San Francisco Unified School District

Student Support Services Department

Families and Youth In Transition Program

&Foster Youth Services

Program

McKinney-Vento Act

Immediate Enrollment and Placement

School of OriginTransportation to and from school Provide all the services the student

need

Definition of Homeless Any child or youth

without a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence is considered homeless under the McKinney Vento law.

Living in shelters, motels, and hotels.

Staying with family and friends (Double-up).

Living in places not ordinarily used for sleeping.

Awaiting foster care placement

Causes of Homelessness

Lack of Affordable Housing Low Wages Unemployment Domestic Violence Foreclosure Mental Health Issues Addictions

Tips for Identifying Transition Students

Chronic hunger or fatigue Erratic school attendance Attendance at multiple schools Poor grooming A marked change in behavior Development delays Lack of school supplies Difficulty trusting people

Statistics on Homelessness

20% of homeless students does not attend school

41% of homeless students will attend two schools and 28% of homeless students will attend three or more schools

With every school change, the student is set back academically four to six monthsReference from the National Center Homeless Education Center at Serve

Enrollment

“Enroll” and “enrollment” are defined to include attending classes and participating fully in school activities

Transition children must be immediately enrolled No prior records are needed, but should be obtained

by the enrolling school as quickly as possible This includes birth certificates, social security

numbers, immunization records, transcripts, and other records

School of origin

Transition youth have the right to stay in the school they went to before they lost their housing

They can continue in a school of origin until the end of the school year

The school districts must provide or arrange transportation for the youth

=Equal Access=

Homeless students have equal access to all programs: GATE, Special Ed., Migrant Ed., ELL programs, Vocational Ed.

They automatically qualify for Title I, School Meals, and After School Programs

Transition Preschoolers may be given priority enrollment

Unaccompanied Youth

Were asked to leave their home by parent or guardian

Has no formal custody papers or arrangements because their parents/guardian are in jail, hospital, or rehabilitation center

Ran away from home

District Liaison

LEA liaisons must ensure that: • Transition children and youth are

identified• Transition students enroll in, and have full

and equal opportunity to succeed in, the schools of the LEA

• Transition families, children, and youth receive educational services

District Liaison continued…. Parents or guardians are informed of

educational opportunities available to their children

Public notice of the educational rights is disseminated

Enrollment disputes are mediated Liaisons are required to assist

unaccompanied youth in placement/enrollment decisions

San Francisco Unified School District offers the following services:

• Immediate Enrollment and Placement: Educational Placement Center (EPC). 555 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA. No records necessary

• Transportation: The student receive monthly Muni fast passes when needed and requested.

• Uniforms and Back Packs: One uniform is issued to those youth attending schools that require uniforms. Backpacks are given when needed and requested.

• Tutoring Services: SFUSD has a contract with a vendor to provide assessment and tutoring services to the transition youth.

• Referral Services: FYIT Liaison makes referrals to shelters, organizations, and other service providers in the community to assist families in transition.

Resources• National Association for the Education of

Homeless Children and Youth www.naehcy.org• National Center for Homeless Education

www.serve.org/nche• National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty

www.nlchp.org• CDE Homeless Education www.cde.ca.gov/sp/hs

Shelters in San Francisco Connecting Point is an intake agency for city funded

family shelters. For more information call (415) 442-5130.

Raphael House is a shelter for families. For more information call (415) 474-4621.

Hamilton Family Emergency Center (415) 292-5228. Riley Center offers safe & confidential services for

women in abusive relationship. The 24 Hour Crisis Hotline is (415) 255-0165.

La Casa De Las Madres offers emergency shelter for women in abusive relationships. The adult line is 1-877-503-1850. The teen line is 1-877-923-0700.

Who are foster youth?

Foster youth are children who are removed from the care of their parents primarily because of abuse and neglect that resulted from complex family, social and environmental conditions.

Foster youth are overseen by county Child Welfare Services or the Juvenile Probation Department.

Through No Fault of their own

The majority of youth who enter the foster care system have been victims of abuse or neglect.

Types of Abuse: Physical Sexual Emotional Neglect (not providing for basic needs)

How many foster youth are there?

In the United States……………In California……………………In San Francisco………………In SFUSD………………………

Over 500,000

Over 80,000

Approximately 1400

Between 600-700 (estimated)

How Long?

44% of current SF foster children have been in care far at least 5

years

Where do foster youth live?

Kinship Care/Relative Placement Foster Family Homes (county appointed) Foster Family Agency Homes Group Homes Residential Treatment Facilities

Where do foster youth go to school?

Aptos

Gianinni

Washington

Wallenberg

SOTA

Newcomer

Mission

Lowell

Lincoln

John O’Connell

Ida B Wells

Galileo

Downtown

Burton

Balboa

Everett

FranciscoHoover

Horace Mann

James Lick

Presidio

Educating Foster Youth

35% of foster youth have experienced 4 or

more school changes

Each school move results in a 6-month loss

of educational progress

46% do not complete high school

As few as 15% attend college

Foster youth services Program

The FYS Program goal is to support the academic achievement, attendance, and positive school behaviors of foster and probation youth within San Francisco County.

Appropriate school placement and a feeling of “normalcy”

High school completion (in any form) The pursuit of post-secondary education

(in any form)

How do we do that? Individualized case management to support

academic achievement.

Tutoring services for elementary and middle school foster youth students.

High school to college transitional support services through the Guardian Scholars Summer Academy.

Designate sited-based FYS Liaisons to link foster youth to support, resources and a caring adult.

Assist with immediate and appropriate school placement in coordination with the SFUSD AB490 Liaison.

How do we do that?

Support permanent relationships and stability through school-based recruitment of foster and adoptive parents.

Facilitate collaboration and communication between SFUSD staff, community agencies, child welfare workers/probation officers, and care providers.

Offer professional development on the educational needs of foster youth.

Advocate locally and state-wide to improve school and child welfare policies. 

Create and distribute the FYS Census to student support services staff to target youth for services.

WHY do we do this?

Children in foster care move frequently among emergency shelters, foster family, guardian homes (kinship/relative or non-relative) and group homes.

These changes often result in multiple school placements.

Because of these complexities in their lives, many foster youth perform below grade level, are held back in school, and have lower graduation rates than their peers.

Do foster youth have specific rights or protections Regarding their education?

YES!

How can you support foster youth in your school?

Supporting foster youth in your school

Assist in the timely transfer of school records and calculation of school credits

Understand that foster youth are placed in foster care at no fault of their own

Help connect them to resources Be mindful of individual student needs Respect their right to privacy

What other resources are available to foster youth?

Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) (415) 934-4202 www.sfilsp.org

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (415) 398-8001 www.sfcasa.org

SF Human Services Agency (415) 557-5305 Email:

Gloria.Anthony-Oliver@sfgov.org

What other resources are available to foster youth?

First Place for Youth (510) 272-0979 www.firstplaceforyouth.org

SF State Guardian Scholars Program (415) 405-0546 Email: xvsz@sfsu.edu

City College of San Francisco Guardian Scholars Program (415) 239-3682 Email: mmcpartl@ccsf.edu

Larkin Street Youth Services (415) 673.0911 www.larkinstreetyouth.org

QUESTIONS

?

Thank you for your support!

For more information on ways you can support

foster youth check out your handouts

or

ASK US!