Archived Webinars

Data to Action: How to Use New Searchable Data Profiles to Improve Practice and Policy for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: March 14, 2023

SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan have created searchable data profiles to raise awareness of the scale and impact of homelessness on children and youth, and to underscore the need for action to meet their needs. These profiles make available – for the first time – child and youth homelessness data at the county and Congressional levels. The profiles also include data at the national, state, and school district levels. 

This webinar will demonstrate how these data profiles can be used to:

• Educate community members, educators, and policymakers about the prevalence and the impact of child and youth homelessness, from early childhood through postsecondary education
• Explore whether local school districts may be under-identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness
• Understand patterns of federal funding and its impact on identification

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Home Visiting for Homeless Families
Date Recorded: March 29, 2023

Co-presented by researchers from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, we dive into the home visiting program model and key findings from Chapin Hall’s formative evaluation study. We’ll also discuss how to break down barriers to accessing home visiting programs, and ways that home visiting programs can be more responsive to the needs of families experiencing homelessness.

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Using Data to Advocate for Infants & Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania
Date Recorded: February 15, 2023

There are over 1 million children ages birth – six experiencing homelessness across the US, and 25,788 live in Pennsylvania. Being able to advocate on their behalf requires robust data showing where children are staying, what their needs are, and how they are able to access early learning programs. This webinar will highlight how HOPEPHL (previously the People’s Emergency Center), the Pennsylvania Head Start Collaboration Office, and others have been able to use state and local data on young children experiencing homelessness to influence state policy and practice.

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Local Strategies for Reaching Families and Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: February 8, 2023

[Hosted by the National Association of Counties]

Experiencing homelessness in early childhood can have long-term impacts on health, education and well-being for both children and parents. Homelessness among young children is often hidden, making it harder to collect accurate data and ensure that these children are connected to the services and resources they need. Join NACoRF and SchoolHouse Connection to learn more about the prevalence of homelessness among infants and toddlers and how counties can reduce barriers and increase families’ connections to health and early learning programs.

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Increasing Access to Early Learning for Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: January 31, 2023

Early Childhood Self Assessment Tool for Shelters
Date Recorded: July 21, 2020

Young children staying in shelters have unique needs to ensure their development is nurtured. The Administration for Children and Families designed a self-assessment tool for shelters to use in order to assess how the physical, socio-emotional, and intellectual environment can support young children.

Presenters from SchoolHouse Connection, Partners for Impact, and the People’s Emergency Center discuss the self-assessment tool, including how North Carolina and Pennsylvania have been able to work across shelter and early childhood communities to make impactful changes in the lives of families with young children experiencing homelessness.

Presenters:

• Beth Bordeaux, Co-Owner and Senior Advisor, Partners for Impact
• Sarah Vrabic, Project Manager – Everyday Learning Play Spaces, People’s Emergency Center
• Erin Patterson, Director of Education Initiatives, SchoolHouse Connection

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Going Deeper: Responsive Practices for Early Learning Professionals of Young Children and their Families Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 24, 2020

This second webinar, based on a new publication by the California Department of Education’s Early Learning and Care Division, will go deeper in describing concrete research-based strategies that are essential for young children and their families impacted by homelessness. Presenters will discuss a wide range of trauma-responsive, housing-sensitive practices, including tips for building trusting relationships, arranging environments, and connecting to resources and community supports. The presenters will also discuss the importance of culturally responsive self-care practices for all professionals working with children and families impacted by chronic stress/trauma including homelessness.
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Responsive Early Education for Young Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: May 27, 2020

Based on a new publication by the California Department of Education’s Early Learning and Care Division, this webinar will provide foundational information about early childhood homelessness, as well as concrete research-based strategies that are essential for young children and their families impacted by homelessness. Presenters will share trauma-informed reflective practices, including “housing sensitive” practices, and spotlight promising practices for early childhood practitioners, teachers, and caregivers. The origins and development of CDE’s unique publication, and what it has to offer to those in the early education field, also will be shared.
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Women Experiencing Homelessness in Higher Education: Two Innovative Initiatives
Date Recorded: March 18, 2020

In honor of Women’s History month, we’re featuring two innovative education initiatives that focus on women. From this webinar, participants will learn about:
1. The distinct challenges and needs that women experiencing homelessness face in obtaining postsecondary education.
2. Services and resources that are available for single mothers at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
3. Initiatives at Our Friends Place, a transitional living and outreach program in Dallas, Texas, that helps support young women experiencing homelessness pursue and maintain their educational goals.
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Partnerships that Connect Child Care and Head Start with McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Public Schools
Date Recorded: October 9, 2019

[This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval #: 886811245-7667) for 1 continuing education contact hour]

This webinar will share models for connecting child care and Head Start programs through partnerships with McKinney-Vento liaisons and local school districts. Presenters will describe how they are connecting systems and changing practice to enhance enrollment of young children experiencing homelessness in early childhood programs offering quality child care and Head Start services. After an overview of relevant regulatory expectations and requirements of school districts, early care and housing to work together, presenters will describe their efforts from their positions within local school districts and housing to engage child care and Head Start providers in ways that ensure timely access to and full participation in early care and education programs and create sustainable systems that support families.
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Handouts: BELL Summary FY2018, Preschool Head Start and Child Care Policies for Children

Addressing the Challenges of Homelessness Using a Two-Generational Lens: Meeting the Needs of Young Children and Parenting Youth
Date Recorded: September 11, 2019

[This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886808546-4917) for 1 continuing education contact hour.]

This webinar will focus on the developmental, educational and learning needs of young children and their young parents who are experiencing homelessness. Presenters will describe the impact of homelessness on the development and learning of infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children and describe the impact of homelessness on the development and education of young parents, as well as their role as parents. Presenters will address the importance of ensuring that the needs of the young child, the young parent, and the parent-child relationship are all addressed, despite the narrow focus of programs that serve each age group separately. Presenters will describe how Head Start and Early Head Start exemplify the two-generational approach through teamwork and partnerships with others.
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Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness: Supporting Young Parents and Their Children
Date Recorded: July 24, 2019

[Presented in partnership with Parents as Teachers]

Families and their children who experience homelessness face a host of challenges and often have difficulty accessing the right services. At the same time these families face barriers to accessing supports such as home visiting.

This webinar will focus on raising home visitor awareness of the policies and rights of infants, toddlers and families experiencing homelessness. Participants will learn about an innovative Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) demonstration project in Chicago. Listeners will also have an opportunity to hear a St. Louis-based MIECHV home visitor discuss on the challenges and practitioners tips for working with families experiencing homelessness.

The audience also will learn ideas for supporting policies that eliminate barriers and provide greater access to services to support pregnant and parenting youth. Additional learning resources will be identified for the field.
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Sesame Street’s National Initiative on Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 9, 2019

Last year, Sesame Street Workshop launched a national initiative on family homelessness to bring awareness and support to young children and their parents who are homeless, and those who serve them, including early childhood programs, schools, and service providers. Lily, a sweet and resilient 7-year-old muppet whose family experienced homelessness, is featured throughout the new resources, which include a storybook, videos, activities, and other materials for providers. This webinar will provide an overview of the resources, insights into how they were created, as well as examples of how practitioners are using them to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide support to children and families experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar 
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Head Start 101 for McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Homeless Service Providers
Date Recorded: February 6, 2019

Learn the basics about Head Start! Head Start’s comprehensive service array ensures health, mental health, dental, disability, and quality education for children and a range of supports for families – a true two-generational program. Learn about the unique range of free services Head Start has to offer to families experiencing homelessness, including Head Start center-based preschool for children ages 3 to 5, and Early Head Start home visiting and center-based infant toddler care. Families experiencing homelessness are prioritized for enrollment and many programs have spaces set aside for them. Head Start Family Service staff work closely with liaisons and homeless and housing partners to promote collaboration and stability.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint, Handouts, and Q&A from the webinar (Link to Dropbox Folder)

North Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral
Date Recorded: October 22, 2018

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How Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies are Supporting Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: October 17, 2018

This webinar will highlight the ways in which Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agencies and early childhood and housing providers are working together to increase participation of young children experiencing homelessness in early childhood programs. National and state leaders and local CCR&R staff will share information on trends and resources being used to build capacity, engage families, enroll children and support providers. Emphasis will be on partnering across provider systems to better understand community needs and implement comprehensive strategies to ensure success.
Resources:
Is My Early Childhood Program a McKinney-Vento “Preschool?”
8 Training Modules: Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness
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Head Start and McKinney-Vento: Natural Partners
Date Recorded: September 19, 2018

This webinar will cover how Head Start programs and LEA McKinney-Vento liaisons are working together to better serve children experiencing homelessness and their families. The webinar will include a description of regulatory requirements for Head Start and LEAs to address the educational needs of children experiencing homelessness, as well as provide practical examples of how Head Start and LEAs are partnering with one another and templates for more formal Head Start-LEA working agreements (MOUs).
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Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Best Practices in Drop-In and Residential Services
Date Recorded: August 8, 2018

Research shows that approximately 1.1 million children have an 18- to 25-year-old parent who experienced homelessness during the past year. The instability associated with homelessness can have a profound impact on childhood development and on the health and well-being of parents, so it is critical to connect young parents with programs that can meet both their needs and those of their children. This webinar will provide an overview of the common challenges faced by young people who are pregnant or parenting while experiencing homelessness, and will share the experience and expertise of drop-in services, early childhood development providers, and residential programs that have successfully partnered to serve young families experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
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Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead, Part 2
Date Recorded: June 7, 2018

Families experiencing homelessness face unique barriers to accessing quality child care; yet without quality child care, parents struggle to find and keep the employment they need to maintain housing, and the health and development of children are compromised. It’s been four years since Congress passed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 with specific requirements for states on families experiencing homelessness and two years since the release in 2016 of the CCDF Final Rule providing guidance to states. Join this webinar to find out what lessons have been learned, and how should these lessons inform states’ CCDF State Plans for 2019-2021 due June 30, 2018. This webinar will provide descriptions of how states have gathered input into their planning process for serving families experiencing homelessness and ways they are progressing toward implementing policies and practices given their unique state resources and structures. Implementation can often involve state legislative action, redesigning contracts, regulatory changes, extensive training, etc. Learn about the provisions in the CCDF Plan Preprint 2019-2021, and find out how you can weigh in on your state’s planning process to improve child care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable children and their families.
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Serving Young Children Experiencing Homelessness: Practical Strategies for McKinney-Vento Liaisons and School-based Staff
Date Recorded: May 9, 2018

An estimated 1.2 million children under age 6 experience homelessness each year. Homelessness in early childhood has been found to be associated with delays in language, literacy, and social-emotional development, putting children at risk for later academic problems. Early childhood programs can ameliorate these effects. Yet homelessness creates unique barriers to accessing and participating in early childhood programs. This webinar will share information about early childhood programs that may be available in your community, including what they provide and how to find them. Then, a school district early childhood program administrator and a McKinney-Vento liaison will share their practical strategies for collaboration, streamlining enrollment, and working with families.
Watch the recorded webinar
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Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness: Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead
Date Recorded: May 3, 2018

Families experiencing homelessness face unique barriers to accessing quality child care; yet without quality child care, parents struggle to find and keep the employment they need to maintain housing, and the health and development of children are compromised. It’s been four years since Congress passed the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (CCDBG) of 2014 with specific requirements for states on families experiencing homelessness, and two years since the release in 2016 of the CCDF Final Rule providing guidance to states. What lessons have been learned, and how should these lessons inform states’ CCDF State Plans for 2019-2021, due June 30, 2018? This webinar will present new research on how states have served families experiencing homelessness, as well as insights from several states about what they have done, and what they plan to do. With an historic $2.37 billion increase in CCDBG funding – the largest increase in child care funding of all time – it is especially important to learn about the provisions in the CCDF Plan Preprint 2019-2021, and find out how you can weigh in on your state’s planning process to improve child care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable children and their families.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness: Supporting Young Parents and Their Children Through Education and Early Care
Date Recorded: March 7, 2018

Pregnancy, parenting, and homelessness put youth at significant risk of dropping out of high school. Lack of a high school degree, in turn, is significantly correlated with homelessness: new research finds that youth without a high school diploma or GED are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness; that youth who are pregnant or parenting are three times more likely to experience homelessness; and that more than one in three unmarried homeless young women is pregnant or parenting. These findings are especially alarming because homelessness in early childhood can have lifelong consequences. Helping young parents graduate from high school, and making sure that their children participate in quality early care programs, are essential to preventing future homelessness and promoting long-term economic independence. This webinar will provide an overview of educational protections and services for homeless young parents and their children, and highlight successful strategies at the state and local level. Practitioners will share lessons learned and how to build partnerships for supporting parents and children.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Sesame Street in Communities: Traumatic Experiences
Date Recorded: November 14, 2017

An estimated 1.2 million children under the age of six experience homelessness. Homelessness and trauma are inextricably connected. Traumatic experiences change the way children’s’ brains are wired. But adults hold the power to help lessen its effects. It helps when children feel seen and heard by a caring adult and someone patiently teaches coping strategies and resilience-building techniques. Your friends at Sesame Street have created resources to help caring grown-ups like you mitigate the effects of traumatic experiences in the children you care for. In this webinar, we’ll walk through our latest initiative, Sesame Street in Communities, and explore a selection of these resources to help you bring these protective factors to life.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Increasing Access to PreK and Other Early Childhood Programs for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 27, 2017

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and the Child Care Development Fund regulations contain new requirements for identifying and supporting young children experiencing homelessness. This webinar will provide a brief overview of these policies as well as practical suggestions for implementing them at the local and state level. School district and state education agency leaders will describe the steps that they have taken to put policies into practice, and offer suggestions for adapting and replicating these practices to support our youngest children experiencing homelessness. This webinar will be of benefit to early care and education professionals, as well as to family homeless and housing professionals.
Watch the Recorded Webinar
Download the Q&A from the Chat Box (PDF)
Download the Powerpoint and Sample Forms and Tools (Link to Dropbox folder)

Supporting Immigrant Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: March 15, 2023

States, districts, and schools are experiencing recent increases in immigrant and refugee families. In this Webinar, join our team at SchoolHouse Connection and McKinney-Vento liaisons to learn about important terminology, educational rights of children and youth from early childhood through post-secondary education, the intersection with the McKinney-Vento Act, and best practices from the field to support students.

