26th Annual ConferenceOctober 2014

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• You are experts.• No one else knows what you know.• Good policies are informed policies.

• No one else is likely to take up these issues.• Children and youth experiencing homelessness are

invisible to the public and to policymakers.• As constituents, you have the most power to effect

change.

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• All the same reasons, plus:• Many of the laws that affect children and families

are state laws.• Education• Child welfare

• Many of the laws that affect unaccompanied youth are state laws.

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1. What law changes do you need in your state?

2. Where should you start?

3. Who should be on your team?

4. How do you approach policymakers?

5. When will we be done?

Check out NAEHCY’s “State Advocacy Toolkit” at www.naehcy.org

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Can unaccompanied youth access medical care or shelter?

Can they get their own birth certificates and access their school records?

Do state laws support or hinder McKinney-Vento implementation?

Do state laws make it harder for homeless youth to accrue credits? Participate in sports?

Are there barriers to accessing benefits and services?How does child welfare law affect your students? Do

foster youth have legal rights that could benefit homeless youth? 5

Ask young people. (How?)Ask service providers and community

members. (Who?)It’s important to understand the barrier, why

it is happening, and what specific steps could address it.

It’s important to distinguish between implementation problems and legislative problems.

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Do you have a deeper understanding and specific experience with some issues?

Are some issues less controversial than others?Are there law changes that require little or no cost? What issues can rally the broadest and strongest

support?Have your governor or legislators announced related

initiatives you can build on?Can you build on laws that are already in place, in

your state or elsewhere?7

Research can be helpful!CHYP, kidsdata.org, and NAEHCY collaborated

on CA report

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Who really knows the issue? Youth, practitioners (which ones?)

Who can help with the detail work? Lawyers (Pro bono? Legal services? NAEHCY?)

Who has relationships at the Capitol? You probably know someone who knows a state

legislator or two. (Where to start?)Who is likely to support your bill?

Don’t forget the media! (Good candidates?)Who might oppose your bill?

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Let the people with the best relationships start the conversation.

Have a specific proposal and concise justification ready. Ask for what you want, and know what you’re willing to

accept.Have data and real stories!Be prepared to answer questions and concerns.

Go get information you don’t have.Prepare witnesses to testify about bills. (Who?)

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Solicit letters of support from constituents. (Who?) Especially members of relevant committees. It helps to share draft letters.

Prepare witnesses to testify about bills. (Who?)Build momentum. (What organizations are good at

this?) The media Advocacy days, especially led by youth Professional associations

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Lobbying: asking legislators to take a specific position on a specific piece of legislation, or urge others to do the same (IRS definition for non-profits)

Advocacy: any activity that a person or organization undertakes to influence policy - includes educating, providing information, arguing a cause.

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Check to be sure that you can’t. I’ve been amazed at how many liaisons can lobby,

and how many superintendents support it.If you can’t lobby:

Advocate! Find others to “make the pitch” for you. Act as a private individual - you don’t lose your

rights as a citizen just because you work for government

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When you win. It may require compromise (SB 177). It may require multiple tries (AB 951). You may need to add supporters, raise the issue’s

profile, tweak your proposal, and/or address opponents’ concerns.

If the legislature isn’t fruitful, administrative agencies may be able to help.

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Context: Pre-existing Foster Youth Tuition Waiver Waives tuition/fees at public institutions for youth under 25 who

were in foster care in Maryland as of age 13 (and younger siblings of such youth)

Expanded in 2013 Process: Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Task Force

Included leadership from state agencies (education, child welfare, juvenile justice, housing, public health) as well as advocates, service providers, youth

Consulted with higher education leadership, and NAEHCY Published report and recommendations in Dec. 2013 Key recommendation: expand foster youth tuition waiver to

unaccompanied homeless youth

Tuition and fees at MD public colleges (2 and 4 year), universities, and state-approved vocational programs (usually housed in community colleges)

For unaccompanied homeless youth up to age 25 As verified by same parties as FAFSA

Full-time or part-time student

Reconnect with agency/institutional leadershipShare information and listen to concernsIdentify gaps in legislation and work with leadership

to develop implementation guidanceConsult expertsEngage youthConduct outreach to target populationRely on champions in ongoing campaign

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SB 177: Homeless Youth Education Success Act Deems homeless students to meet residency

requirements for interscholastic sports, immediately upon enrollment

Requires the California Department of Education and the Department of Social Services to: Organize an inter-agency work group Develop policies and practices to support homeless

children and youth Ensure that child abuse and neglect reporting

requirements do not create barriers

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AB 1068: Pupil Records Gives unaccompanied youth age 14 and over the

right to access and consent to disclose their school records

Extends these rights to caregivers who enroll students in school using California’s caregiver authorization affidavit

Prevents schools from releasing directory information of students experiencing homelessness, unless a parent expressly consents

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AB 309: CalFresh (SNAP) for Homeless Youth Clarifies that there is no minimum age

requirement for unaccompanied homeless youth to apply

Requires consideration of unaccompanied youth as their own household if applicable

Expedites benefits Provides for training for LEA liaisons and

homeless shelter operators about CalFresh

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AB 652: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act: Homeless Children

Clarifies that the fact that a child/youth is homeless or classified as an unaccompanied minor is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect

AB 1733: Free ID cards and birth certificates for homeless adults, children and youth

Must provide verification of homelessness from a homeless liaison, service provider, or attorney

Includes homeless children and youth under ED definition

Language should allow homeless youth to obtain birth certificates on their own

AB 1806: Increasing graduation ratesAdds homeless students to existing foster youth

exemption from district-specific graduation requirements if they change districts after their 2nd year of high school.

Ensures partial credits for students who change schools during homelessness

Requires liaisons to be invited to meetings regarding potential expulsions of homeless students (does not require attendance).

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Monisha Cherayil cherayilm@publicjustice.org www.publicjustice.org 410-625-9409 x. 234

Shahera Hyatt shahera.hyatt@library.ca.gov

Patricia Julianelle pjulianelle@naehcy.org (202) 436-9087