Statewide
Networks and
Postsecondary
Programs
Monday, October 29, 2012
10:30 – 11:45
College and Career Readiness
 Those
that find the college access
process smooth usually:
1) know exactly where they want to
go
2) know how to get there
3) have the resources to pay for it

In which of these categories do homeless
students fit?
What are Networks?
 People
and organizations working
together to help homeless students
access and complete postsecondary
programs
 People
and organizations that understand
how to advocate for populations and
how to navigate the system
Why Are They Needed?
 Current
college access and success
information presumes that students have
supporting adults and access to
resources.
 Navigating the transition process into a
postsecondary program is complicated
and frightening and steers the most highly
educated person into a dimension of
ignorance.
Postsecondary Institutions
 What







do they have in common?
Entrance requirements?
Y/N?
Financial aid packages?
Y/N?
Housing?
Y/N?
Understanding of homelessness? Y/N?
On-campus supports?
Y/N?
Academic offerings and supports? Y/N?
Supportive off-campus communities? Y/N?
Answers: “No” to all.
Do We Understand Each Other?
 Most
likely not
 Growing need; dwindling resources
 Unclear or nonexistent guidelines that
address the issue of homeless education
 Bottom of the list of priorities for federal,
state, and district policy makers
 Mired in bureaucracy, too much work for
too few resources, power struggles
without focus
We Seem Stuck!
What Do Networks Do?
 Individualize
the process
 Sort through the current policies and
procedures of each campus and identify
challenges for homeless students
 Address the amount of flexibility a
campus will allow to accommodate the
needs of homeless students
 Inform campus gatekeepers of the needs
of homeless students and hope for an
understanding
How Are Networks Built?
 Begins
with NAEHCY/NCHE staff and
volunteers identifying key stakeholders in
each state; or, can begin with you
 Connecting the district liaison, statewide
coordinator, and postsecondary contacts
 Training higher education staff on
homeless issues, challenges faced,
McKinney-Vento law, and US Department
of Education guidelines
 Training liaisons on higher education
policy and procedures
Navigation Tool
 Housing;
Financial Aid; Academic Supports;
Tutoring/Mentoring; Emergency Services:
Health/Counseling; Other needs
 Understanding

 Is
Strong
of homeless issues:
Some
it a good fit?
Possibilities
None
Existing Networks & Resources
Colorado Network
Consists of stakeholders from:
 Colorado Department of Education
 K-12 McKinney-Vento Liaisons
 Higher Education personnel from
Financial Aid, Admissions, and Student
Support Services
• Collaborates to streamline the verification
process between K-12 and higher education
• Has established Single Points of Contact
(SPOCS) in all CO colleges/universities to help
eliminate barriers to higher education access
Colorado Network


Barriers addressed included waiving
application fees, deferring housing deposits,
and connecting students with community
resources
In 2011 the Colorado taskforce along with the
nonprofit homeless service provider Family
Tree established private funding to assist UHY.
 SPOCs apply for funding through Family
Tree to provide student IDs, bedding,
toiletry items, and other basic needs not
covered by other sources
North Carolina Network



Includes staff from NCHE, NC Homeless Education
Program, K-12, public and private universities,
community colleges, RHYA program, NC State
Education Assistance Authority, College
Foundation of NC, etc.
 Began with top-level administrators
 More effective after adding members who
provide direct services
Established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS) in all
NC colleges/universities
Collaborated on products, publications, webinars,
and conference presentations
North Carolina Network

Started in midst of recession



Institutional barriers within systems



Budgets for higher ed institutions
devastated
Personnel cuts
Not in any organization’s scope of work
Legislative change is required to use
standard forms in colleges and universities
No champion from higher ed emerged
immediately
Overcoming Network Barriers

Getting Started


Building relationships takes time



Start time may not be ideal, but
keep up progress
It’s worth investing the effort to help
everyone understand the issues
Choose manageable amount of work
Keep momentum going

Small steps forward are still progress
NCHE Resources


Helpline: 800-308-2145 or homeless@serve.org
Website: http://center.serve.org/nche
Access to Higher Education for Students
Experiencing Homelessness
http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php
Scholarships
http://center.serve.org/nche/ibt/scholarships.php
Sample Forms and Materials
http://center.serve.org/nche/forum/higher_ed.ph
p
NAEHCY Resources
National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth:
http://www.naehcy.org
NAEHCY Higher Education Helpline
1 (855) 446-2673 (toll-free) | highered@naehcy.org


FAFSA Tips for Unaccompanied Youth Without Stable
Housing
Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Access
College Financial Aid Brief
http://naehcy.org/tk/cl.html
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Toolkits
Additional Resources
Application and Verification Guide (AVG) Chapter 5
- Special Cases (p. 99-106)
http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1213A
VG.pdf
Recommendations for Transitioning UHY to Higher
Education (Colorado)
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprevention/downloa
d/Homeless%20Education%202010/NEW%20CDE%20
WEB%20SITE%202010/6%20Higher%20Education/Best%
20Practices%20in%20Transitioning%20Homeless%20Yo
uth%20to%20Higher%20Education%20-%206-1809%20JG.docx
State Resources





Arizona College Access Network (AZCAN)
http://www.azcan.gov/FosterYouthHomeless.
aspx
Kentucky
http://louisville.edu/financialaid/cardinalcovenant.
New Hampshire (www.nhheaf.org)
Oklahoma College Assistance Program (OKCAN) http://okcollegeaccess.org/
New York Technical Assistance Center
http://www.nysteachs.org/
Contact Us
Marcia E. Weston
Membership Support and Program Services
Project Manager-College and Career Readiness
(E) marcia.weston@ymca.net
Cyekeia Lee
National Higher Education Liaison for Homeless Youth
National Association for the Education of Homeless
Children and Youth
(P) (734)-258-8175
(E) clee@naehcy.org