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Linking Homeless Students Linking Homeless Students to Academic Successto Academic Success
McKinney-Vento Implementation in Akron Public Schools
Identification, Identification, Enrollment Enrollment
and and TransportationTransportation
Identifying StudentsIdentifying StudentsSchools
◦Secretaries◦Counselors◦Principals
SheltersCommunity
◦Social Service Organizations◦Juvenile Court◦Akron Metropolitan Housing
Authority◦Fair Housing Contact Service
EnrollmentEnrollmentSchool Staff Awareness.
◦ See “Project RISE- Model of Seamless Enrollment- What Principals and School Personnel Need to Know”
Specifications are listed in the Board of Education Board PolicyEnrollment form contains checkboxes for:
◦ Student resides in shelter or transitional housing program
◦ Student resides in hotel or motel◦ Student resides in a car/trailer/motor home on private
property◦ Student resides in a place not designated for normal
residence◦ Student not living with ANY parent or legal guardian◦ Student and student’s family are living with another
familyInvolvement of shelter staff and school personnel.Coordination with other school districts
TransportationTransportationWhen transportation is requested all
parties communicate via e-mail for documentation and record keeping purposes. E-mails include the following:◦Student’s name and birthdate◦Temporary address◦Parent/guardian name and contact number
Key Points◦Coordinated transportation between liaison,
principals, counselors, transportation department and shelter staff.
◦Coordination with other school districts◦Parent involvement
Project RISEProject RISEProgramming and Programming and
ServicesServices
After School ProgrammingAfter School Programming
Tutoring◦9 shelter sites have tutoring
at least once a week◦Tutors are certified teachers, service learners from the university and volunteers
from the community◦Fosters increased academic
stabilization
After School ProgrammingAfter School ProgrammingGetting Started
Meet with local shelter staff to assess needs and find out about current programming.
Who will staff the activities?Secure volunteers to support staff
efforts.Designate a space to conduct activities
and store needed supplies.
Parent OutreachParent OutreachParent Pack Folder filled with
useful information.Monthly MailingsParent Letters
Love and Learn Doll ProjectLove and Learn Doll Project
This program utilizes local volunteers who make handmade dolls and tote bags that come with a book and activity booklet. The Love and Learn Doll Project promotes positive parent-child interaction and school readiness.
PACT- Performing Arts Can PACT- Performing Arts Can TeachTeach• Performing arts program that exposes students and
families to live theater.• Each student who attends the performance receives a
study guide and storybook. • Community Partners• First United Methodist
Provides space and food for Dinner Theater event• Weathervane Theater
Provides tickets for local performances• Magical Theater
Provides tickets for performances Performs plays for the Dinner Theater events
• University of Akron Theater Provides tickets for plays and musical performances
Parents RISE-ingParents RISE-ingParents RISE-ing events are focused on
family fellowship, food, and programming that is both fun and
educational for students and parents. Themes include:Harvest Dinner
Soul Food DinnerSpring Celebration
Arts & Literacy ProgramsArts & Literacy ProgramsKidz Art, a local
contracted service provider presents art and literacy programs at the
local shelter sites during the school
year and the summer
Heart: Love and hope.Lace Border: Protection of familyTear: Release of pain and hurt.Peace: Brings it all together for good.Flowers: Growth and beauty from within me
Moms Moms on the on the RISERISE
Traces of a life hoped for- peace, love, happiness, smile.
MAM (Mothers Assisting Mothers) is a local contracted service provider who works with the mothers at the shelters on parenting techniques through art, activities, and discussion.
Summer Field TripsSummer Field Trips
Each summer, staff members accompany youth
and families on five different educational field
trips. Time is spent observing, creating, and
processing.
Clothing RoomClothing RoomProject RISE partnered with Trinity
United Church of Christ to provide students with :◦New and used uniforms◦Clothes◦Shoes◦School Supplies ◦Toiletries
Akron Street CardAkron Street CardPocket directory of local
agencies covering many needs.
Updated yearly by RISE staff and a committee of representatives from local agencies
Funded by community donations.
150,000 printed annually
Resource DirectoryResource DirectoryBooklet format directory similar to
the Street card focused on services for families.
Distributed to the shelters and doubled-up families. Some categories include: Clothing &
Shoes, Fatherhood Initiatives, and Resources for Parents & Grandparents.
Approximately 750 printed annually.
Community Community AwarenessAwareness
Displays and events take place
around the community to
raise awareness about Project RISE
and family homelessness
Advisory CouncilAdvisory Council Since 1998, the Project RISE Advisory Council has expanded and
developed into a strong and diverse collaborative council comprised of community members: ◦ Akron Public Schools
Transportation Student Services Child Study Title 1 Special Education Child Nutrition Services
◦ Local Shelters◦ Continuum of Care ◦ Area Agencies◦ The University of Akron◦ Children’s Services◦ Jobs and Family Services◦ Juvenile Court◦ Akron- Summit County Public Library ◦ Head Start◦ Akron Urban League ◦ Formerly Homeless Parents
This collaboration has brought forth greater understanding of the special issues and needs of homeless children and youth while at the same time generating greater involvement and community resources. These efforts have helped reduce the barriers of homeless children and youth. There are presently 32 Council Members and Resource Persons
Advisory Council cont. Advisory Council cont.
Community Community CollaborationCollaboration
The Benefits of Community The Benefits of Community CollaborationCollaborationProvides enrichment that may not
have otherwise been provided because of funding.
Provides expertise that may not be part of your staff’s skill set.
Helps raise awareness of homeless children and youth.
Community PartnersCommunity Partners
First Book◦Local chapter of the national organization
provides age appropriate brand-new books to the students at various events.
University of Akron and Kent State University◦Service Learners who volunteer with the
tutoring program and at other events.Hospice of the Western Reserve
◦Outreach to shelter residents who have experienced loss
Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.IJN-1 Foundation
◦Provides tickets to performances such as Disney on Ice and the circus
Akron-Summit County Public Library◦Shelter Programming◦Advertise about library programs◦Age-specific programming at
Parents RISEing Dinners
Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.VFW
◦Provides turkey and volunteers for the annual Harvest Dinner
Boy Scouts◦Performs traditional Native
American dances for the annual Harvest Dinner
Sons of Italy◦Provided over 200 wrapped
Christmas gifts for families at the shelters.
Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.• Local Schools
◦Donates clothing and leftover uniforms from school uniform exchanges for the clothing room.
Summit County Department of Jobs and Family ServicesSummit County Children’s Services
BoardLocal Businesses
◦Adopted doubled-up families for Christmas
Community Partners cont.Community Partners cont.University of Akron Association
for the Education of Young Children◦Created t-shirts & blankets◦Collected new athletic shoes◦Collected teddy bears to distribute
at the sheltersOther Partners:
Feed the Children◦Provides school supplies, books, and
food packets.
School and Community Collaborations
Getting StartedIdentify key school and community
partnersLocate local chapters of national
organizationsNetwork, network, network!Communicate, Coordinate, and
Collaborate
Contact InformationContact InformationDebra ManteghiDistrict Homeless Education Liaison and
Program Manager Akron Public SchoolsProject RISE70 N. Broadway St. Room 300Akron, Ohio 44308 330-761-2969330-761-3226 faxdmantegh@akron.k12.oh.us
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