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Learning from The Life Learning Academy: How a California Public Charter High School Supports Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: December 8, 2022

The California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) received $3 billion to help support schools’ efforts to provide wraparound services for students. Students experiencing homelessness often rely on community support and holistic approach to education. The Life Learning Academy, a public charter high school in the Bay Area, has supported students experiencing homelessness through partnerships, workforce development, and their free housing program. In this interactive webinar, participants from charter and community schools can learn how to replicate these practices.

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Special Education and Homelessness
Date Recorded: December 1, 2022

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the McKinney-Vento Act: two federal laws that sometimes interact in confusing ways. In this webinar, we dig directly into the confusion and provide clear legal guidance about how these laws work together to support children and youth with disabilities experiencing homelessness. We talk about decision-making for unaccompanied youth; immediate enrollment and timeliness of evaluations and services; transportation and allocation of costs; and early intervention and preschool special education.

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Supporting High School Students Experiencing Homelessness: Lessons from Reading, PA
Date Recorded: June 1, 2021

The pandemic has made it very difficult for high schools to identify and support students experiencing homelessness. During this webinar, we’ll hear from practitioners at Reading High School in Pennsylvania, a community that has a long history of providing strong support and comprehensive services to students experiencing homelessness. From this webinar, participants will:

• Hear from staff at Reading High School about the challenges and successes of supporting students experiencing homelessness
• Learn strategies that high schools can use to help identify, track, and support students experiencing homelessness
• Learn how to build relationships with higher education institutions to help ease the transition from high school to higher education

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Identification, Attendance, and Re-engagement: Current Strategies and Plans for Next Year

For 30 minutes every Thursday in April, starting on April 8, we’ll be joined by a different homeless liaison working with students experiencing homelessness in school districts across the country. As schools start to re-open and planning begins for the next school year, the needs of McKinney-Vento students need to be at the forefront. Join our Q&A-style conversation and learn what service providers around the country are doing.

Part I – recorded April 8, 2021, featuring Attiana Virella-Fuentes, Adelante Program Coordinator, Santa Fe Public Schools, NM
Part II – recorded April 15, 2021, featuring Crystal Haslett, Coordinator of Student Programs & Community Liaison, Washington Township Schools, IN
Part III – recorded April 22, 2021, featuring Jordann Lankford, Instructional Indian Education Coach, Great Falls Public Schools
Part IV – recorded April 29, 2021, featuring Kathryn Butler, Director of Student Support Services, Greenwood School District 50, SC

Racial Equity and Students Experiencing Homelessness

Part I – Centering Anti-Racist Approaches in Conversations with McKinney-Vento Families and Colleagues
Date Recorded: March 18, 2021

McKinney-Vento liaisons are responsible for the identification, enrollment, and the removal of educational barriers for students experiencing homelessness, and can create meaningful change in their districts and the lives of students experiencing homelessness. Unfortunately, due to systemic racism across many aspects of American life, Black, Latinx, Native American, and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities experience homelessness at disproportionate rates compared to White and Asian communities. It is crucial for McKinney-Vento liaisons to reflect on school and district protocols and narratives that reinforce racial bias and inequity. Even small intentional changes, such as the words we use, can have positive effects on family relationships and ultimately, the well-being and success of students.

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Part II – Identifying and Serving Native Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 26, 2021

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Part III – Black Students Experiencing Homelessness in LA County: Planning for Racial Equity
Date Recorded: May 18, 2021

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New FAFSA Policies for Homeless and Foster Youth
Date Recorded: February 4, 2021

In December 2020, Congress passed significant new financial aid policies, including revisions to the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness and current and former foster youth. These changes are designed to remove barriers to financial aid and improve young people’s ability to access and complete higher education. This webinar will provide an overview of the provisions related to homelessness and foster care, summarize the broader changes to financial aid policy, provide timelines for implementation, offer opportunities to ask questions, and provide helpful practice resources.

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Webinar Q&A

FERPA and Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: January 28, 2021

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) can be confusing, especially as it pertains to the privacy of students experiencing homelessness. This webinar will use interactive scenarios to review the basics of FERPA, as well as specific issues related to: unaccompanied youth; sharing with teachers and other school staff; financial aid; and sharing information with community partners. SchoolHouse Connection’s FERPA issue briefs will be the basis for the conversation.

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Identifying and Staying in Touch with Homeless Students During the Pandemic: Learning from the Navigator Program in Nashville
Date Recorded: January 27, 2021

It is all too easy for students experiencing homelessness to become disconnected from school, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Metropolitan Nashville School District has had success mitigating these challenges by utilizing school employees as “navigators” to stay in touch and track families through weekly phone and video calls. Thus far, the data shows that for every 125 check-ins, navigators identified one issue they couldn’t resolve through a simple phone call. Learn about the origins of the initiative, how it is implemented, impact to date, ideas for the future, and how it might be replicated in your school district.

Download the Navigator Handbook
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Back-to-School 2020: Challenges and Strategies for Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness
Returning to school this fall entails unprecedented challenges for identifying, enrolling, and serving students experiencing homelessness. Whether schools in your community are opening with in-person classes, full distance learning, or some combination, implementing the McKinney-Vento Act will require more creativity and collaboration than ever. Join us as we discuss challenges and strategies to identify, enroll, engage, and support students and families as we return to school in the midst of a pandemic.

Date Recorded: September 9, 2020
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Date Recorded: August 25, 2020
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Date Recorded: August 13, 2020
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Date Recorded: August 5, 2020
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Calculating, Awarding, and Accepting Partial Credits for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: May 28, 2020

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) added provisions to the McKinney-Vento Act requiring states to have procedures to identify and remove barriers to students experiencing homelessness receiving credit for partial coursework they complete, even when they are moving from school to school. Many schools have struggled with how to calculate, award, and accept partial credits. In this webinar, we’ll review our new partial credit document and hear concrete, replicable partial credit strategies from a school counselor with lengthy experience supporting McKinney-Vento students in multiple schools. We encourage McKinney-Vento liaisons and school counselors to participate in this webinar in teams, to help facilitate local replication of these practical strategies. There will be time for Q&A.
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Undocumented Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 28, 2020

Children and youth without valid immigration documents often experience instability that can lead to homelessness. In this webinar, we will review the legal duties of early childhood programs, public schools, and colleges to educate and serve undocumented children and youth. We will share a process to determine if such children and youth qualify as “homeless,” as well as recent changes to the “public charge” rule and other updates. Presenters, including a liaison in a district with a large immigrant population and a young person who immigrated to the United States in high school, will discuss strategies to support immigrant students and their families.
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Charter Schools Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness during the COVID-19 Crisis
Date Recorded: April 24, 2020

In these times of crisis, students experiencing homelessness are even more vulnerable than under “normal” circumstances. Join SchoolHouse Connection and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for a conversation on how charter schools can meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. During the webinar, you will learn about legal requirements as well as best practices in serving students experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

FERPA and Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 22, 2020

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) can be confusing, especially as it pertains to the privacy of students experiencing homelessness. This webinar will use interactive scenarios to review the basics of FERPA, as well as specific issues related to: unaccompanied youth; sharing with teachers and other school staff; financial aid; and sharing information with community partners. SchoolHouse Connection’s FERPA issue briefs will be the basis for the conversation.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Read the Q&A

Calculating, Awarding, and Accepting Partial Credits for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: March 31, 2020

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) added provisions to the McKinney-Vento Act requiring states to have procedures to identify and remove barriers to students experiencing homelessness receiving credit for partial coursework they complete, even when they are moving from school to school. Since ESSA’s passage, many states have passed laws or regulations on partial credits for students experiencing homelessness. In this webinar, we will quickly review some of those laws, with a focus on Nevada’s SB 147 (2019). Then, McKinney-Vento liaisons and a school counselor will share specific strategies for how to calculate, award, and accept partial credits, so students can continue progressing toward graduation even if they change schools or miss school. We encourage McKinney-Vento liaisons and school counselors to participate in this webinar in teams, to help facilitate local replication of these practical strategies.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Read the Q&A
State Laws to Increase High School Graduation for Students Experiencing Homelessness
CA Partial Credit Guidance
NV Partial Credit Guidance
WA Partial Credit Guidance
Rochester SD Partial Credit Worksheet Calculator
San Diego Partial Credit Resource Table

Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #2: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: March 25, 2020

We will be going live to share the latest we know about the federal and local responses to COVID-19 and children, youth and families experiencing homelessness. We want to hear what you’re doing, what’s working, and your challenges. We also want to provide a space to share and be together. Join us for live Q&A and virtual fellowship.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
COVID-19 and Homelessness

Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: March 19, 2020

We will be going live to share the latest we know about the federal and local responses to COVID-19 and children, youth and families experiencing homelessness. We want to hear what you’re doing, what’s working, and your challenges. We also want to provide a space to share and be together. Join us for live Q&A and virtual fellowship.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
COVID-19 and Homelessness

New Policies to Help Youth Obtain Vital Documents: Nevada’s AB 363
Date Recorded: February 27, 2020

Nevada has new laws that make it easier for youth experiencing homelessness to obtain driver’s licenses, ID cards, and birth certificates. This webinar will explain those laws and provide strategies for using this law at the DMV and when requesting birth certificates. Service providers, LEA homeless liaisons, advocates and young people are invited to join us to learn how to make the most of these new policies. Bring your questions!
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Download the AB 363 Flowchart

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey as an Advocacy Tool
Date Recorded: February 19, 2020

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is a biennial survey that assesses health risk behaviors among high school students. In 2017 and 2019, record numbers of states included at least one question about homelessness on their YRBS questionnaires. This allowed those states to measure the true prevalence of homelessness among high school students and expose their disproportionate health and mental health risks. It also permits comparisons of risk factors across different kinds of homeless living situations, such as youth who stay in shelters, with others temporarily, and in other inadequate situations. This webinar will share information from the YRBS about prevalence; racial, ethnic, and sexual disproportionalites; and health risk behaviors. Most importantly, we will share advocacy strategies and tools to help you get homelessness questions added to your state’s YRBS for 2021.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
YRBS research, practice and advocacy tools

Truancy v. Chronic Absenteeism: Supporting the Attendance of Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: February 12, 2020

Almost 8 million students were chronically absent from schools during the 2015-2016 school year. Unsurprisingly, research shows that economically disadvantaged students are more likely to be chronically absent than the overall student population—but studies also indicate that students experiencing homelessness are chronically absent at rates even higher than their housed, low-income peers. While chronic absenteeism measures total absences, including excused and unexcused, truancy measures only unexcused absences–and the number of unexcused absences it takes for a student to be considered a “truant” differs by state. While it’s important to distinguish between truancy and chronic absence, communities that are successfully serving homeless students who are truant OR chronically absent are finding that supportive, community-driven efforts are most effective. During this webinar, two practitioners will speak about their work supporting the attendance of students experiencing homelessness–one from the school community perspective, and one from the community at large.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint
Download the F.O.R.T. Student Success Plan

2020 Census and Homelessness – Hosted by the 2020 Census
Date Recorded: Febrruary 4, 2020

This webinar is a joint collaboration between the 2020 Census, Family Promise, First Focus on Children, and SchoolHouse Connection. In this webinar, we’ll highlight the importance of the census, how the census impacts family and youth homelessness, and how the census impacts you!
Watch the recorded webinar and download the handouts
Password: mPpBs9Mm

Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness in Charter Schools
Date Recorded: December 6, 2019

Education is a critical tool to address the needs of students experiencing homelessness. For these students, school can be a vital source of stability. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that provides rights and services for students experiencing homelessness. It applies to all local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools, including public charter schools. This webinar will provide an overview of McKinney-Vento Act requirements and implementation strategies. A charter school Homeless Education Liaison will share best practices from her work. There will be time for Q&A.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint
Download the Charter School and Homelessness Toolkit

Homelessness and Chronic Absenteeism in Rural Communities
Date Recorded: November 13, 2019

Almost 8 million students were chronically absent from schools during the 2015-2016 school year. Unsurprisingly, research shows that economically disadvantaged students are more likely to be chronically absent than the overall student population—but studies also indicate that students experiencing homelessness are chronically absent at rates even higher than their housed, low-income peers. In many rural communities across the country, homeless students experience a unique set of challenges getting to school regularly and on time. During this webinar, we’ll talk with county-level education practitioners about those unique challenges in rural communities, as well as the resources provided to address barriers to attendance and collaborative strategies to support positive attendance for students experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint

Be Attentive to Attendance: How Chronic Absenteeism Affects Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: November 12, 2019

[This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886808546-5127) for 1 continuing education contact hour.]

