being their advocate: helping homeless youth access higher education college connections for student...
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BEING THEIR ADVOCATE: HELPING HOMELESS YOUTH ACCESS HIGHER EDUCATION
College Connections for Student SuccessFebruary 2014
Meet NAEHCY
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national grassroots membership association that connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, and service providers to ensure school enrollment, attendance and overall success for children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing. Website: http://www.naehcy.org
How Many Youth Experience Homelessness?
• 1.2 million children/youth• Public schools 1,168,354 homeless
children/youth in 2012-13– 10% increase over last year– 24% increase overall since the 2009-2010
school year– 44 states (83%) reported increases
• 2012-2013 FAFSA Data – 58,158 unaccompanied homeless youth
nationwide– 1,735 unaccompanied homeless youth in
GA– 57% increase from the 2011-2012
academic year
Paths to Being “On Our Own” Family conflict: blended family issues,
pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, substance abuse
Abuse and/or neglect within the home Parental incarceration, illness,
hospitalization, or death Lack of space in temporary situations or
shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys
Paths Continued
Child welfare issues Running away from a placement Aging out of the system Significant correlation between involvement
with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult
But the Student Choose to Leave A youth can be eligible regardless of
whether he/she was asked to leave the home or chose to leave
Sometimes there is “more than meets the eye” for youth’s home life situations
Educators do not need to understand or agree with all aspects of a student’s home life to comply with federal educational mandates
Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights & Services
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including: Sharing the housing of others due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping
grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations
Living in emergency or transitional shelters Awaiting foster care placement
Eligibility Continued
Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setting
Migratory children living in the above circumstances
Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
For more info, see NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief at www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php
Fixed, Regular, Adequate
Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change
Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence
Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments
Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a
SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?
Why the Broad Definition?
Shelters are often full and turn away youth No shelters in many suburban and rural areas Eligibility rules of often exclude
unaccompanied minors Youth may fear adult shelters Shelters often have time limits Youth may be unaware of alternatives, fleeing
in crisis, living in over-crowded, temporary, and sometimes unsafe environments
Shelters often are a last resort after all other possibilities are exhausted
Unaccompanied Students Under MV
2-step process to determine eligibility1)Does the student’s living arrangement meet
the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?
2)Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?
Unaccompanied “not in the physical custody of a parent or
guardian”
Barriers to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Homeless
Lack of access to parental financial information and support Lack of financial means to live independently and safelyInability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in collegeLimited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areasStruggling to balance school and other responsibilitiesLack of adult guidance and support Lack of information about available support systems
Poll
Unaccompanied homeless youth may or may not feel comfortable giving sufficient details to enrollment staff to provide an
adequate understanding of their home life.Would you discuss personal issues with an
authority figure you have just met?
Financial Aid and FAFSA Basics
Expected family contribution (EFC): Families are expected to contribute to higher education costs to the extent they are able
FAFSA Cannot be filed before January 1 prior to the
academic year in which student seeks to enroll For dependent students, income and asset
information required for both the student and a parent; parental signature required
For independent students, no parental signature nor income and asset information is needed
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UHY and the FAFSA
2012-13 ONLINE FAFSA
College Cost Reduction And Act (CCRAA)
Independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness Can apply for financial aid without
parental signature or consideration of parental income
Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College financial aid administrator
Verification of Status Form
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA Can be used by any of the four verifiers Copy should be on file with the school, one
with student, and one sent to college/university
Valid for one academic year
Application and Verification Guide
Updated Application and Verification Guide released in 2013
Borrows language from NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief
Student can use the college’s administrative address as his/her mailing address
UHY may be 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA
Dependency override required for 22-23 year olds
24 or older is automatic independent status
Application and Verification Guide
FAA verification Not required unless there is conflicting
information Documented interview (even via phone) is
acceptable Should be done with discretion and sensitivity
Some information may be confidential (e.g. protected by doctor-patient privilege)
Child welfare reports are not necessary Guidance recommends consulting with local
liaisons, State Coordinators, NAEHCY, school counselors, clergy, etc.
