Homeless Youth Outreach

The McKinney-Vento Program (Title X: Homeless Education)

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that guarantees all children and youth the right to an equal education, regardless of their living situation. Protection under the McKinney-Vento Act extends to those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Children covered under McKinney-Vento include those who:
• Share the housing of others due to a loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason
• Live in domestic violence, emergency, or transitional shelters
• Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of alternative accommodations
• Are awaiting foster care placement
• Live in a public or private place not designed for sleeping
• Live in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc.

Those covered by the law have the right to:
• Expedited enrollment in the appropriate school
• Receive free/reduced lunch
• Attend their school of origin (including the necessary transportation)
• Receive support from their district's McKinney-Vento liaision

Our Services

Our homeless youth outreach program at ESD 105 provides the following assistance to school district personnel and the students and families they serve:

• School district and community information on the educational rights of homeless students and families
• Resource contacts for homeless students and their families
• Linkage with prevention/intervention specialists for emotional support while in school
• Technical assistance to school districts
• Support to newly named Title X school district liaisons as they implement the requirements of the McKinney-Vento reauthorization in their local school districts
• Assistance for districts in developing inter-district transportation agreement
• Linkage to housing through Housing First Program
• Day-to-day case management services and coordination with agencies working with youth and families. This includes all intake and exit paperwork, case planning, crisis intervention, providing or obtaining identified services, ensure that client’s needs are met and are working towards their plan of self sufficiency.

Resources

The following resources are meant to assist districts in maintaining a quality McKinney-Vento program that includes sensitive and thorough identification strategies, regular staff trainings, inter-agency collaboration, and community-wide awareness of the issues facing homeless children and youth.

• Homeless with Homework Staff Training – This 15 minute, individual web-based training gives staff a basic overview of McKinney-Vento law and best practices. The presentation ends with a short quiz, and gives each participant a certificate to verify their completion of the training. This is an excellent tool for self-paced, mandatory staff McKinney-Vento trainings.

• McKinney-Vento Fact Sheet Training Handout – This handout provides basic information on the McKinney-Vento Act, and can be modified for individual districts. An appropriate supplement to the staff training.

• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act - A Quick Reference for Homeless Children & Youth Liaisons – Informational brochure from ESD 105.

• Information for Students and Families Living in Transition – Brochure from ESD 105 with area for printing local school district contact information.

• Determining Eligibility – This brief from the National Center for Homeless Education is an excellent guide for making a sensitive and thorough determination of McKinney-Vento eligibility.

• Higher Education Resources for Homeless Youths – Links to financial aid, FAFSA, and other information from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

• Local Homeless Education Liaison Toolkit – From the National Center for Homeless Education

• REACH: Restore Educational Access to Children who are Homeless – 11-minute video explaining the educational rights of homeless children under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.

• Independent Youth Housing Program – Coordinated locally by Catholic Family & Child Service, this program provides rent subsidy, tenant rights education, money management training, roommate facilitation, and assistance on finding an apartment in your community. Application form

• Frequently Asked Questions – Information on the rights of students in homeless situations from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

• Enrollment Addendum Form- English and Spanish This form can be used as an enrollment addendum to help capture McKinney-Vento eligible students at registration.

State Resources

National Resources

Other Resources

• OSPI - Homeless Education
• DSHS Community Services Division
• Washington State Coalition for the Homeless
• Youth Care
• Independence for Foster Youth

• National Law Center on Homeless and Poverty
• National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE
• U.S. Dept. of Education - Education for Homeless Children and Youth
• The National Network for Youth
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
• Homelessness Resource Center

Runaway/Homeless Youth and Dating Violence Tool Kit: http://www.nrcdv.org/rhydvtoolkit/

• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
• Horizons for Homeless Children
• Homeless Network of Yakima County
• Call 211 for additional resource questions in Yakima County

Bank on Yakima County

Donating to the Homeless

• The Red Roof Distribution Center accepts donations to meet the needs of homeless individuals and families entering into supportive housing. Click here for flyer with donations list.