Homeless+Families

=**__Homeless Families __**=

"They [homeless children] need support, not blame; they need acceptance, not rejection or shame; and they need a curriculum that allows them to succeed." ~Berger  Definition of a Homeless Family

A family without safe, sanitary and affordable housing; family may be living in a temporary shelter provided by a community, out of their car, or with little to no shelter.

 Possible Causes for Homelessness
 * Lack of affordable housing
 * Poverty
 * A decrease in government help/funding [[image:tn_schoolboy2.gif width="144" height="156" align="right"]]
 * Changes in the family situation (death of a parent, divorce)
 * One or both parents lose their jobs or get laid off
 * Fractured social support or not knowing where to go to find help

 Statistics of School-aged Children Growing up in Homeless Families  
 * Thousands of families become homeless in the United States each year; about 1.5 million of these family members are children.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">About one-third of these children are under the age of 13.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Roughly 34% of school-aged homeless children have lived apart from their families.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Homeless children are three times more likely to have emotional or behavioral problems that interfere with their learning as compared to their peers who are not homeless.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">School-aged homeless children, 6-17 years of age, also face higher mental health problems than that of their peers who are not homeless. 47% of homeless school-aged children are faced with problems such as depression, anxiety, and withdrawal, compared to about 18% of their peers who are not homeless.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> Effects on the Child's Learning and Development
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Lack of security of living in a stable environment and they face uncertainty, moving time and time again
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Being turned down for the opportunity to learn by schools that will not accept students who are unable to provide them with a residential address
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Because of the constant moves and not being accepted by schools, these students struggle to keep up in school
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Many homeless students also face the following: learning difficulties, speech delays, short attention spans, depression and/or anxiety, behavioral problems, aggression, and withdrawal
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">These students also have a higher risk of nutritional deficiency and other health problems including delayed immunization, poor iron levels, and developmental difficulties, which can delay their growth development
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Social factors including family violence, drug-exposed babies, alcohol abuse, mental disorders, child abuse and neglect also hinder on these students learning opportunities
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Many homeless children have a low self esteem and feel shame for not having a home

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">This act was designed to help preserve homeless children’s rights to have access to an education. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act offers states nominal grants and incentives to encourage them to provide education opportunities to homeless children.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Rights of Students/Families who are Experiencing Homelessness <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Homeless students must be helped in choosing a school and enrolling if there are no parents or legal guardians
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Every state must have a McKinney-Vento plan that describes how homeless students will be given the same opportunities to reach academic standards than those students who are not facing homelessness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Homeless students must be enrolled in a school even if they don’t have all the required documents needed, such as a residential address.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Transportation to and from school must be provided for the student at his/her parent’s or guardian’s request
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Local Educational Agencies (LEA) must keep students in the same school they attended when they had a permanent residence or the last school the student attended if feasible and not against the parent or guardian’s wishes. If the LEA does not enroll the student, a written explanation to the parent or guardian is required. Parents have the right to appeal and/or request a dispute resolution
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Students may stay at their original school until the end of the school year in which they move into a permanent residence

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Tips for Educators Working with Homeless Families <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Although teachers alone cannot solve the problems homeless families face, there are many ways teachers can help the children of these families to be more successful in school. To help homeless children, teachers/administrators can: <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Support Links <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> [|Free School Meals Pamphlet] The Free School Meals Pamphlet link is provided by the National Center for Homeless Education. This pamphlet can be printed by teachers/administrators to hand out to homeless families and other families that may benefit from this program. [|Homeless Information: South Dakota Resources] The Homeless Information: South Dakota Resources link is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This site lists all the resources that homeless families in South Dakota have access to. Some of these resources include food stamps, GED and/or job training, clothing, and vocational rehabilitation. [|The National Center on Family Homelessness] The National Center on Family Homelessness website provides information on training and programs they provide for homeless families. This site also provides information on publication, research, and statistical information about homeless families and children. [|South Dakota Department of Social Services] The South Dakota Department of Social Services website provides information about food stamps, medical eligibility/opportunities, and temporary assistance services for families in need.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Help the new student catch up and individualize their assignments
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Set easily obtainable goals to boost the student’s self esteem and to encourage him/her to keep trying their best
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Provide the student with health provisions, such as a toothbrush, tooth paste, soap, clothes, etc
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Provide a place where the student can keep their school materials
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Provide the student with a supervised area before/after school where he/she can complete homework assignments
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Create a buddy system in the classroom for all students to encourage positive social interaction
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Provide all students with a clear, simple outline for each day of the week to help children to know what to expect during the day
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Stay organized and transition between each task/activity for the day smoothly
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Have clear simple rules and provide all students with a safe, structured learning environment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Encourage the student’s parents to become involved in the classroom. This will help build a stronger partnership with these parents as they feel more accepted and a part of their child’s education. Provide these parents with information of how you would like them to help.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Be accepting of their situation and treat them respectfully
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Provide referrals for special services as needed

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Resources <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Berger, E.H. (2008). //Parents as Partners in Education: Families and Schools Working Together.// Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. [] [] [] []