20112011NAEHCY CONFERENCENAEHCY CONFERENCE

Thinking Beyond the Budget Thinking Beyond the Budget Crunch: Building Relationships Crunch: Building Relationships

to Maximize Resources for to Maximize Resources for Homeless Youth and FamiliesHomeless Youth and Families

Introductions

Beth McCullough, M.A., L.L.P. Homeless Liaison and McKinney-Vento grant coordinator

Kathi Sheffel, MA, FCPS Homeless Liaison and Foster Care Liaison

Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch, MSW, FCPS Social Worker

Sherry Noud, MSW, FCPS Social Worker

Tale of Two Cities Tale of Two Cities (or School Divisions)(or School Divisions)

Why are we presenting these two Why are we presenting these two programs together?programs together?

Opportunity to create a program that Opportunity to create a program that fitsfits

Lenawee County, MichiganLenawee County, Michigan

13 school districts13 school districts 56 schools56 schools 17,152 students17,152 students Population: 99,892Population: 99,892 612 homeless students in 10-11 612 homeless students in 10-11

school yearschool year Staff of oneStaff of one

Gather data – tell the storyNeeds assessments

–What are the resources?–What are the holes?–Who is already working with this

population?–Know what committees you need to be

on.

1. Identifying the Problem

80% of runaway and homeless girls reported having ever been sexually or physically abused. 34% of runaway youth (girls and boys) reported sexual abuse before leaving home and 43% of runaway youth (girls and boys) reported physical abuse before leaving home.

Molnar, B., Shade, S., Kral, A., Booth, R., Watters, J. (1998) Suicidal Behavior and Sexual/Physical Abuse Among Stree Youth. Child Abuse and Neglect. Vol. 22, NO. 3, pp. 213-222

Quantitative and Qualitative Data

32% of runaway and homeless youth have attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

12% of runaway and homeless youth spent at least one night outside, in a park, on the street, under a bridge or overhang.

Westat, Inc. 1997. National Evaluation of Runaway and Homeless Youth. Washington DC: US Dept of HHS, Admin on Children, Youth and Families.

Here are just a few of their stories…

“There is no love for me. No one cares for me. When my mother died…there is no love for me, but me. I’ve got to love myself.”--an Adrian High School student

“I don’t want to ask for help. I want to do it myself. But I ain’t got no family. How

are you supposed to do it without a family. I don’t know how to do things. How do you go to the dentist? Do you just go? Where do you go? Do you call first? Do they want money? I have a

Medicaid card, but no money. How are you supposed to know how to go to the

dentist when you got no family?” --a Lenawee County high school student

“I stayed in a barn. I stayed in an aluminum shed with a little heater somebody gave me. I had a pile of blankets and I was

always afraid they would catch fire and I’d die. I kinda felt like I did die, like I was

dead. Then I came here and now I am back in school. Its hard, but its ok. I have a

place now. Its really hard. But it is ok now. I’m not dying, you know?”

--a homeless 17 year old in Adrian

“There is no one to wake me in the morning. I have to figure out how to get in to school

on time. I miss the bus and it’s a long walk.”

--an Adrian High School senior

“I want to graduate. I have to graduate. It is my only way out.”

--18 year old homeless student at Adrian High School. She graduated in 2007 and is attending college.

Department of Human ServicesChild Protective ServicesCriminal JusticeCommunity Mental HealthRunaway and Homeless Youth

contractorSheltersContinuum of CareFaith CommunityEmployment agenciesSpecial education directors

2. The Homeless Youth Committee

Out of the homeless youth committee…

Runaway and homeless youth contract available in our county

Parents facing incarceration Alternative sentencing for teen

offenders Employment program through Goodwill Permission for youth to reside in adult

shelters Roadmap to Graduation program

3. Roadmap to Graduation

–Find a community partner–Mentor homes, mentoring 7 days a week,

24 hours a day.–Seniors on track to graduate–Power of Attorney if under 18–Use family and friends as well as

recruiting homes – “old” foster care homes

–Monthly stipend

Service clubs – Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.Faith based fundingMentoring fundingARRA fundingIndividual contributionsDrop out preventionSuicide preventionSocial Security

Funding for Roadmap

$1,430: The average annual cost to taxpayers associated with a child born to a teen mother aged 19 and younger.

$4,080: The average annual cost to taxpayers associated with a child born to a teen mother aged 17 and younger.

$8.6 billion: The public costs of childbearing to teens aged 17 and younger.