Students who miss 10 percent or more of days enrolled are defined as chronically absent–including both excused and unexcused absences. When students consistently miss school, it often is a sign of underlying challenges and may indicate a student is experiencing homelessness. How can we use available attendance data to help identify children and youth in crisis? During this webinar, we’ll talk with researchers, program administrators, and a school district homeless liaison about the significance of attendance data for homeless students, how we can turn data into substantive interventions, and trauma-informed supportive strategies at the school and district level.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint
Read the Q&A from the webinar [Google Doc]

Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness: What the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Teaches Us About Health Risks, and How Professionals Can Mitigate Them
Date Recorded: October 23, 2019

[This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886808546-5069) for 1 continuing education contact hour]

Join two SchoolHouse Connection Young Leaders to talk about specific strategies for social workers, family and youth service providers, high schools, colleges, and universities to support students experiencing homelessness. The webinar will share information from SHC’s analysis of Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, showing the prevalence of homelessness among high school students; racial and ethnic disparities; and health risks such as substance abuse, suicide, and physical and sexual violence. Then, two young people who have experienced homelessness will talk about how social workers, service providers, educators and others can help prevent and mitigate those health risk
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Implementing the McKinney-Vento Act: Replicable Practices and Top Tips from Experts
Date Recorded: September 17, 2019

[This program is Approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886808546-8062) for 1 continuing education contact hour.]

This interview-style webinar will share replicable strategies and top tips for implementing key aspects of the McKinney-Vento Act from four experts representing urban and rural school districts. We’ll ask our guests some hard-hitting McKinney-Vento questions, such as:

• When, how, and whom do you train to help with identification in your school district?
• Who are your most important community partners, for identification and also for services?
• What are 2-3 key LEA policies you have in place that help you implement the McKinney-Vento Act?
• What are 2-3 key parts of your enrollment forms or process that help ensure immediate enrollment?
• What 2-3 interventions have you seen be the most successful in increasing attendance for McKinney-Vento students?
• What 2-3 interventions have you seen be the most successful in increasing high school graduation rates and transitions to higher education for McKinney-Vento students?

Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint

The Power of Relationship: How Mentorship Can Support Chronically Absent Homeless Students
Date Recorded: August 29, 2019

Research shows that chronically absent students, especially those also experiencing homelessness, are less likely to meet grade-level proficiency standards and more likely to drop out of school–and that even absences in early grades have lasting impact. Research also indicates, however, that strong relationships can be a powerful protective factor in supporting improved school attendance and success. In this webinar, we’ll learn about the core components and foundational theories of Check & Connect: an evidence-based intervention used with students who show warning signs of disengagement from school and who are at risk of dropping out. Participants will also learn about the basic steps involved in implementing Check & Connect, and will hear from a school district homeless liaison about one district’s promising results in implementing Check & Connect. Finally, participants will hear from a young person who experienced homelessness in high school and how mentorship supported her path to graduation.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint
Download the Q&A from the chat box (PDF)

McKinney-Vento Train the Trainer
Date Recorded: August 15, 2019

As schools across the country start to reopen their doors, many local educational agency homeless liaisons have asked SchoolHouse Connection for resources for the back-to-school trainings they conduct with school staff, including teachers, counselors, social workers, transportation staff, principals, registrars, and others. In response, we have compiled a comprehensive set of training resources. This webinar will share these resources, along with a quick refresher on the basics of the McKinney-Vento Act, and plenty of time for Q&A in preparation for your own upcoming trainings.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint

How Improved Teacher Development Can Help Identify and Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: August 14, 2019

For many students experiencing homelessness, school is the only place of stability in their life. Like many other support staff, teachers play a crucial role in creating a classroom environment that is safe and supportive for all students, especially those who are highly mobile and have experienced the trauma that often accompanies homelessness. It is therefore critical to provide teachers with comprehensive training and professional development to help them better identify and support the academic success of homeless students. In this webinar, two school of education professors will share their best practice strategies for training both pre-service teachers and those in the field to improve identification practices and supportive services for McKinney-Vento eligible students.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the PowerPoint
Recommended Practices for Elementary Teachers
Recommended Practices for Middle Level and High School Teachers
Tips for Teachers & Staff: How to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness

Addressing the Legal Needs of Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 20, 2019
[In partnership with the American Bar Association]

Check out this free CLE program on innovative legal strategies for advocates and attorneys to protect the rights of students experiencing homelessness inside and outside the school gates. Panelists explore the importance of eliminating barriers and expanding access to legal services for this vulnerable population, highlight the need for collaborating and coordinating with school officials and other education advocates, and discuss the role attorneys can play in supporting this work. This program includes policy updates, and touches on screening for legal needs with respect to access to education, public benefits, housing, transportation, after-school activities, and other school-related matters. It also discusses the importance of trauma-informed legal services and ways to get involved and engage others through different forms of advocacy, including pro bono support, direct representation, and “Know Your Rights” seminars.
Watch the recorded webinar

Natural Disasters and Homelessness
Date Recorded: May 21, 2019

Natural disasters can wreak havoc on families, schools, and entire communities. Schools with robust McKinney-Vento programs are more prepared to respond to and recover from disasters. However, the process is long and arduous. In this webinar, we will hear from two McKinney-Vento Liaisons with extensive experience with disaster response and recovery, as well as a Crisis Management Specialist. The presenters will share practical strategies to help schools and service providers prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Identifying Students Experiencing Homelessness: How Small Changes in Email Communications Can Achieve Big Results
Date Recorded: May 20, 2019

Schools often struggle to identify children and youth experiencing homelessness, but identification is a critical first step in providing the support needed for educational success. This webinar will share the creation and results of a pilot project and study executed by the Office of Evaluation Sciences (OES) within the General Services Administration. The project used insights from behavioral science to develop new email communication materials to share simplified information on homelessness with school district homeless liaisons and superintendents in New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York. These simplified emails were designed to help school districts accurately identify homeless students in their districts and schools. Throughout the webinar, one member of the OES project development team and representatives from the New York and New Mexico teams will share their insights and experiences so that practitioners in other school districts and states can replicate the project and improve the identification of students experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Tools to Identify Students Experiencing Homelessness

Improving School Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness: A Model School-Shelter Partnership
Date Recorded: May 6, 2019

This webinar will share the innovative model developed by the Improving School Attendance for Homeless Children (ISAHC) program in New York City, which provides new training and coordination resources to identify, address, and manage multiple systemic, intergenerational, and logistical barriers to improving school attendance among students experiencing homelessness.

Participants will learn how the program is data-informed and purposefully designed to rely predominantly on existing resources (adding only minimal new costs; use a team approach, and employ evidence-based practices at the individual and systems levels. The collaborative ISAHC team, the most significant feature of the model, brings together staff from the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and shelter provider staff to analyze and address the issues underlying school absences. Participants will also learn how to track student attendance progress using simple data analysis techniques and how to use attendance data as a tool for identifying families with complex challenges. Finally, participants will hear about methods for improving school attendance from the first day of homelessness, at coordinated entry systems, schools and shelters.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Removing Barriers to Financial Aid for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (Hosted by NASFAA)
Date Recorded, April 10, 2019

Approximately one in 10 American young adults ages 18 to 25, and at least one in 30 adolescent minors ages 13 to 17, is estimated to endure homelessness on their own over the course of a year. Youth who experience homelessness face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education, including barriers to financial aid. Yet higher education is their best opportunity for economic independence and healthier lives.

In this webinar, participants will:

• Review the federal definition of homelessness, and the causes and consequences of homelessness among unaccompanied youth.
• Review current policies in the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Higher Education Act designed to remove barriers to financial aid.
• Learn practical strategies from higher education professionals, including financial aid administrators, for implementing these policies and supporting homeless youth.

Watch the recorded webinar
Webinar Handout
FAQ Handout
Making UHY Determinations Tool
Independent Student Status of UHY Determination for 19-20 FAFSA Letter

Be Attentive to Attendance: Leveraging Chronic Absenteeism Data to Help Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: February 27, 2019

Students who miss 10 percent or more of days enrolled are defined as chronically absent–including both excused and unexcused absences. When students consistently miss school, it is often a sign of underlying challenges and may signal a student is experiencing homelessness. How can we use available attendance data to help identify these children and youth in crisis? During this webinar, we’ll talk with district homeless liaisons and researchers about the significance of attendance data for homeless students, how we can turn data into substantive interventions, and how we can transform those best practices into meaningful policy.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Handouts:
1. Powerpoint: Be Attentive to Attendance_Leveraging Chronic Absenteeism Data
2. ICPH – Bridging the Graduation Gap
3. Poverty Solutions – Missing School Missing Home (Policy Brief)

Educating Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: February 13, 2019

This webinar is based on the American Bar Association’s new book, “Educating Students Experiencing Homelessness.” (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_services/homelessness_poverty/) Two attorneys, a McKinney-Vento State Coordinator and a McKinney-Vento school district liaison will review the basic requirements of the McKinney-Vento Act, as well as elements of Title I, early childhood regulations, and the Higher Education Act. Topics include determining eligibility; identifying students experiencing homelessness; school of origin; immediate enrollment; preschool and early childhood; strategies to support high school graduation; and the transition to post-secondary. The webinar will include practical implementation strategies, as well as the legal basics.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Los Derechos y Servicios Para los Estudiantes Sin una Vivienda Estable (Education Rights and Services for Students in Unstable Housing)
Date Recorded: February 1, 2019

Muchos niños, jóvenes y familias no tienen una vivienda estable. Han perdido su casa, o no tienen dinero suficiente para mantener su hogar. Se quedan en las casas de otra gente, en moteles, en refugios, y a veces afuera. No importa dónde duermen, estos niños y jóvenes tienen el derecho de inscribirse en una escuela, de quedarse en la misma escuela mientras se cambian de un lugar a otro por las noches, y de recibir apoyo para que puedan participar y tener éxito en su escuela. En esta charla, se explicarán estos derechos y el apoyo disponible, además de contestar preguntas de los padres y estudiantes sobre los derechos de educación en general. Esta charla será grabada para que se pueda escuchar después. 

