psychological Association Psychology Help Center for Disasters
  • Tornadoes, hurricanes and children
  • Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Hurricanes
• Psychological First Aid for Schools
  • When Terrible Things Happen: For Students

Recursos para Familias en Español / Parent Guides in Spanish

• Trinka y Juan y el Gran Fuego
• Guía para Padres con Hijos Que Han Sido Afectados por Incendios
• Guía Para Los Padres Para Ayudar A Los Niños Después de Un Huracán
• Vídeo explicativo: “¿Qué es la Ley McKinney Vento?”