March 10, 2009 Morning Session

Is this student homeless? What resources are available to meet his needs? How can school staff collaborate to improve the outcome for homeless and at-risk children and youth?

This workshop, presented by Jeanne Stamp of the Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) allows group interaction to work through true scenarios that have occured throughout Texas. Participants learn how to apply the McKinney Vento Law in ways to help students enroll, attend, and succeed in school.

Afternoon Session

How does a single mother with three young children provide meals and snacks for her family when they are living in one-room motel, because they cannot afford better housing? Are there any better options if they don't have transportation and generally rely on the nearby convenience store for their source of food?

What is the impact of poor nutrition on the physical, social and emotional well-being of students who are homeless or living in poverty?

This session is provided by a registered dietitian and a university nutrition major who teamed up to interview students living in homeless situations. After analyzing their typical diets, suggestions are made for improving nutrition in cost-effective ways so that students have a better chance at remaining healthy and doing well in school.

The Seeds of Success (SoS) program at Region 14 ESC assists students living without a fixed or adequate residence to enroll, attend, and achieve in school. The SoS program provides training and technical assistance about the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to administrators and staff of area schools. Funding is available to provide after-school tutoring programs and other services such as school supplies to students who are living in temporary and transitional housing.

Many families today are not able to own or rent their own home or apartment because housing costs are so high. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a single mother with several children would have to earn more than $13.00 an hour (more than double the current minimum wage) to be able to afford a two-bedroom unit in Texas. Many children must live in shelters, motels, a vehicle, or doubled up with friends or family to avoid living on the street. Education is especially important for children and youth in temporary living situations, because they need opportunities to develop skills and obtain good jobs when they become adults. However, their living situations make it difficult to succeed scholastically, because:
There may not be a good place or a quiet area for study;
Transportation may not be available to the school they were attending before their last move;
They may not have adequate school supplies or clothing;
School records may be lost due to frequent moves.

Children may enroll in school without a permanent address?

Children in temporary living situations may enroll and attend classes while the school obtains immunization records?

Unaccompanied youth may request transportation to their school of origin?

Students may receive McKinney-Vento services if they are living with another family because they cannot afford housing?

THEO has an excellent website that explains the McKinney-Vento law and gives information about school origin, transportation, and assistance available to homeless liaisons throughout Texas.
Click this link to access the website: www.utdanacenter.org/theo

To access forms applicable to the Homeless Education Program, click on downloadloadable forms at left.

If you would like to know more about the Homeless Education Program at Region 14 ESC, contact:
Martha Smallwood
Seeds of Success Program Director.
email msmallwood@esc14.net
phone 325/675-8624
fax 325/675-8659
OR
Mary Jo Beard
Program Secretary
email maryjob@esc14.net
phone 325-675-8637