(This webinar is a basic overview of the McKinney-Vento Act in Spanish, primarily designed for parents and students. There will be an opportunity for Q&A in Spanish, and the webinar will be recorded.)
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Positive School Discipline Practices for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: November 13, 2018

What are the impacts of an out-of-school suspension for a student without a home? Where do they spend their day? What do they eat? Who cares for them? Research has shown the effectiveness of positive school discipline for all students, but it has particular relevance for students experiencing homelessness. At the same time, research also shows that students experiencing homelessness are disproportionately suspended and expelled from school. This webinar will discuss the importance of trauma-informed practices in school discipline and the benefits of school-wide positive behavior support. Two McKinney-Vento homeless liaisons will share their replicable strategies for ensuring positive approaches to discipline for students experiencing homelessness and how their strategies have impacted students and schools. Most importantly, a student who experienced homelessness in high school will share the trauma-informed practices she uses in her current job and the importance of these practices for youth.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Supporting Students in Foster Care: ESSA and Fostering Connections
Date Recorded: October 24, 2018

Both the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Foster Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act contain provisions designed to help students in foster care remain stable in school and have the support they need to succeed in school. This webinar will explain the basics of these provisions. Three state-level experts will talk about how they are implementing the laws in their states, with strategies and sample procedures you can replicate in your school district, child welfare agency, or state. Learn more about how child welfare agencies and schools can work together to help students in foster care graduate high school and transition into higher education.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Educating Homeless Students in Large Urban School Districts
Date Recorded: September 17, 2018

Size matters: large, urban school districts face many challenges in supporting students experiencing homelessness–but not every large school district has over one million students like New York City Public Schools. Still, of the more than 13,000 school districts across the country, the 100 largest districts enroll anywhere from 50,000 to 650,000 students and share many of the same struggles serving students experiencing homelessness. From identification to transportation and early childhood through high school graduation, learn how three large urban school districts have implemented the McKinney-Vento Act to help children and youth find educational success. Presenters will share strategies suitable for large school districts, as well as information that may spark ideas for districts of all sizes – including unique partnerships with higher education, housing agencies, and other community-based organizations.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

McKinney-Vento and ESSA: Back to School Review
Date Recorded: September 11, 2018

This webinar is a “refresher” on the basics of the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness, intended for those who have some familiarity with the issues but would like to brush up for the new school year. We’ll review the education subtitle of McKinney-Vento, as well as Title I Part A provisions related to homelessness. Topics include determining eligibility; identifying students experiencing homelessness; school of origin; immediate enrollment; preschool and early childhood; strategies to support high school graduation; and the transition to post-secondary. We’ll highlight new resources along the way, and leave plenty of time for questions and answers.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Back to School: A Primer on Helping Homeless Students
Date Recorded: September 6, 2018

There are more than 1.3 million students in our country’s public school system with no safe place to call home. If you suspect or discover that a student in your classroom or school is experiencing homelessness, you may wonder what you can do to help. This webinar will discuss the basics of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act–the primary federal law that protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness. We’ll share helpful demographic data about this vulnerable population, explain the effects of homelessness on student achievement, and walk through best practices in getting students to graduate from high school. This webinar will empower educators new to the issue to both better understand their students’ needs and support their day-to-day and long-term achievement.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Link to DonorsChoose 
Link to Potential Warning Signs of Homelessness

Special Education, Homelessness and Foster Care
Date Recorded: August 30, 2018

When the McKinney-Vento Act, Every Student Succeeds Act, and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) face off in a preschool or school, which law wins? This webinar will discuss the intersection of these three laws and how they work together in practice, from preK through high school. We’ll address questions such as surrogate parents for unaccompanied youth and children in foster care, evaluating students who have missed a lot of school or whose achievement may be impacted by homelessness or foster care, immediate enrollment for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), transportation, private schools, and everyone’s stickiest question: who pays?
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Understanding Federal Student Aid Policy and Practice for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Date Recorded: June 27, 2018

Unaccompanied homeless youth face unique barriers in accessing financial aid. This webinar will provide homeless education professionals, higher education professionals, and community-based organizations with information and tools to assist homeless youth to apply for Federal Student Aid. Presenters from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid will discuss financial aid policies and practices for homeless youth. Presenters from SchoolHouse Connection will provide a brief background on unaccompanied homeless youth, and review requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that support the transition to post-secondary education.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Serving Young Children Experiencing Homelessness: Practical Strategies for McKinney-Vento Liaisons and School-based Staff
Date Recorded: May 9, 2018

An estimated 1.2 million children under age 6 experience homelessness each year. Homelessness in early childhood has been found to be associated with delays in language, literacy, and social-emotional development, putting children at risk for later academic problems. Early childhood programs can ameliorate these effects. Yet homelessness creates unique barriers to accessing and participating in early childhood programs. This webinar will share information about early childhood programs that may be available in your community, including what they provide and how to find them. Then, a school district early childhood program administrator and a McKinney-Vento liaison will share their practical strategies for collaboration, streamlining enrollment, and working with families.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

School Counseling Staff and Students Experiencing Homelessness: Tips and Strategies to Get to Graduation
Date Recorded: April 17, 2018

School counselors and social workers provide important support to students experiencing homelessness, helping meet their basic needs and planning for graduation. The Every Student Succeeds Act recognized this role by adding requirements that counselors advise students experiencing homelessness and improve their readiness for college. In this webinar, we’ll hear tips and strategies from a young person who experienced homelessness in high school, a current high school counselor, and a school social worker. We’ll also unveil a new, 2-page tip sheet for counseling staff, developed specifically in response to requests from the field. Come with your questions and learn from the experts.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Improving High School Graduation Rates for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 16, 2018

New research finds that without a high school diploma or GED, youth are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness as young adults than their peers who completed high school, highlighting the role of education as a critical intervention to prevent future homelessness. 2018 marks the first year for which all states are required to track graduation rates for students experiencing homelessness. This requirement shines a light on the unique challenges faced by students who are homeless, as well as on the success that is possible when the right supports are provided. This webinar will feature lessons learned from one state and three school districts that have made significant progress in raising graduation rates for students experiencing homelessness. Get ideas for strategies to support students experiencing homelessness to graduate from high school – a necessary prerequisite for stable employment, higher education, and a better future.
Watch the recorded webinar (Link to Vimeo)
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

FERPA, Homelessness, and Foster Care
Date Recorded: April 4, 2018

Can I give a list of my McKinney-Vento students to a housing program? Can we share educational documents with a non-relative caregiver, foster parent, or foster care caseworker? What about an unaccompanied student who doesn’t want her parents to see her school records? This webinar will go over the basics of FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, focusing on the top questions related to homelessness and students in foster care.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint, Handouts, Q&A from the webinar (Link to Dropbox folder)

Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness: Supporting Young Parents and Their Children Through Education and Early Care
Date Recorded: March 7, 2018

Pregnancy, parenting, and homelessness put youth at significant risk of dropping out of high school. Lack of a high school degree, in turn, is significantly correlated with homelessness: new research finds that youth without a high school diploma or GED are 4.5 times more likely to experience homelessness; that youth who are pregnant or parenting are three times more likely to experience homelessness; and that more than one in three unmarried homeless young women is pregnant or parenting. These findings are especially alarming because homelessness in early childhood can have lifelong consequences. Helping young parents graduate from high school, and making sure that their children participate in quality early care programs, are essential to preventing future homelessness and promoting long-term economic independence. This webinar will provide an overview of educational protections and services for homeless young parents and their children, and highlight successful strategies at the state and local level. Practitioners will share lessons learned and how to build partnerships for supporting parents and children.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Serving Native American Students Experiencing Homelessness: Cultural Competency and Practical Strategies
Date Recorded: January 18, 2018

Native youth have the lowest high school graduation rate of students across all schools. Nationally, the American Indian/Alaskan Native high school graduation rate is 69%, far below the national average of 81%. Native Americans also disproportionately experience homelessness. Current and historical trauma contributes to disproportionately high rates of poverty, domestic and other violence, and other challenges, leading to homelessness. In this webinar, experts will share their experiences and practical strategies for serving Native American students experiencing homelessness. 
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)

Ensuring Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: November 16, 2017

ESSA’s amendments to the McKinney-Vento Act require that states have procedures to ensure that McKinney-Vento students “who meet the relevant eligibility criteria do not face barriers to accessing… extracurricular activities.” This new provision adds to longstanding requirements to remove barriers to enrollment (including full participation in school activities) and retention in school. Join the experts in a discussion of strategies to ensure full participation for all our McKinney-Vento students, including unaccompanied youth. We’ll review the law and hear strategies from a State Coordinator, the Assistant Executive Director of her state’s interscholastic activities association, and the liaison who inspired our “Making the Case” tool on extra-curricular participation.
Watch the recorded webinar (Part I)
Watch the recorded webinar (Part II)
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Immigrant Students Experiencing Homelessness: Latest Developments and Resources
Date Recorded: October 10, 2017

Federal rules on immigrant youth and families are changing rapidly, from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), to the rights of sponsors caring for immigrant youth, to enforcement actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This webinar will provide the latest information on rules, rights, and responsibilities for undocumented students, sponsors and families. An immigration attorney will outline do’s and dont’s for schools serving immigrant students, and a McKinney-Vento liaison will share her practical strategies to help students and families.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)
Download the Q&A from the chat box (PDF)

Identifying Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: September 19, 2017

The McKinney-Vento Act is a powerful law, but it cannot help students who are not identified as eligible for its protections. In this webinar, McKinney-Vento liaisons and State Coordinators will share best strategies for identifying eligible students.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Title I and Homelessness: New Requirements and Best Practices on Funds and Data
Date Recorded: September 12, 2017

The Every Student Succeeds Act’s amendments to Title I now are in effect, and there are several important changes to improve the availability and use of Title I funds for students experiencing homelessness. This webinar will review the law and share practical strategies from the state and local levels to calculate Title I set-asides, use funds creatively and appropriately, and track data. Join us to learn from peers and get your questions answered.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Getting to Graduation: Strategies to Award Partial Credits, Recover Credits, and Award High School Diplomas for Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: August 31, 2017

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) places unprecedented emphasis on high school graduation for students experiencing homelessness. In this webinar, SchoolHouse Connection staff will review new legal requirements in Title I and the McKinney-Vento Act on issues such as credit accrual, full participation, transitions to college, and data. Then, school district homeless liaisons will share their practical suggestions for implementing these policies, with a specific focus on partial credits and alternative diplomas. Most importantly, students will share how these practices make a real difference for students struggling to overcome homelessness through education.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

McKinney-Vento and ESSA: Back-to-School Review
Date Recorded: August 23, 2017

This webinar reviewed key topics in McKinney-Vento Act implementation, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, including identifying students experiencing homelessness; school of origin; immediate enrollment; strategies to support high school graduation; and preschool. We reviewed the law and implementation strategies.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Sample Forms (Link to Dropbox folder)
Download the Q&A from the chat box (PDF)

Increasing Access to PreK and Other Early Childhood Programs for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 27, 2017

The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), the Head Start Program Performance Standards, and the Child Care Development Fund regulations contain new requirements for identifying and supporting young children experiencing homelessness. This webinar will provide a brief overview of these policies as well as practical suggestions for implementing them at the local and state level. School district and state education agency leaders will describe the steps that they have taken to put policies into practice, and offer suggestions for adapting and replicating these practices to support our youngest children experiencing homelessness. This webinar will be of benefit to early care and education professionals, as well as to family homeless and housing professionals.
Watch the Recorded Webinar
Download the Q&A from the Chat Box (PDF)
Download the Powerpoint and Sample Forms and Tools (Link to Dropbox folder)

FAFSA Fixes for Homeless and Foster Youth: What You Need to Know Now
Date Recorded: December 7, 2022

Youth with experience in foster care and with homelessness face unique barriers accessing financial aid. In 2020-2021, FAFSA completion for unaccompanied homeless youth and foster youth declined by almost 10% and 7%, respectively, compared to the prior 2019-2020 school year. The FAFSA Simplification Act aims to remove many FAFSA challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness or with experience in foster care. Most of these new provisions will go into effect for the 2023-2024 award year FAFSA, which is available now. This webinar will review recently-released guidance from the U.S. Department of Education intended to help implement the new provisions, and provide recommendations for practices, partnerships, and advocacy to ensure smooth implementation.

• Watch the recording
• Download the Powerpoint 
• FAFSA Fixes for Homeless and Foster Youth Q&A
  
• Link to the November 4, 2022 ED Dear Colleague announcing FAFSA Simplification Act changes in effect for 2023-2024
• Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Determination: A Template for Financial Aid Administrators (for 2023-2024 Award Year)
  
• If your college or university, or one you partner with, would like to survey students to discover rates of housing security, homelessness, and other types of basic needs insecurity, please check out The Hope Center’s Hope Impact Partnerships (HIP) initiative.
• FAFSA resources by John Burton Advocates for Youth

Research Roundup: The Empirical Basis for Current Bills Supporting College Success for Foster Youth and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: July 20, 2022

This webinar highlighted the empirical basis for two federal bills that are designed to remove barriers to college for youth who have experienced homelessness and foster care: the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2022 (HEASHFY) and the Fostering Success in Higher Education Act. Leading researchers shared how existing research supports the efficacy of the provisions included in the bills and next steps to move these important pieces of legislation forward.

Watch the Recording
Download the Webinar Slides
Additional Resources for John Burton Advocates for Youth

Supporting Higher Education Success for Youth With Experience in Foster Care and Homelessness: A Congressional Briefing on Four Legislative Proposals that Can Make A Difference
Date Recorded: May 11, 2022

A virtual Congressional briefing organized by SchoolHouse Connection, John Burton Advocates for Youth, and the Youth Law Center was held on May 11th, 2022, in collaboration with the Offices of Representative Danny Davis and Senator Bob Casey. Senator Patty Murray was an honorary co-host.

