Homeless Education Network: Homeless Education Network:

A Collaborative ApproachA Collaborative Approach

William Wolfe, Executive DirectorHomeless Children’s Education FundCharles LaVallee, Director, Homeless Education NetworkHomeless Children’s Education FundSister Mary Parks, CSJ, Executive DirectorSisters Place, Inc.

National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and YouthNational Association for the Education of Homeless Children and YouthForging the Future: Educating ALL Our Children and YouthForging the Future: Educating ALL Our Children and Youth

2323rdrd Annual Conference – November 6, 2011 Annual Conference – November 6, 2011Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Homeless Children’s Education FundBackground and History:

• Dr. Joseph F. Lagana

• “Glued to Television”

• “hope through learning”

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Homeless Children’s Education Fund2011 Menu of Educational

Opportunities

• Learning Centers/Resource Libraries• Mini-Grants and Field Trips• Gear for Grades• “Building Blocks for Success” Afterschool Program• C.A.P.E. (Customized Accelerated Programs for Education)• Trainings and Learning Center Meetings

See enclosures 1 and 2 for more information.

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Research Study: “Educating Homeless Children in Allegheny County: An Evaluation of Families, Agencies, and Services”

Dr. Peter Miller and Dr. James SchreiberDuquesne University, 2009

1. There is great diversity among homeless families with school-age children in Allegheny County.

2. Homeless students and parents experience widespread problems with school.

3. Most parents want to be active advocates in their children’s educational pursuits, but many of them face significant barriers in their attempts to do so.

4. Agency-based after-school learning centers appear to be highly effective at providing academic and social support for homeless students.

5. The nature and frequency of communication between schools, community programs, residential agency staffs, and parents is crucial.

6. Relationships (and the lack thereof) play important roles in parents’ and children’s development.

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Research Study continued…

“The primary recommendation from the study was the development of a

Homeless Education Network (HEN).”

•Findings and recommendation were presented at Summit I: Ensuring Quality Education for Homeless Children and Youth on November 20, 2009.

•The HEN was then formed and its first meeting was held on April 26, 2010.

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Homeless Education Network

Family Stabilization

Enroll, Attend & Succeed in School

School Stability

Integrated Model of Collaboration

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Homeless Education Network

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Homeless Education Network

• Primary Partners with Experience• PA Homeless Children’s Initiative (McKinney-Vento) Region 4• Allegheny County Department of Human Services• Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU)• Homeless Children’s Education Fund • Operation Safety Net• Public Schools in Allegheny County• Homeless Providers in Allegheny County• Education Law Center• University of Pittsburgh, Office of Child Development• Duquesne University 8

Achieving Positive Outcomes

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Preventing Negative Consequences

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The Homeless Education Network connects and advocates with interested parties, facilitates discussions among partners, serves as catalyst for action, creates effective models, brokers resources and provides

a forum for community discussions to ensure that children and youth who are experiencing homelessness are enrolled, attending, and succeeding in school as mandated by The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

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““Children who are homeless are among the most educationally at-risk of all Children who are homeless are among the most educationally at-risk of all students. National research reflects that 45% do not attend school regularly -- a students. National research reflects that 45% do not attend school regularly -- a significant predictor for dropping out; 43% repeat a grade; 50% fail academicallysignificant predictor for dropping out; 43% repeat a grade; 50% fail academically

and only one third read at grade level. and only one third read at grade level.

You—as a provider of services, a supporter and advocate for children and youth You—as a provider of services, a supporter and advocate for children and youth experiencing homelessness—can change these dismal statistics and improve the experiencing homelessness—can change these dismal statistics and improve the life outcomes of these vulnerable children. The Toolkit provides information life outcomes of these vulnerable children. The Toolkit provides information about important laws and explains legal rights and how to use them. The about important laws and explains legal rights and how to use them. The Toolkit also offers practical suggestions, resources, check lists and other tools to Toolkit also offers practical suggestions, resources, check lists and other tools to help ensure that children without housing have access to the full range of public help ensure that children without housing have access to the full range of public education programs and services and experience success in school.” education programs and services and experience success in school.”

*Please see enclosure 3 for information on how to purchase a Toolkit

Creating Products in Collaboration:

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Summit II: Collaborations and Models Impacting Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

“Regardless of how, when, where or even how many times they are homeless, the civil rights of homeless children

to obtain an education must be maintained and protected. It is the law, and it is the right thing to do, and every possible measure must be exhausted to ensure it.”

–David J. HicktonU.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania

*Please see enclosure 4 to review the full transcript of David

Hickton’s remarks.

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“POVERTY AND THE IMPACT ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING”

Summit III: May 4, 2012The Rivers ClubPittsburgh, PA

Please see enclosures 5 and 6, “Key Findings for the United States” and “Key Findings for Pennsylvania.”

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Creating a Strong Network/ Collaboration

“Collective Impact Initiatives are long-term commitments by a group of important actors from different sectors to a common agenda for solving a specific social problem. Their actions are

supported by a shared measurement system, mutually reinforcing activities, and ongoing communication, and are

staffed by an independent backbone organization.”

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- Stanford Social Innovation Review, “Collective Impact” by John Kania & Mark Kramer, Winter 2011, p. 39

Thoughts or Questions?

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Contact Information

• Bill Wolfe• 2100 Smallman Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • Office - 412.562.0154 • Email - wwolfe@homelessfund.org

• Charlie LaVallee• 2100 Smallman Street, 2nd Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15222 • Office - 412.562.0154 • Email - clavallee@homelessfund.org

• Sister Mary Parks • Sisters Place, Inc. 418 Mitchell Avenue Clairton, PA 15025• 412-233-3903 ext. 11• maryparks@sistersplace.org 19