Role of the Financial Aid Administrator (FAA)
According to the AVG, if a student does not have, and cannot get, documentation from a local liaison, RHYA provider, or HUD provider, a FAA must make a determination of homeless/unaccompanied status
This is not an “exercise of professional judgment” or a “dependency override” for youth 21 and younger; this is determining the independent student status of an unaccompanied homeless youth
Campus Support Services
College Student
Financial Aid Admissi
ons
Registrar
Health Services
Counseling Services
Police & Public Safety
Residence Life
Academic Support
Community Support Services
College Student
UHY
DHS
ETV
ShelterMedicaid
CMH
Public Assistance
DHS
ETV
YITMedicaid
CMH
Public Assistance
College Student
Financial Aid Admissi
ons
Registrar
Health Services
Counseling Services
Police & Public Safety
Residence Life
Academic Support
Navigating Multiple Systems
Best Practices on Campus
Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing
Open a food and clothing bank on campus Consider housing options for homeless
students when dorms close: Leaving one residence hall open Allow UHY to stay in housing for
international students Provide a list of “host homes” in the
community Establish Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in
colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access
Best Practices on Campus for SPOC’s SPOC’s can come from any office on campus Assist students with the following
Admissions Financial Aid Academic Advising
Remediation, Tutoring Student Life
Housing, Counseling Center, Health Center, TRIO Programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, EOC, GEAR-
UP),Learning Disabilities Services, Life Skills, Financial Literacy, Mentoring Programs
Best Practices Continued
Connect students with federal and community resources that they may be eligible for Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funded Shelters
(RHYA) Administration for Children and Families
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/grants/fysb-grantees
Statewide Networks
Convene a meeting with local stakeholders from the McKinney-Vento K-12, Foster Care, Higher Education, and RHYA/HUD shelter communities as well as other local service providers and advocates
Allow each to share knowledge about their area of expertise UHY and independent student definitions Financial aid Campus and community resources
Build an action plan for serving UHY that makes sense for your community
Statewide Networks
Four Established Statewide Networks Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, New
Hampshire Have Single Points of Contact (SPOC’s) at
each college/university Six New Statewide Networks
Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Florida
Upcoming Networks Indiana, Montana, New York, New Jersey,
Virginia
Colorado Network Example
Consists of stakeholders from: Colorado Department of Education K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons Higher Education personnel from Financial
Aid, Admissions, and Student Support Services
Collaborates to streamline the verification process between K-12 and higher education
Has established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in all CO colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access
Colorado Network Continued Barriers addressed included waiving application
fees, deferring housing deposits, and connecting students with community resources
In 2011 the Colorado taskforce along with the nonprofit homeless service provider Family Tree established private funding to assist UHY. SPOCs apply for funding through Family Tree to
provide student IDs, bedding, toiletry items, and other basic needs not covered by other sources
LeTendre Scholarship
How do students apply? http://
naehcy.org/letendre-scholarship-fund/about-the-fund Applicants must submit:
1) A completed application form;2) An essay about the impact of homelessness on the their lives and their desire to attend college (500-1,000 words)
3) An official school transcript 4) A minimum of one letter of recommendation from a
teacher, counselor, or other adult who can speak to the applicant's qualifications and experiences
Deadline to apply for $2000 scholarship is June 2014
NAEHCY Resources
NAEHCY Higher Education Hotline:855-446-2673
http://www.naehcy.org Cyekeia Lee, Higher Education Liaison, [email protected] NAEHCY College Access and Success Toolkit,
http://naehcy.org/sites/default/files/dl/toolkit.pdf Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Toolkits, FAFSA Week:http://naehcy.org/tk/cl.html NAEHCY Podcast Series
http://naehcy.org/educational-resources/podcasts FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable Housing Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access College Financial
Aid Brief
Additional Resources
National Center for Homeless Education http://
center.serve.org/nche/states/state_resources.php National Resources Center for Permanency and
Family Connections http://
www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/education.html National College Access Network
http://www.collegeaccess.org/ National Network for Youth
http://www.nn4youth.org/