Watch the Recording
Download the Briefing Summary

How an Affordable Housing Program Supports College Students
Date Recorded: May 11, 2022

Homelessness and housing insecurity have become an ever-increasing problem for college students across the country. College Housing Northwest (a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon) has been housing college students for over 50 years and is leading the way to increase regional affordable housing options. In this webinar participants will:

• Hear from leaders of the new Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS) program, college and community partners, as well as a student who has benefited from the program.
• Learn how an equity focus, strategic partnerships, and a student-centered approach are the cornerstones of this unique and growing program
• Have an opportunity to ask questions and identify partnership opportunities that may exist in your community

Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint
Download the ARCS One-pager

Establishing a Higher Education Liaison & Support Program in Your School: A Conversation w/ Middle Tennessee State University
Date Recorded: June 28, 2021

Although college students are usually considered adults, their success in many ways is dependent on an effective support system, often provided by their families. Yet many youth in foster care and homeless situations lack both family support and access to additional educational opportunities. In an effort to fill that gap for students who age out of the foster care system or are experiencing homelessness, Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) created the Next Step program. This program provides students with the necessary assistance to navigate many practical issues regarding housing, academic support, and campus life. This webinar will introduce MTSU’s program manual, written to help post-secondary schools navigate the challenges of establishing a single point of contact for homeless and foster youth. From this webinar, participants will:

• Learn about the creation of MTSU’s Next Step Program
• Learn how to train and create a homeless higher education liaison on campus
• Learn how to build partnerships in the community to support students experiencing homelessness and from foster care
• Learn strategies on how to champion for new state legislation to help these students

Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint
Download the Manual

Lessons Learned from the Past Year: A Panel on Supporting College Students with Experience in Foster Care & Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 9, 2021

Higher education institutions had a difficult year supporting students amidst the pandemic. But some institutions, in particular, have created support specifically for students with experience in foster care and homelessness. During this panel, participants will:

• Hear from two statewide advocacy initiatives, Positive Pathways Program and Fostering Success Michigan, about the obstacles and challenges faced by students with experience in foster care and homelessness during the pandemic.
• Hear from two higher education institutions from Michigan and Florida that will highlight successful strategies to support students with experience in foster care and homelessness.
• Learn strategies to identify, transition, track, and support this distinct student population on college campuses.
• Learn national higher education trends, upcoming policy, and opportunities for advocacy for homeless and foster youth.

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Supporting High School Students Experiencing Homelessness: Lessons from Reading, PA
Date Recorded: June 1, 2021

The pandemic has made it very difficult for high schools to identify and support students experiencing homelessness. During this webinar, we’ll hear from practitioners at Reading High School in Pennsylvania, a community that has a long history of providing strong support and comprehensive services to students experiencing homelessness. From this webinar, participants will:

• Hear from staff at Reading High School about the challenges and successes of supporting students experiencing homelessness
• Learn strategies that high schools can use to help identify, track, and support students experiencing homelessness
• Learn how to build relationships with higher education institutions to help ease the transition from high school to higher education

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A Virtual Panel on Barriers to Higher Education Among Homeless Youth
Date Recorded: March 3, 2021

This panel was hosted by the Hope for Living Project and featured speakers from Y2Y Harvard Square, Covenant House (FL), TGTHR, Arbor Circle, and SchoolHouse Connection Senior Higher Education Program Manager Jillian Sitjar. These speakers shared the distinct challenges youth experiencing homelessness face accessing higher education, especially with COVID, and various best practices.
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New FAFSA Policies for Homeless and Foster Youth
Date Recorded: February 4, 2021

In December 2020, Congress passed significant new financial aid policies, including revisions to the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness and current and former foster youth. These changes are designed to remove barriers to financial aid and improve young people’s ability to access and complete higher education. This webinar will provide an overview of the provisions related to homelessness and foster care, summarize the broader changes to financial aid policy, provide timelines for implementation, offer opportunities to ask questions, and provide helpful practice resources.

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Webinar Q&A

College, COVID-19, and Homelessness: Building Partnerships
Date Recorded: September 30, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities may be relying even more on community partners to provide support and resources to youth experiencing homelessness.

Participants in this webinar will:

• Hear from the Stand Up for Kids Orange County College Program to learn how they’re able to help youth in their community through a three-tiered support system: basic needs, relationship building, and housing.
• Identify the impact and importance of relationship building and mentorship for youth experiencing homelessness.
• Understand how to build partnerships between colleges and community partners.

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Our Names are Destiny, Lorinda, and Jose: Navigating Homelessness During COVID-19
Date Recorded: April 30, 2020

1. Hear the perspectives of three SHC Youth Leadership & Scholarship students who are navigating college during the coronavirus pandemic
2. Learn what higher education practitioners, service providers, and others can do to better support students experiencing homelessness during this time
3. Have the opportunity to ask questions to our youth panel about their experiences and their insights

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Download the Powerpoint

Back to Basics: College Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 15, 2020

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, approximately 17% of college students experienced homelessness over the course of a year. In the wake of the outbreak and school closures, there is an even greater need to understand how to identify and support this vulnerable population. In this webinar, participants will:
1. Learn at an introductory level about college student homelessness.
2. Get an overview of various services and resources colleges and universities offer to this distinct population, including exemplary programming and approaches from one of the leading institutions, Kennesaw State University.
3. Identify changes to policies and procedures to better support students experiencing homelessness in light of COVID-19.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Women Experiencing Homelessness in Higher Education: Two Innovative Initiatives
Date Recorded: March 18, 2020

In honor of Women’s History month, we’re featuring two innovative education initiatives that focus on women. From this webinar, participants will learn about:
1. The distinct challenges and needs that women experiencing homelessness face in obtaining postsecondary education.
2. Services and resources that are available for single mothers at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
3. Initiatives at Our Friends Place, a transitional living and outreach program in Dallas, Texas, that helps support young women experiencing homelessness pursue and maintain their educational goals.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

How A Small Rural Community College Supports Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: January 23, 2020

College of the Redwoods is a small rural community college committed to supporting students experiencing homelessness. With tremendous support from the leadership team, College of the Redwoods has created innovative programming, including a merit-based housing and meal scholarship program that provides students with year-round housing and a meal plan free of charge. From the webinar, participants will:
1. Hear from College of the Redwoods staff, including senior leadership, about how and why they created a support program for students experiencing homelessness
2. Learn how a small rural community college creates a system of support, both on and off campus, to identify and support students experiencing homelessness
3. Identify 2-3 strategies that can be adapted and implemented on campuses to better support students experiencing homelessness
Watch the recorded webinar 
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Creative Solutions for Supporting Homeless College Students in an Urban Environment
Date Recorded: October 24, 2019

The University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to evolving with their students by responding to the unique needs of college students experiencing homelessness. This webinar explores UMass Boston’s new initiatives for supporting students experiencing homelessness through U-ACCESS, an office that helps students who lack basic needs achieve academic success. From this webinar, participants will:
1. Hear from three professionals at UMass Boston who serve as an emergency committee to create support for students experiencing homelessness;
2. Learn about the challenges homeless and housing insecure students face living in an urban city and the creative solutions that UMass Boston professionals are using to meet housing needs, such as the Nesterly app; and
3. Identify how a basic needs office/hub can specifically reach and support students experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Identifying College Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: October 23, 2019

The Education Leads Home campaign has established a goal of a 60% postsecondary attainment rate for youth experiencing homelessness by 2034. Identifying these students is the first step in helping them complete their postsecondary education. From this webinar, participants will:
1. Hear from 3 institutions around the country about their processes for identifying students experiencing homelessness
2. Discover on-campus partnerships necessary to build a system of referrals to identify students experiencing homelessness
3. Learn 2-3 implementation strategies for identifying students experiencing homelessness
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Download the Powerpoint
[Handout] Application Questions – Food Assistance Program

Making the Case for Homeless College Students: A Case Manager Perspective
Date Recorded: October 2, 2019

Case managers are often the first point of contact with college students in crises or distress, providing essential support for students in a time of need. This webinar will examine how case managers can be more intentional when working specifically with students experiencing homelessness. In this presentation, participants will:
1. Learn about general best practices for assisting college students experiencing homelessness
2. Hear from two case managers about their roles and interactions with college students experiencing homelessness
3. Get ideas for how to implement new and innovative strategies to identify and support college students experiencing homelessness
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Handouts:

• H2H Homeseeker
• H2H Homeprovider
• Care Agreement Student Documentation
• Case Manager Intake Form

Student Advocacy in Action: An Interview with the University of South Alabama’s Housing and Food Assistance Program
Date Recorded: April 25, 2019

Student advocacy has always been a common occurrence on college campuses. Within the last year, more and more students are advocating for institutions to address their housing and food concerns. It was no different at the University of South Alabama. Join us on this interview webinar with the University of South Alabama’s Housing and Food Assistance Program to hear how one student helped create, design, and implement this new program. We’ll hear the steps that the student took, the successes, lessons learned, and what to expect in the future.
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Download the Powerpoint
Download the US Housing Insecurity Guidelines

Removing Barriers to Financial Aid for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (Hosted by NASFAA)
Date Recorded, April 10, 2019

Approximately one in 10 American young adults ages 18 to 25, and at least one in 30 adolescent minors ages 13 to 17, is estimated to endure homelessness on their own over the course of a year. Youth who experience homelessness face unique barriers to accessing and completing higher education, including barriers to financial aid. Yet higher education is their best opportunity for economic independence and healthier lives.

In this webinar, participants will:

• Review the federal definition of homelessness, and the causes and consequences of homelessness among unaccompanied youth.
• Review current policies in the Every Student Succeeds Act and the Higher Education Act designed to remove barriers to financial aid.
• Learn practical strategies from higher education professionals, including financial aid administrators, for implementing these policies and supporting homeless youth.

Watch the recorded webinar
Webinar Handout
FAQ Handout
Making UHY Determinations Tool
Independent Student Status of UHY Determination for 19-20 FAFSA Letter

Paving the Way To and Through Higher Education: Learning from Indiana’s Homeless Liaisons
Date Recorded: February 28, 2019

This webinar focuses on supporting students to and through the transition from high school to higher education. In this webinar, participants will:

• Identify at least one strategy to better support homeless students during the transition from high school to higher education
• Hear from two higher education liaisons about their roles and responsibilities on college campuses
• Learn best practices in supporting homeless college students and considerations for implementing the role of higher education liaison

Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
Download the Senior Checklist

Addressing Student Homelessness and Financial Distress at UCF
Date Recorded: February 27, 2019

It is estimated that every year, more than 3 million students drop out of college due to a relatively small expense (usually under $1,500) that must be paid. In response, colleges have created emergency aid programs. Participants in this webinar will:

• Learn how the University of Central Florida identifies and supports homeless college students on their campus
• Identify campus resources to prevent student homelessness, including emergency aid
• Implement new and innovative strategies such as dining scholarships and partnering with AmeriCorps Vista

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Download the Powerpoint

Learning from Higher Education Liaisons: Best Practices in Supporting Homeless College Students Pt 2
Date Recorded: December 6, 2018

Many institutions across the country have incorporated the practice of a homeless higher education liaison or single point of contact (SPOC), similar to the K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons. In this webinar, participants will:

• Learn about the EMBARK statewide network in Georgia.
• Hear from three Georgia homeless higher education liaisons about their roles and responsibilities.
• Identify best practices in supporting homeless college students and considerations of implementing this role on a college campus

Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts

Shelter and Services for Homeless Youth in Higher Education
Date Recorded: October 29, 2018

Many institutions of higher education provide resources and on-campus support to students experiencing homelessness. Community-based organizations outside of college campuses, too, are beginning to focus on the needs of homeless youth in higher education. This webinar highlights partnerships between colleges and outside supportive services that work to promote student access and success. We’ll hear from three organizations from across the country to learn how they support college students and their relationships with colleges.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts

Homelessness and Housing Insecurity in Higher Education
Date Recorded: September 25, 2018

Homelessness and housing insecurity are emerging as important issues in higher education. Although often invisible, emerging research suggests that lacking stable housing has a direct and significant impact on persistence and retention. This webinar highlights some of the largest studies that explore how college students experience housing insecurity and provides promising practices for how postsecondary institutions can respond to student needs. The overarching goals of the webinar are to first share findings from their research and connect those ideas to a definitional framework for understanding how housing insecurity and homelessness manifest in higher education settings. Further, researchers and practitioners will discuss how to incorporate a trauma-informed approach to working with students. Finally, presenters will provide a current campus program model developed to support students experiencing lacks in their basic needs.
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Learning from Higher Education Liaisons: Best Practices in Supporting Homeless College Students Pt 1
Date Recorded: September 6, 2018

One of the best practices in supporting homeless college students is having a specific individual to support these students. Many institutions across the country have incorporated this practice of a homeless higher education liaison or single point of contact (SPOC), similar to the K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons. California in particular has state legislature (AB 801) that requires the California Community College and California State University systems to designate a Homeless Higher Education liaison on their campus. This webinar features three homeless higher education liaisons representing all three California systems, their roles and responsibilities under AB 801, best practices in supporting homeless college students, and considerations of implementing this role on a college campus. We look forward to continuing this conversation with other homeless higher education liaisons across the country in Learning from Higher Education Liaisons: Best Practices in Supporting Homeless College Students Part 2.
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Understanding Federal Student Aid Policy and Practice for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Date Recorded: June 27, 2018

Unaccompanied homeless youth face unique barriers in accessing financial aid. This webinar will provide homeless education professionals, higher education professionals, and community-based organizations with information and tools to assist homeless youth to apply for Federal Student Aid. Presenters from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid will discuss financial aid policies and practices for homeless youth. Presenters from SchoolHouse Connection will provide a brief background on unaccompanied homeless youth, and review requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that support the transition to post-secondary education.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Housing Homeless Students: Jovenes’ College Success Initiative
Date Recorded: June 19, 2018

