Share MOU process in Maryland and Baltimore City

Identify challenges in serving target population in urban area

Identify solutions crafted to address challenges

Demonstrate how MOU/MOU process can be advocacy tool

Identify what Baltimore City group did well and lessons learned

Discuss MOU implementation strategies

FY 2008 approx. 1, 220 * homeless preschool age children

Head Start serves 3,419 children Early Head Start serves 184 children 109 public schools w/ pre-k programs 11 family shelter and transitional

housing programs* 40% of the total number of 0-17 year olds reported in the Dept. of Human Resources,

Annual Report on Homelessness Services in Maryland, Fiscal Year 2008

Identify stakeholders Recruit, recruit, recruit Gather model MOUs

› Head Start staff has contacts w/ other HS› State dept. of ed.

Regular meetings Brainstorm Draft and edit, edit, edit

School system personnel› Homeless education liaison/coordinator› Early childhood› Preschool special ed› Enrollment/Attendance

Head Start Management/Staff Head Start Parents- current/formerly

homeless Homeless service providers

› Shelter/TH providers› Health care providers› City homeless services agency› Dept of Social Services

Advocates for homeless families

THE MAJORITY OF HOMELESS FAMILIES ARE OUTSIDE OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM

PRESCHOOL IS NOT COMPLUSORY EDUCATION

THERE IS NO ONE PLACE TO GO FOR PRESCHOOL SERVICES

JOINTLY CREATE OUTREACH/EDUCATION MATERIALS

CITY SCHOOLS REVISE APPLICATION FORMS TO GATHER INFORMATION ON YOUNGER SIBLINGS

HEAD START SHARES WAIT LIST INFORMATION W/ CITY SCHOOLS

DEPT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDES LIST OF HOMELESS FAMILIES TO CITY SCHOOLS

RAISED BY PARENTS PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEM

INADEQUATE/EXPENSIVE W/ OLDER CHILDREN

DIFFICULT TO GET CHILDREN TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

NO EASY ANSWERS EXPLORE FOUNDATION FUNDING CREATE MORE PRESCHOOL SLOTS IN

TARGETED HIGH NEED, UNDER-SERVED AREAS TO ALLEVIATE NEED TO TRAVEL

PARENTS CONVEYED EXPERIENCE W/ DIFFICULTY FINDING SLOTS IN HEAD START AND OTHER QUALITY PROGRAMS AS THEY MOVED AROUND CITY

ACCUTE PROBLEM FOR CHLDREN 3 YEARS OLD AND YOUNGER

CHILD LOCATE SERVICE DOES NOT INCLUDE HEAD START

BUILD ON PUBLIC SCHOOL-HEAD START PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS & EXPLORE CREATION OF MORE 3-YEAR OLD PROGRAMS

CONTACT CHILD LOCATE AND DISCUSS ADDING HEAD START PROGRAMS TO ITS LIST OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

EXPLORE JOINT FUNDING AND BUDGET OPPORTUNITIES AT FUTURE COLLABORATION MEETINGS

ALL PHASES OF SP. ED. PROCESS MUST MOVE MORE QUICKLY B/C OF TRANSIENT NATURE OF FAMILIES SERVED

MEETINGS NEED TO TAKE PLACE WHERE IT IS CONVENIENT FOR PARENTS

Revise Child Find referral form to identify children at time of referral who may be experiencing homelessness;

Disseminate Child Find brochures and flyers to shelters;

Identify a designated Child Find process manager for children not yet enrolled in City Schools who are experiencing homelessness;

Good faith effort by City Schools IEP teams to expedite the IEP process; and

Train designated shelter staff to screen and identify children who may need referral to Child Find for special education services.

What went well: Child and family

centered Looked forward,

sought solutions Willing to take more

time Reasonable

expectations- MOU puts structure in place for regular meetings where stakeholders discuss critical issues and can take action

Areas for improvement: Gather all

stakeholders in beginning of process