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancywww.teenpregnancy.org/costs

Cost of Teen Pregnancy

The United States could save between $7.9 and $10.8 billion annually by improving educational attainment among all recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, food stamps, and housing assistance (Garfinkel et al., 2005). Garfinkel, I., Kelly, B., & Waldfogel, J. (2005). “Public assistance programs: How much could be saved with improved education?” Paper prepared for the symposium on the Social Costs of Inadequate Education, Teachers College Columbia University, October 2005.

Cost of Dropping Out of High School

If the male graduation rate were increased by only 5 percent, the nation would see an annual savings of $4.9 billion in crime-related costs (Alliance for Excellent Education, 2006b). Alliance for Excellent Education. (2006b). Saving futures, saving dollars: The impact of education on crime reduction and earnings. Washington, DC: Author.

“It estimated states spent a record $51.7 billion on corrections in fiscal year 2008 and incarcerating one inmate cost them, on average, $29,000 a year.”

Reuters: Washington DC | Mon Mar 2, 2009 2:49pm EST

Cost of Incarceration

$300 a month$2700 a yearWhat is graduation worth?

Cost of One Student in

Roadmap to Graduation

100 % Graduation rate

87% attend college100 % employment rate

Success Rate

Other fundraisers from the community…

Partners in Hope scholarship Tutor in our largest shelter Head Start family worker in our

largest shelter Promise Project Tools for Schools Hop for the Homeless Tacos for Taxis Hospital cafeteria program A meal in your pocket (Fast food

cards)

Wearing pajamas meant you didn’t sleep in your clothes last night.

Where do you go from here?

“Someday I will tell my grandchildren,

‘Your great-grandmother was a part of the movement to allow all children to go to school. I know it is hard to believe, but schools once kept children out because the children were homeless. It wasn’t like it is today. We actually had kids who were hungry and couldn’t go to a doctor because they didn’t have money. Your great-grandmother helped fix that.’

Today we can’t imagine women not having the vote and someday we won’t be able to imagine children not being allowed to go to school.”

-Christian McCullough

FCPS Program Highlights

Identification, advocacy and support Identification, advocacy and support for homeless youthfor homeless youth

Transportation to school of origin Transportation to school of origin Homeless youth initiative, college Homeless youth initiative, college

prepprep Comprehensive tutoring programComprehensive tutoring program Supplemental food program Supplemental food program

HighlightsHighlights Trainings, presentations, and on going Trainings, presentations, and on going

consultation with school division personnelconsultation with school division personnel Supplemental food programSupplemental food program Backpack and school supply distribution Backpack and school supply distribution Holiday assistance for Unaccompanied Holiday assistance for Unaccompanied

YouthYouth Coat project Coat project Community and state workgroupsCommunity and state workgroups Multi-county collaborationsMulti-county collaborations Non-profit and faith based partnersNon-profit and faith based partners Dorm projectDorm project

Program HistoryProgram History

Initially a small program: part time Initially a small program: part time liaison, small MV grant, a few tutorsliaison, small MV grant, a few tutors

Increased funding from Title 1, FCPS, and Increased funding from Title 1, FCPS, and MV allowed staffing increase and growthMV allowed staffing increase and growth

Homeless student count growth = more Homeless student count growth = more comprehensive program with more comprehensive program with more resourcesresources

Relationship building created benefits Relationship building created benefits within our school systemwithin our school system

Our CommunityOur Community

Fairfax County covers a total area of 395 square Fairfax County covers a total area of 395 square miles.miles.

FCPS is the 11th largest school system in the FCPS is the 11th largest school system in the United States with 244 schools and an United States with 244 schools and an enrollment of 175,296 students for the 2010-enrollment of 175,296 students for the 2010-2011 school year2011 school year

FCPS identified over 2,240 homeless students FCPS identified over 2,240 homeless students last school yearlast school year

Community NeedsCommunity Needs

Affordable housingAffordable housing Emergency foodEmergency food Mental health services for children Mental health services for children

and adultsand adults Medical/dental servicesMedical/dental services Basic needs assistanceBasic needs assistance Child care Child care EmploymentEmployment

Community SupportsCommunity Supports Coordinated Services PlanningCoordinated Services Planning Four family shelters, one teen shelterFour family shelters, one teen shelter Transitional Housing ProgramsTransitional Housing Programs Permanent Supportive HousingPermanent Supportive Housing Other adult sheltersOther adult shelters Non-profitsNon-profits Faith-based supportersFaith-based supporters Community Services BoardCommunity Services Board Community health clinicsCommunity health clinics Community members and organizationsCommunity members and organizations

Current RelationshipsCurrent Relationships

Regular communication with shelters and Regular communication with shelters and community programscommunity programs

Defined process for health servicesDefined process for health services Developing referral process for mental health Developing referral process for mental health

servicesservices Partnering with faith-based community Partnering with faith-based community

membersmembers Partnering with non-profitPartnering with non-profit Internal FCPS members Internal FCPS members Community members and organizations Community members and organizations

WorksheetWorksheet

Community ResourcesCommunity Resources

Climate in the CommunityClimate in the Community

Within the community at largeWithin the community at large– What are the homeless services and how are What are the homeless services and how are

they working? they working? – How is your community implementing the 10 How is your community implementing the 10

year plan to end homelessness?year plan to end homelessness?