One in five Community College students in Los Angeles experiences homelessness. In response, a non-profit housing provider for homeless youth is taking its resources onto community college campuses to directly house homeless students. Learn how Jovenes, Inc. (www.jovenesinc.org) is partnering with schools like Rio Hondo College to reach out to homeless students and how housing support is helping homeless students succeed in school and life. This webinar is designed to help participants develop actionable ideas to connect homeless students to housing resources in their local communities.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)

Federal Legislation to Promote Access and Success in Higher Education for Youth in Foster Care and Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: September 27, 2017

In September, two important pieces of legislation were introduced in Congress to promote higher education success for youth experiencing homelessness and youth in foster care, “Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act” and “Fostering Success in Higher Education Act.”  These bills seek to address barriers to higher education access and success by streamlining access to existing financial aid, enhancing assistance and support for retention and completion, and improving collaboration, outreach, and data collecting.  Opportunities are also provided for institutions to establish or expand statewide initiatives to assist foster and homeless youth in enrolling in and graduating from institutions of higher education.  
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Understanding Federal Student Aid Policy and Practice for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth
Date Recorded: June 28, 2017

Unaccompanied homeless youth face unique barriers in accessing financial aid. This webinar will provide homeless education professionals, higher education professionals, and community-based organizations with information and tools to assist homeless youth to apply for Federal Student Aid. Presenters from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education and the Office of Federal Student Aid will discuss financial aid policies and practices for homeless youth. Presenters from SchoolHouse Connection will provide a brief background on unaccompanied homeless youth, and review requirements in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that support the transition to post-secondary education.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Q&A from the chat box (PDF)
Download the Powerpoint and Sample Forms (Link to Dropbox folder)

Connecticut Head Start on Housing Pilot Program
Date Recorded: October 12, 2022

Head Start and Early Head Start programs are uniquely positioned to see the needs of families experiencing homelessness, including the need for direct housing assistance. While programs are able to identify a family’s housing needs, they are rarely equipped with the direct resources to help house a family…until now. The Connecticut Head Start on Housing Voucher pilot program has shown tremendous results after the first year, including successfully housing families by putting housing vouchers directly into the hands of Head Start programs.

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How an Affordable Housing Program Supports College Students
Date Recorded: May 11, 2022

Homelessness and housing insecurity have become an ever-increasing problem for college students across the country. College Housing Northwest (a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon) has been housing college students for over 50 years and is leading the way to increase regional affordable housing options. In this webinar participants will:

• Hear from leaders of the new Affordable Rents for College Students (ARCS) program, college and community partners, as well as a student who has benefited from the program.
• Learn how an equity focus, strategic partnerships, and a student-centered approach are the cornerstones of this unique and growing program
• Have an opportunity to ask questions and identify partnership opportunities that may exist in your community

Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint
Download the ARCS One-pager

Youth-Supportive Transitional Housing Programs As An Essential Resource for Addressing Youth Homelessness
Date Recorded: June 8, 2021

On June 8th at 3 PM ET, join Covenant House International, National Network for Youth, and SchoolHouse Connection as we share the key findings and policy recommendations from our new report on transitional housing for youth and young adults, including young families. The report, to be released the morning of June 8, shares new data demonstrating that transitional programs for youth and young adults are effective, and an essential and core element of efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness. These data underscore the vitality of transitional housing programs with robust supportive services as an effective pathway out of homelessness for young people, including families with children headed by young parents. Other findings demonstrate that transitional programs have positive outcomes in both rural and urban areas, and for minors as well as young adults.

The webinar will feature young people for whom transitional housing was transformative, and review key policy recommendations.
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Download the Powerpoint

Women Experiencing Homelessness in Higher Education: Two Innovative Initiatives
Date Recorded: March 18, 2020

In honor of Women’s History month, we’re featuring two innovative education initiatives that focus on women. From this webinar, participants will learn about:
1. The distinct challenges and needs that women experiencing homelessness face in obtaining postsecondary education.
2. Services and resources that are available for single mothers at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pennsylvania.
3. Initiatives at Our Friends Place, a transitional living and outreach program in Dallas, Texas, that helps support young women experiencing homelessness pursue and maintain their educational goals.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Improving School Attendance for Students Experiencing Homelessness: A Model School-Shelter Partnership
Date Recorded: May 6, 2019

This webinar will share the innovative model developed by the Improving School Attendance for Homeless Children (ISAHC) program in New York City, which provides new training and coordination resources to identify, address, and manage multiple systemic, intergenerational, and logistical barriers to improving school attendance among students experiencing homelessness.

Participants will learn how the program is data-informed and purposefully designed to rely predominantly on existing resources (adding only minimal new costs; use a team approach, and employ evidence-based practices at the individual and systems levels. The collaborative ISAHC team, the most significant feature of the model, brings together staff from the New York City Department of Education (DOE) and shelter provider staff to analyze and address the issues underlying school absences. Participants will also learn how to track student attendance progress using simple data analysis techniques and how to use attendance data as a tool for identifying families with complex challenges. Finally, participants will hear about methods for improving school attendance from the first day of homelessness, at coordinated entry systems, schools and shelters.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Shelter and Services for Homeless Youth in Higher Education
Date Recorded: October 29, 2018

Many institutions of higher education provide resources and on-campus support to students experiencing homelessness. Community-based organizations outside of college campuses, too, are beginning to focus on the needs of homeless youth in higher education. This webinar highlights partnerships between colleges and outside supportive services that work to promote student access and success. We’ll hear from three organizations from across the country to learn how they support college students and their relationships with colleges.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts

Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness: Best Practices in Drop-In and Residential Services
Date Recorded: August 8, 2018

Research shows that approximately 1.1 million children have an 18- to 25-year-old parent who experienced homelessness during the past year. The instability associated with homelessness can have a profound impact on childhood development and on the health and well-being of parents, so it is critical to connect young parents with programs that can meet both their needs and those of their children. This webinar will provide an overview of the common challenges faced by young people who are pregnant or parenting while experiencing homelessness, and will share the experience and expertise of drop-in services, early childhood development providers, and residential programs that have successfully partnered to serve young families experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts

Housing Homeless Students: Jovenes’ College Success Initiative
Date Recorded: June 19, 2018

One in five Community College students in Los Angeles experiences homelessness. In response, a non-profit housing provider for homeless youth is taking its resources onto community college campuses to directly house homeless students. Learn how Jovenes, Inc. (www.jovenesinc.org) is partnering with schools like Rio Hondo College to reach out to homeless students and how housing support is helping homeless students succeed in school and life. This webinar is designed to help participants develop actionable ideas to connect homeless students to housing resources in their local communities.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)

Strategies for Success: Partnering with Housing Authorities
Date Recorded: April 25, 2018

When housing and education systems work together, outcomes for children and families can improve. This webinar will present an overview of public housing authorities and the programs they administer, and highlight two school district collaborations with housing authorities that are focused on children and families experiencing homelessness. Practitioners will share strategies for approaching partners, and how to sustain relationships to ensure comprehensive services are provided for short- and long-term success for children, youth, and families.
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Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Legal Rights and Strategies
Date Recorded: November 16, 2022

The SHC team leads an interactive conversation about the legal rights of unaccompanied homeless youth. We delve into youth’s rights in relation to parental rights under the McKinney-Vento Act and FERPA; review access to public benefits, vital documents, and health care; discuss complex scenarios; and answer your questions.

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NV AB 197: Healthcare for Unaccompanied Youth Under 18
Date Recorded: August 4, 2021

Intro to AB 197: Medical and behavioral health services for youth, without parental consent. This virtual brown bag lunch provided information about Nevada’s AB 197, which went into effect last year. AB 197 created new rules allowing youth under age 18 to access physical, behavioral, dental, and mental health care without parental consent.

This webinar shares detailed information about the law, demonstrates how it should work in practice through role plays with young people, a health care professional and a service provider, and an extended Q&A. Although designed specifically for health care providers, the webinar is a useful tool for service providers, educators, advocates, and youth.

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Making Youth Homelessness Visible with Data Visualization
Date Recorded: June 22, 2021

Identifying youth homelessness can be difficult due to the different definitions of homelessness and methods for counting. California Homeless Youth Project will share their “You Count” data visualization tool to expand the picture of youth homelessness in California. Funding, policies, and subsequent services are often responsive to the community data that is available. Accessible robust and expansive data is critical in supporting the increase in early childhood program access, high school student graduation, and post-secondary access for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Participants will:

• Learn about the new data visualization tool, have the opportunity to expand the discussion and visibility on youth homelessness
• Receive a toolkit on replicating the “You Count” tools in their community, and;
• Learn about SchoolHouse Connection’s federal advocacy to align the definitions of homelessness and support youth experiencing homelessness.
  

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Download the Powerpoint

Getting Money in the Pockets of Transition Aged Youth: Accessing Tax Credits
Date Recorded: March 10, 2022

The American Rescue Plan and related federal pandemic legislation brought temporary changes in the tax laws that benefit transition-aged youth (18-24 year olds) with foster care experience and those experiencing homelessness. Young people who worked last year and parenting youth, for example, may be eligible for several thousand dollars. To get these funds young people must file their taxes. Come hear about the changes in the law that benefit young people, new resources you can use to spread the word, and how you can help them file their taxes this year.

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Principles of Youth Engagement
Date Recorded: April 27, 2021

Youth with lived experience are our strongest partners and our greatest resource. They are experts that bring invaluable perspectives, innovative ideas, and critical feedback that inform our practice. If we want to improve our programs, policies, and practices, we must engage as many youth as we can, as often as we can. This webinar will provide an overview and discussion on how to ethically and efficiently engage youth with lived experience in education, program design, and advocacy. Attendees will learn from SchoolHouse Connection Scholars, and Jordyn Roark, SchoolHouse Connection’s Director of Youth Leadership and Scholarships.

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Our Names are Destiny, Lorinda, and Jose: Navigating Homelessness During COVID-19
Date Recorded: April 30, 2020

1. Hear the perspectives of three SHC Youth Leadership & Scholarship students who are navigating college during the coronavirus pandemic
2. Learn what higher education practitioners, service providers, and others can do to better support students experiencing homelessness during this time
3. Have the opportunity to ask questions to our youth panel about their experiences and their insights

Watch the recording
Download the Powerpoint

Research and Lived Experience: Unaccompanied Youth Reflect on Voices of Youth Count
Date Recorded: October 11, 2018

As liaisons, social workers, educators and service providers, our work should be informed by research and the lived experiences of children and youth. This webinar will bring recent research to life as three SchoolHouse Connection Young Leaders reflect on Chapin Hall’s Missed Opportunities research and their own experiences. They will discuss key findings from the research; how these issues impacted their K-12 and higher education; and insights for changes in policy and practice. Voices of Youth Count (VoYC) is a national initiative designed to fill gaps in the nation’s knowledge about the scope and scale of youth homelessness, as well as the life circumstances and experiences of runaway and unaccompanied homeless youth between the ages of 13 and 25 years old.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)

VoYC’s Missed Opportunities: Policy and Practice Opportunities
Date Recorded: December 5, 2017

Join NN4Y for a webinar discussion with the Principal Investigator of Voices of Youth Count, Dr. Matthew Morton. VoYC is an unprecedented initiative to understand, address and prevent youth homelessness. Chapin Hall has conducted the most comprehensive research to date on youth homelessness, incorporating youth voices to develop achievable solutions. This research creates a foundation on which we can build solutions – effective policies and practices – to end homelessness for young people.
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Breaking Down Educational Barriers: Insights from Students
Date Recorded: November 30, 2017

Two young people, one who has graduated from college and one who is in the second year of a degree program, will share their tips for schools and service providers on how to identify youth who are experiencing homelessness, keep them engaged in and attending school, and work with them as true partners to get them to high school graduation and into (and through) post-secondary education. They will identify the challenges they have faced, and continue to face, as a result of experiencing homelessness, and describe the efforts that have been the most successful for advancing their academic careers and life goals. The webinar will include ample time for Q&A and conversation.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)
Click here to find out more about the verification for unaccompanied homeless youth for FAFSA

Federal Funding Outlook and Strategy on Child and Youth Homelessness
Date Recorded: February 22, 2023

• An update on the current federal budget climate and its implications for child and youth homelessness programs
• Step-by-step information for how to advocate for RHYA and EHCY funding (including sustaining ARP-HCY levels) and how to request Community Project Funding/Congressional Directed Funding (the rebranded “earmarks”) for specific local programs and projects
• Tips for using a new searchable database to educate Members of Congress on child and youth homelessness in their states and Congressional districts

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Download the Powerpoint

Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Oklahoma
Date Recorded: December 21, 2022

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Indiana
Date Recorded: November 30, 2022

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Michigan
Date Recorded: November 18, 2022

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in California
Date Recorded: November 10, 2022

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in North Carolina
Date Recorded: November 9, 2022

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Live Q&A With SHC
Date Recorded: November 8, 2022

The SchoolHouse Connection team answers viewer questions about the legal requirements of McKinney-Vento, strategies for supporting students experiencing homelessness, and more.

