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Student Support Services

Hawaii DOE’s

Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY)

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EHCY State Office Team

Toby Portner • State Coordinator • toby.portner@k12.hi.us • 808-305-9869

April Lum • Outreach Coordinator • april.lum@k12.hi.us • 808-723-4192

Brianna Levy • Social Worker • brianna.levy@k12.hi.us • 808-348-0308

Lisa Martinez • Early Learning Navigator • lisa.martinez@k12.hi.us • 808-723-9006

Sara Alimoot • Re-Engagement Navigator • sara.alimoot@k12.hi.us • 808-723-5899

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Community Homeless Concerns Liaisons, Statewide

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Student Support Services

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Web of Support

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Student Support Services

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M O B I L E O U T R E A C H

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Student Support Services

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Oahu’s

Web of Support

Neighbor Island

Web of Support

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Student Support Services

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Student Support Services

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EHCY: �The Big Picture

Guided by the McKinney Vento Act

Immediate Enrollment & Full Participation

Educational Stability

Accountability

Opportunity to Engage in a Rigorous Education

Coordinators and Liaisons

Web of Support

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Student Support Services

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McKinney Vento ensures that eligible students receive access to comparable educational services by removing barriers to school enrollment and full, basic, daily participation in school activities. This includes:

  • Immediate enrollment
  • Free School Meals
  • Help with necessary enrollment documents
  • Help setting up transportation service (if the student qualifies)
  • School uniforms
  • Basic school supplies
  • Basic clothing needs
  • Help with basic high school graduation needs and expenses
  • Access to a Community Homeless Concerns Liaison (CHCL) for connection and resources
  • Supplemental academic and social emotional support

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Student Support Services

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Definition of Homeless

per McKinney Vento

Lacking a Fixed, Regular and Adequate

Primary Nighttime Residence, including:

Sheltered

Emergency, transitional, domestic violence

Unsheltered

Beach, car, tent, shed, etc.

Doubled-up

sharing housing

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Student Support Services

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Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?

Determining Fixed, Regular & Adequate

  • Don’t call landlords to verify address.
  • Talk with a family in a private setting.
  • Call on your liaison.

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Student Support Services

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Enrollment

School of Origin

Home School

School attended when permanently housed or the school in which last enrolled. Including a preschool. 11432(g)(3)(i)

School in the area in which a student currently resides.

11432(g)(3)(A)

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Student Support Services

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In SY 21-22 HIDOE identified 3254 students in unstable housing across the state.

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Student Support Services

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I M M E D I A T E

E N R O L L M E N T

is priority

under McKinney Vento

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Student Support Services

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MV1: How students are Identified

GOAL: Connect students to services and supports without delay.

Ensure principal is aware of all homeless students in the school.

Enrollment is ongoing.

Students are eligible at any time, and retain the homeless status for the entire school year even if they become housed.

MV1

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Student Support Services

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The Principal of the receiving school makes the final call on eligibility and enrollment.

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Student Support Services

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Unaccompanied Youth

DEFINITION

Any school-age child or youth not in the physical custody of parent or legal guardian,

Lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence

A vulnerable and often hidden subset of the population, these children are separated from their parents due to a variety of reasons. They may have run away, or been kicked out or otherwise abandoned by parents or guardians.

ENROLLMENT

Unaccompanied Youth, with the assistance from a liaison have the right to immediate enrollment, and may sign for themselves on the McKinney-Vento identification form.

Do not call the police or Department of Human Services.

For children being cared for by someone other than parent or legal guardian, a caregiver affidavit is recommended.

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Student Support Services

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Doubled-Up

“Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.

Not sure if a family’s doubled-up situation is homeless?�Ask:

Why did the family move in together? Crisis or by mutual choice for mutual benefit?

How permanent is the living arrangement intended to be?

Where would the family live if not doubling up?

Is the living arrangement fixed, regular, and adequate?

Being doubled up is often more stressful to a child and family than being in a shelter. Families are often moving in and out, avoiding landlords, lacking the security and stability of a consistent home.

Call the CHCL for helpDoubled-Up one pager

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Student Support Services

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Student Support Services

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  • Parents/youth hide their homelessness because of embarrassment or fear.
  • Parents/youth often worry that that information might be used to negatively stereotype their child/them.
  • Instead of the word “homeless;” use “unstable housing” or similar language.
  • Use language that reflects the living arrangement, e.g. “doubled-up” or “staying at a shelter, “staying with other people”, “sleeping in the car”
  • Discuss living situation in an office where other parents, staff, and students can’t overhear.
  • Explain the protections and services available to children in unstable housing (e.g., eligibility, immediate enrollment, meals).
  • Share how the information will be used (e.g., it will only be shared with staff on a need-to-know basis; program is required to report anonymous data on temporary housing in order to receive funds for the program).
  • Provide internal training to staff to increase awareness and sensitivity.

Tips and Reminders

OFFICE OF

Student Support Services