Within the school communityWithin the school community– How are homeless families identified within How are homeless families identified within

your school division?your school division?– What is the cultural competence level What is the cultural competence level

regarding homelessness within your schools?regarding homelessness within your schools?

Barriers: Real and PerceivedBarriers: Real and Perceived

Eligibility requirements Eligibility requirements Long waitlist for helpLong waitlist for help Competition for limited resourcesCompetition for limited resources Definition differencesDefinition differences Suburban homelessness not apparentSuburban homelessness not apparent Lack of understanding regarding Lack of understanding regarding

demographics and causes of demographics and causes of homelessnesshomelessness

Personal bias/fearPersonal bias/fear

WorksheetWorksheet

Climate and BarriersClimate and Barriers

Defining Unmet NeedsDefining Unmet Needs

Limited housing options Limited housing options Limited housing support for struggling Limited housing support for struggling

families on the edge of homelessnessfamilies on the edge of homelessness Basic needs, warm clothing, food, Basic needs, warm clothing, food,

advocacy within the communityadvocacy within the community Program eligibility criteria restrictionsProgram eligibility criteria restrictions TransportationTransportation Child care waitlistsChild care waitlists

Unmet Needs, Con’t

Head Start (challenges with Head Start (challenges with enrollment process and over-enrolled enrollment process and over-enrolled classrooms)classrooms)

Vocational and literacy training Legal/immigration challenges Limited employment opportunities Lack of mental health resources Lack of medical and dental resources

Unmet Needs for Unaccompanied Unmet Needs for Unaccompanied YouthYouth

No shelters specifically for youth over 18No shelters specifically for youth over 18 Gap in emergency services for youthGap in emergency services for youth Adult shelters not equipped for late teensAdult shelters not equipped for late teens Health and other services difficult to access Health and other services difficult to access

for youth without parent involvementfor youth without parent involvement Lack of programs designed to address aging Lack of programs designed to address aging

outout Need for post graduation planning and Need for post graduation planning and

guidanceguidance

Going FishingGoing Fishing

Finding and organizing resources in Finding and organizing resources in the communitythe community

Presenting a compelling case and Presenting a compelling case and securing commitment from securing commitment from prospective supportersprospective supporters– DataData– Case examplesCase examples– Success storiesSuccess stories– Keep it simple Keep it simple

WorksheetWorksheet

Finding partnersFinding partners

Staying Fluid with Staying Fluid with Program DevelopmentProgram Development

Learning as we go…..Learning as we go…..

Utilizing “feedback” to make changesUtilizing “feedback” to make changes On going relationship building with On going relationship building with

community partnerscommunity partners A few examples of our growth:A few examples of our growth:

– Driving lessonsDriving lessons– Shelter tutoring site issueShelter tutoring site issue– Host home goalsHost home goals– Youth eventYouth event

Looking at ResultsLooking at Results

Modifying program designModifying program design

Meeting constantly changing needsMeeting constantly changing needs

Care and Feeding Care and Feeding Nurturing PartnershipsNurturing Partnerships

– Understanding the natural tension based on different missions Understanding the natural tension based on different missions

Maintaining existing relationshipsMaintaining existing relationships– In spite of the different parameters, finding the common goalsIn spite of the different parameters, finding the common goals

– Creating recognition programs to support current and Creating recognition programs to support current and prospective partnersprospective partners

WorksheetWorksheet

Prioritize list of needs Prioritize list of needs

Choose 1 or 2 that are most pressingChoose 1 or 2 that are most pressing

Identify ALL of the possible resourcesIdentify ALL of the possible resources

Outline strategies for engagement Outline strategies for engagement

Q and AQ and A

Contact Us

Beth McCullough bmccullough@adrian.k12.mi.us(517) 266-4529

Kathi Sheffel klsheffel@fcps.edu 571-423-4332

Felicea Meyer-DeLoatch fcmeyerdeloa@fcps.edu 571-423-4336

Sherry Noud smnoud@fcps.edu571-423-4358