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Massachusetts
Date Recorded: October 20, 2022

This webinar is part of a series hosted by SchoolHouse Connection and its Policy Fellows for residents of targeted states who want to learn more about youth homelessness issues and convenient ways they can advocate for effective policy change, and get others in their community to do the same.

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Missouri
Date Recorded: October 14, 2022

This webinar is part of a series hosted by SchoolHouse Connection and its Policy Fellows for residents of targeted states who want to learn more about youth homelessness issues and convenient ways they can advocate for effective policy change, and get others in their community to do the same.

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Fall Professional Development and Training Webinar Series: McKinney-Vento 101
Date Recorded: September 15, 2022

This 90-minute webinar provides an overview of child and youth homelessness, provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act, and ideas for schools and districts to better serve students experiencing homelessness.

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Advocating for Students Experiencing Homelessness in Connecticut
Date Recorded: August 18, 2022

This webinar is part of a series hosted by SchoolHouse Connection and its Policy Fellows for residents of targeted states who want to learn more about youth homelessness issues and convenient ways they can advocate for effective policy change, and get others in their community to do the same.

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Research Roundup: The Empirical Basis for Current Bills Supporting College Success for Foster Youth and Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: July 20, 2022

This webinar highlighted the empirical basis for two federal bills that are designed to remove barriers to college for youth who have experienced homelessness and foster care: the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2022 (HEASHFY) and the Fostering Success in Higher Education Act. Leading researchers shared how existing research supports the efficacy of the provisions included in the bills and next steps to move these important pieces of legislation forward.

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Additional Resources for John Burton Advocates for Youth

Supporting Higher Education Success for Youth With Experience in Foster Care and Homelessness: A Congressional Briefing on Four Legislative Proposals that Can Make A Difference
Date Recorded: May 11, 2022

A virtual Congressional briefing organized by SchoolHouse Connection, John Burton Advocates for Youth, and the Youth Law Center was held on May 11th, 2022, in collaboration with the Offices of Representative Danny Davis and Senator Bob Casey. Senator Patty Murray was an honorary co-host.

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Latest Federal Policy Developments: Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: December 8, 2021

As we approach the end of the Congressional session, the stakes are high for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. The fiscal year 2022 budget and Build Back Better Act contain many far-reaching provisions, from child care and universal pre-k, to youth employment and housing. This webinar will provide an overview of the latest developments on the specific provisions related to homelessness in both bills, as well as higher education, homelessness assistance, and the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act reauthorization. Find out what’s happening, and how we can help you meet virtually with your Congressional delegation.

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Making Legislative Victories Matter: Implementing State Legislation on Youth Homelessness
Date Recorded: October 26, 2021

Tremendous energy is put into proposing, lobbying, and passing bills to refocus government interest and efforts toward youth homelessness. But too often, even after the successful passage of legislation, little change or improvement is experienced or witnessed. In this interactive webinar, participants will:

• Learn about the California Homeless Youth Project’s latest report on California’s legislative progress and ongoing gaps faced by youth experiencing homelessness
• Participate in a discussion around accountability for and implementation of enacted state legislation that be carried out in other states

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Child and Youth Homelessness and the American Rescue Plan Act
Date recorded: March 17, 2021

The American Rescue Plan Act, H.R. 1319, contains several new funding streams and policies that directly impact education, services, and housing for children and youth experiencing homelessness. These include $800 million in dedicated funding to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including through wrap-around services, an extension of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for unaccompanied homeless youth and youth from foster care at 18, even if they are full-time students, and many housing, nutrition, income, and other supports. This webinar will provide an overview of the final law, and what happens next, with plenty of time for questions and answers.

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Educating the New Congress: Step-by-Step Advocacy Training Series for Homeless Educators and Service Providers

From COVID-19 relief to long-term economic recovery, the new Congress must address many challenges. But whether or not Congress takes effective actions to address child and youth homelessness depends on grassroots advocacy – especially from educators and service providers who work directly with, or for, families and youth experiencing homelessness.

SchoolHouse Connection is hosting a series of six mini-webinars to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and tools to confidently educate Congressional offices on behalf of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

Speakers include current and former Congressional staff, as well as young people and local and state educators who have taken part in advocacy efforts. We’ll also provide direct assistance for those who’d like support connecting to and communicating with Congressional offices.

Part I: Getting Grounded: Advocacy in the New Congress
Date Recorded: February 16, 2021; 3:30pm

This webinar will describe why constituent engagement in the legislative process is the only way to make progress for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness; take a look at the dynamics of the 117th Congress; examine what is at stake with respect to potential legislation related to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness; and explain the difference between lobbying versus advocacy.
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Download the Powerpoint 

Part II: How to Effectively Communicate with Congress
Date: February 23, 2021; 2:30pm

This webinar will cover the nuts and bolts of communicating with Congressional offices — even virtually. We’ll cover how to prepare, follow up, and maintain relationships, and some basic do’s and don’ts. You’ll hear directly from Congressional staff about what works best, with time for questions and answers.
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Part III: What Does Successful Advocacy Look Like? Learning from Peers
Date: March 2, 2021; 3:30pm

This webinar will be an interactive conversation with homeless educators and service providers who have educated their members of Congress and/or participated in legislative advocacy. Learn from peers about how easy advocacy can be, and the impact it can have.
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Part IV: Shining a Light: Using Media (and Social Media) to Boost Legislative Advocacy
Date: March 9, 2021; 3:30pm

Members of Congress pay close attention to the media: especially local media in their constituencies, and, increasingly, social media. Smart and strategic use of media is therefore a critical element of educating and influencing legislators. This webinar will discuss basic tips for integrating traditional and social media into your advocacy strategies.
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Part V: How To Engage Parents and Youth with Lived Experience in Advocacy
Date: March 16, 2021; 3:30pm

One of the most powerful ways to educate and persuade policymakers is by engaging youth and parents with lived experience of homelessness. This webinar will share considerations and provide tips in preparing and facilitating the participation of youth and parents in advocacy.
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Part VI: How to Apply These Lessons Closer to Home
Date March 23, 2021; 3:30pm

State-level advocacy serves the dual role of creating meaningful statewide changes, and informing national policy conversations. State policy change is also an especially important strategy to address youth homelessness, since many of the laws that most directly impact youth experiencing homelessness – the rights of minors, health care, housing, employment, education, and child welfare – fall within the purview of state legislatures. This webinar will cover how to effectively engage your state legislators, and directly impact policy in your state.
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Congressional Briefing: Educating Homeless Children and Youth During COVID-19
Date Recorded: October 14, 2020

Hosted by: U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE)
Moderated by: SchoolHouse Connection

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, public schools identified 1.5 million homeless children and youth, preK-12, and the U.S. Department of Education estimated that another 1.4 million children under age six experienced homelessness.

The coronavirus outbreak has created barriers to their education and survival beyond the already grave effects of homelessness, while also threatening to dramatically increase the number of children and youth who experience homelessness. School building closures and distance learning have been particularly challenging for children and youth experiencing homelessness, who also are disproportionately students of color, students with disabilities, and English learners.

This Congressional briefing will feature a panel discussion among four local educational agency homeless liaisons charged under federal law with identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness, and ensuring their enrollment and support. Learn about the struggles and strategies of educators to identify and support these students and families, and their urgent needs – including funding for the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program and for community organizations in the Emergency Family Stabilization Act (H.R. 7950, S. 3923).
Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint

What’s Happening on the Hill: Update on Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: October 6, 2020

What’s the status of Congressional action on bills relating to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness? This webinar will provide an up-to-the-minute update on pending federal legislation, including COVID-19 relief legislation and FY2021 funding. We’ll also provide a brief primer on the most effective ways to educate and advocate with your Members of Congress, including virtual meetings with Congressional staff.
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Family and Youth Homelessness in the Wake of COVID-19: A Virtual Congressional Briefing Series In Collaboration with the Congressional Caucus

Co-Hosted by SchoolHouse Connection, National Network for Youth, Family Promise, and First Focus Campaign for Children

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, public schools and early childhood programs reported the highest number of children and youth experiencing homelessness on record. These numbers are expected to rise in the wake of the health and economic crises. Three unique briefings provide youth perspectives, parent perspectives, and provider perspectives on the current state of child, youth, and family homelessness, including the impact of COVID-19, long-standing racial disparities and equity challenges, gaps in current policies, and various legislative proposals, including the Emergency Family Stabilization Act and the Homeless Children and Youth Act.

Briefing #1: Youth Voices
Date Recorded: July 14, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with five young people about their experiences prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Briefing #2: Parent Voices 
Date Recorded: July 16, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with four parents about their experiences prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch the Recording
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Briefing #3: Provider Voices
Date Recorded: July 22, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with family and youth service providers about their experiences serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic, and how the Emergency Family Stabilization Act would bring urgent relief through the systems and programs to which youth and families are most connected.
Watch the Recording
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Federal Policy Update on Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: July 1, 2020

In July, Congress will pick up the pace on the next coronavirus relief package, as well as FY2021 appropriations. Learn about what’s at stake for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, including the newly-introduced, innovative, and necessary bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act, S. 3923, which provides flexible funding directly to community-based organizations. We’ll cover other COVID-19 legislation, including the HEROES Act, as well as FY2021 funding for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program, HUD homeless assistance programs, and other programs serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Learn the latest and find out what you can do to help protect the futures of vulnerable youth and families.
Watch the recorded webinar
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Federal Policy Update and Advocacy Techniques: Preparing for Hill Visits and Other Ways to Communicate with Congress
Date Recorded: October 18, 2019

Congressional action is heating up on a number of bills relating to children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. This webinar will provide an up-to-the-minute update on pending federal legislation, including FY2020 funding for education and homelessness programs; higher education legislation for homeless and foster youth; and reforming HUD homeless assistance to better serve children, youth, and families (including HUD’s definition of homelessness). We’ll provide a brief primer for the most effective ways to educate and advocate with your Members of Congress, including basics for meeting with Congressional staff on the Hill, or back home – what to bring, how to prepare, and how to follow up afterwards. Lastly, we’ll provide an overview of our new online advocacy center, which allows you to send letters to Congressional offices with just a few clicks.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Handouts:
– Powerpoint presentation
– Homeless Children and Youth Act Dear Colleague
– Hill Visits “Dos” and “Dont’s”
– SHC Priorities
– Sample Local Handout

Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness in the 116th Congress
Date Recorded: January 31, 2019

A new Congress means new members and new committee assignments — and, in the case of the U.S. House of Representatives, a new majority. In addition to addressing completing federal funding for the rest of the current fiscal year following the recent partial government shutdown, the 116th Congress will continue to work on new legislative areas, annual matters like annual budget and appropriations legislation, as well as other legislative matters that were not resolved in previous Congresses.

With family and youth homelessness at unprecedented levels across the nation, the stakes are high. In this webinar, we’ll review pending or anticipated legislation related to child, family, and youth homelessness, including services, housing, early care, and education. We’ll also look at the committees and members with greatest influence, and discuss strategies for engaging them on youth and family homelessness.
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Download the Powerpoint (Link to Dropbox folder)

State Advocacy Institute: Episode 2
Date Recorded: October 25, 2018

This webinar will be an advocacy “how-to” guide. While it will focus on state-level advocacy, the tools and skills shared can be applied to local and federal advocacy, as well. Topics we will cover include:

• How to find your state legislators, relevant committees, and legislative calendar
• Strategies to connect youth homelessness to existing gubernatorial and legislative priorities, such as trafficking, the opioid crisis, infrastructure, and economic growth
• Data and research to support legislative action: what they are and how to find them
• Sample legislative issue briefs, including length, format and content
• How to set meetings with key legislators
• Legislative meeting role play

Watch the recorded webinar 
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

State Advocacy Institute: Episode 1
Date Recorded: September 12, 2018

This webinar will provide an overview of our state advocacy methodology. Starting with surveying young people, service providers, liaisons and other stakeholders, we identify state policy barriers. We then convene advocates to discuss state policy barriers and engage in a series of group activities that leave the attendees ready to engage in state policy advocacy united behind a shared agenda on youth homelessness. This webinar will share our surveys, suggest key stakeholders to include in advocacy, provide a sample State Advocacy Institute agenda and the activities we use in our trainings, and share strategies to engage young people in advocacy from the beginning. We also will address restrictions on “lobbying” and how to be sure your advocacy activities do not cross that line.
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Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

All the Facts About the Homeless Children and Youth Act 
Date Recorded: July 10, 2018

Efforts to advance the Homeless Children and Youth Act, HR 1511/S 611, have picked up in recent weeks. This important bipartisan legislation would make it easier for communities to help children, youth, and families who experience homelessness, no matter where they happen to be staying. Over 50 national groups and hundreds of community-based service providers have endorsed the legislation. Find out what the bill does and does not do, why it is critically important to addressing youth and family homelessness, and what you can do to help advocate for its passage. Get the facts in this special webinar co-hosted by Family Promise, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Network for Youth, and SchoolHouse Connection.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Federal Policy Update: Funding and Legislation on Child and Youth Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 10, 2018

The recently enacted FY2018 federal funding bill includes historic increases in funding for homelessness, housing, and education programs. Congress will now turn its attention to the FY2019 budget. Learn what’s next in the budget process, as well as updates on the newly re-introduced Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, the Homeless Children and Youth Act, and the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act.
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Download the Powerpoint & Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Federal Policy Update on Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: September 26, 2017
Note: This is a repeat of the September 21 webinar. The only difference is this webinar was presented by Barbara Duffield and Darla Bardine, Executive Director of the National Network for Youth

This webinar will provide the latest updates on federal legislation related to child, youth, and family homelessness. Topics to be covered include the FY2018 budget; two new bills to improve access to higher education for homeless and foster youth; the reauthorization of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HUD Homeless Assistance reform), and the AHEAD Act (school-housing partnership legislation). Learn about the latest developments, get your questions answered, and find out what you can do to help.
Watch the recorded webinar 
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Federal Policy Update on Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: September 21, 2017

This webinar will provide the latest updates on federal legislation related to child, youth, and family homelessness. Topics to be covered include the FY2018 budget; two new bills to improve access to higher education for homeless and foster youth; the reauthorization of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act; the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HUD Homeless Assistance reform), and the AHEAD Act (school-housing partnership legislation). Learn about the latest developments, get your questions answered, and find out what you can do to help.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint and Handouts (Link to Dropbox folder)

Making Youth Homelessness Visible with Data Visualization
Date Recorded: June 22, 2022

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EMBARKing on Success for College Students Experiencing Homelessness in Georgia
Date Recorded: February 1, 2022

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Cradle to Career: Supporting Young Children and Students Experiencing Homelessness in Erlanger-Elsmere Schools, Kentucky
Date Recorded: February 15, 2022

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Ensuring Homeless Students’ Access to Meals Through P-EBT

Join SchoolHouse Connection and the Food Research & Action Center to discuss strategies states and school districts can implement to ensure students facing homelessness receive the Pandemic-EBT benefit. Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) provides nutritional resources to families who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to school closures. Families and youth receive money on a new or existing EBT card to help fill the school meals gap. Speakers will:

• Highlight ways states and school districts have overcome barriers
• Share strategies for troubleshooting issues that arise during the implementation process
• Share customizable outreach materials

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Engaging and Re-engaging Students Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic 

For 30 minutes every Thursday in February, we’ll be joined by a different homeless liaison working with students experiencing homelessness in school districts, community programs, and charter schools. The pandemic is forcing schools and personnel to rethink the way they reach and engage these students. Join our Q&A-style conversation and learn what service providers around the country are doing.

Part I – recorded February 4, 2021, featuring Dedria M. Harrod, Director of Student Support, LAYC Career Academy, Washington, DC.
Part II – recorded February 11, 2021, featuring Fallon Stewart, School-Based Program Supervisor, Maslow Project, Oregon.
Part IV – recorded February 25, 2021, featuring Nicole Sequeira, Family Services Coordinator/McKinney-Vento Liaison, Independence School District, Missouri

A Conversation with the CDC on School, Homelessness, and COVID-19
Date Recorded: February 3, 2021

Schools nationwide continue to face many challenges responding both to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to rising family and youth homelessness. This webinar will provide a brief overview of current issue and guidance, with the majority of the time reserved for facilitated conversation and questions and answers with senior CDC advisors on homelessness and on schooling.

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Congressional Briefing: Educating Homeless Children and Youth During COVID-19
Date Recorded: October 14, 2020

Hosted by: U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE)
Moderated by: SchoolHouse Connection

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, public schools identified 1.5 million homeless children and youth, preK-12, and the U.S. Department of Education estimated that another 1.4 million children under age six experienced homelessness.

The coronavirus outbreak has created barriers to their education and survival beyond the already grave effects of homelessness, while also threatening to dramatically increase the number of children and youth who experience homelessness. School building closures and distance learning have been particularly challenging for children and youth experiencing homelessness, who also are disproportionately students of color, students with disabilities, and English learners.

This Congressional briefing will feature a panel discussion among four local educational agency homeless liaisons charged under federal law with identifying children and youth experiencing homelessness, and ensuring their enrollment and support. Learn about the struggles and strategies of educators to identify and support these students and families, and their urgent needs – including funding for the McKinney-Vento Act’s Education for Homeless Children and Youth program and for community organizations in the Emergency Family Stabilization Act (H.R. 7950, S. 3923).
Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint

Coronavirus, Charter Schools, and Students Experiencing Homelessness
Date Recorded: October 1, 2020

While the McKinney-Vento Act is in full effect this school year, some of the details of implementation must adapt to changes in education brought on by COVID-19. The rights to enroll in school immediately, attend the school of origin, receive transportation, access school meals, and participate in school activities can look very different in a distance learning or hybrid learning environment. This webinar will share practical strategies being used by charter schools to support students experiencing homelessness during the pandemic, as well as address legal questions around funding, meals, and school enrollment and attendance. Whether you are new to the issue of student homelessness or have been the liaison for years, bring your questions and help us figure out the answers. A joint offering from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and SchoolHouse Connection.

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College, COVID-19, and Homelessness: Building Partnerships
Date Recorded: September 30, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities may be relying even more on community partners to provide support and resources to youth experiencing homelessness.

Participants in this webinar will:

• Hear from the Stand Up for Kids Orange County College Program to learn how they’re able to help youth in their community through a three-tiered support system: basic needs, relationship building, and housing.
• Identify the impact and importance of relationship building and mentorship for youth experiencing homelessness.
• Understand how to build partnerships between colleges and community partners.

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Preventing Evictions: What Educators Need to Know
Date Recorded: September 25, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis have put millions at risk of eviction, with disproportionate risks for families with children, especially families of color. Early childhood programs and public schools are uniquely positioned to inform and assist families to prevent eviction, thereby avoiding its harmful impact on child development, health, safety, and education. This webinar will:

• Provide a “nuts and bolts” overview of the CDC’s national eviction moratorium and how to use it to help families and youth
• Help educators know where to find up-to-date information on state and local eviction moratoria
• Provide practical strategies for when and how eviction can be prevented without an attorney, when an attorney is needed, and how to find attorneys.
• Share lessons from a school-based legal clinic
• Provide an overview of eviction and rent-related legislation under consideration by Congress

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Implementing the McKinney-Vento Act in the COVID-19 Era

While the McKinney-Vento Act is in full effect this school year, some of the details of implementation must adapt to changes in education brought on by COVID-19. What is the threshold for remaining in the school of origin in a distance learning environment? What are transportation requirements for a student crossing district lines to attend the school of origin, if one district is in-person but the other is virtual? How does distance learning affect the allowable uses of McKinney-Vento funds? This webinar will work through scenarios and legal brainteasers that will help you provide students experiencing homelessness with their full rights and services under the McKinney-Vento Act in the COVID-19 era.

Date Recorded: September 17, 2020
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Date Recorded: September 3, 2020
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Meeting Students’ Nutritional Needs This School Year
Date Recorded: September 2, 2020

Due to the impact of COVID-19, it is more important than ever to ensure students have access to the nutrition they need to thrive. Join this webinar to learn the latest on child nutrition, including flexibilities available to school districts and program providers for this school year; information about Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), and tools and resources available to districts and states to ensure program success.

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Family and Youth Homelessness in the Wake of COVID-19: A Virtual Congressional Briefing Series In Collaboration with the Congressional Caucus

Co-Hosted by SchoolHouse Connection, National Network for Youth, Family Promise, and First Focus Campaign for Children

Prior to the coronavirus outbreak, public schools and early childhood programs reported the highest number of children and youth experiencing homelessness on record. These numbers are expected to rise in the wake of the health and economic crises. Three unique briefings provide youth perspectives, parent perspectives, and provider perspectives on the current state of child, youth, and family homelessness, including the impact of COVID-19, long-standing racial disparities and equity challenges, gaps in current policies, and various legislative proposals, including the Emergency Family Stabilization Act and the Homeless Children and Youth Act.

Briefing #1: Youth Voices
Date Recorded: July 14, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with five young people about their experiences prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint

Briefing #2: Parent Voices 
Date Recorded: July 16, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with four parents about their experiences prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint

Briefing #3: Provider Voices
Date Recorded: July 22, 2020

The briefing is a facilitated discussion with family and youth service providers about their experiences serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic, and how the Emergency Family Stabilization Act would bring urgent relief through the systems and programs to which youth and families are most connected.
Watch the Recording
Download the Powerpoint

Federal Policy Update on Child, Youth, and Family Homelessness
Date Recorded: July 1, 2020

In July, Congress will pick up the pace on the next coronavirus relief package, as well as FY2021 appropriations. Learn about what’s at stake for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, including the newly-introduced, innovative, and necessary bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act, S. 3923, which provides flexible funding directly to community-based organizations. We’ll cover other COVID-19 legislation, including the HEROES Act, as well as FY2021 funding for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program, HUD homeless assistance programs, and other programs serving children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. Learn the latest and find out what you can do to help protect the futures of vulnerable youth and families.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint

Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #7: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: May 21, 2020
Watch the recorded webinar
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Access to Stimulus Payments for Young People
Date Recorded: May 20, 2020

This follow-up webinar dug deeper into how unaccompanied youth can access stimulus payments under the CARES Act, and what you can do to help. Tax attorneys from Baker McKenzie will present information on accessing the payments, roadblocks that exist currently, and how to best position youth to access current, and potential future, payments. Please submit your questions when you register for the webinar. We will have Q&A during the webinar, but questions submitted ahead of time will be given priority.
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Virtual Conversation with SHC and Friends on COVID-19 #6: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: May 7, 2020

During this COVID-19 conversation, we welcomed Ed Hinde, Executive Director of Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County, MD, and Ashley Bennett, Lead Counselor for SHIP’s New Horizons Program. SHIP is partnering closely with Frederick County Public Schools and McKinney-Vento students during the COVID-19 outbreak, with an emphasis on outreach, basic needs, mental health, and continuity of learning. Ed and Ashley also will discuss community housing efforts, including their host home network for unaccompanied high school youth.
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Our Names are Destiny, Lorinda, and Jose: Navigating Homelessness During COVID-19
Date Recorded: April 30, 2020

1. Hear the perspectives of three SHC Youth Leadership & Scholarship students who are navigating college during the coronavirus pandemic
2. Learn what higher education practitioners, service providers, and others can do to better support students experiencing homelessness during this time
3. Have the opportunity to ask questions to our youth panel about their experiences and their insights

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Access to Stimulus Payments for Young People
Date Recorded: April 29, 2020

Join us to learn more about how these stimulus payments under the CARES Act can be accessed by young people. We will be joined by Tax attorneys from Baker McKenzie who will present information on accessing the payments as well as possible roadblocks that exist currently. There will be time for a Q&A following the presentation. Please join us to learn more.
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Charter Schools Serving Students Experiencing Homelessness during the COVID-19 Crisis
Date Recorded: April 24, 2020

In these times of crisis, students experiencing homelessness are even more vulnerable than under “normal” circumstances. Join SchoolHouse Connection and the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools for a conversation on how charter schools can meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. During the webinar, you will learn about legal requirements as well as best practices in serving students experiencing homelessness.
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This document contains questions and answers submitted by charter school staff during a webinar convened by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools (National Alliance) and SchoolHouse Connection (SHC) in December 2019, and during in-person convenings of charter schools by SHC in early 2020.

Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #5: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: April 23, 2020

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Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #4: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: April 9, 2020

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Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #3: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: April 2, 2020

We will be going live to share the latest we know about the federal and local responses to COVID-19 and children, youth and families experiencing homelessness. We want to hear what you’re doing, what’s working, and your challenges. We also want to provide a space to share and be together. Join us for live Q&A and virtual fellowship.
Watch the recorded webinar
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Federal Policy Update: Coronavirus Funding and Policy on Child and Youth Homelessness
Date Recorded: April 1, 2020

Congress has enacted several packages of sweeping legislation and funding to help communities respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Learn about the latest developments, get your questions answered, and find out what you can do to shape implementation and help direct resources for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.
Watch the recorded webinar
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Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #2: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: March 25, 2020

We will be going live to share the latest we know about the federal and local responses to COVID-19 and children, youth and families experiencing homelessness. We want to hear what you’re doing, what’s working, and your challenges. We also want to provide a space to share and be together. Join us for live Q&A and virtual fellowship.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
COVID-19 and Homelessness

Virtual Conversation with SHC on COVID-19 #1: Questions, Strategies, Information
Date Recorded: March 19, 2020

We will be going live to share the latest we know about the federal and local responses to COVID-19 and children, youth and families experiencing homelessness. We want to hear what you’re doing, what’s working, and your challenges. We also want to provide a space to share and be together. Join us for live Q&A and virtual fellowship.
Watch the recorded webinar
Download the Powerpoint
COVID-19 and Homelessness