C.R. Community Resources Mr. Slayton Thompson Homeless Liaison Providing Services District-Wide.

C.R. Community C.R. Community ResourcesResources

Mr. Slayton Thompson Mr. Slayton Thompson Homeless LiaisonHomeless Liaison

Providing Services Providing Services

District-WideDistrict-Wide

Duties defined in the District’s Duties defined in the District’s Regulation 601.1 passed in June 2005Regulation 601.1 passed in June 2005

• Insure CRCSD is in compliance with Insure CRCSD is in compliance with McKinney-Vento, No Child Left Behind McKinney-Vento, No Child Left Behind

• To identify homeless children and youth To identify homeless children and youth with school staffwith school staff

• Enroll homeless children and youth in Enroll homeless children and youth in school as soon as they are identifiedschool as soon as they are identified

Duties of Homeless Duties of Homeless LiaisonLiaison

• Inform the parents/guardian of homeless Inform the parents/guardian of homeless children and youth of available education children and youth of available education or related opportunities provided to their or related opportunities provided to their children. This would also include making children. This would also include making opportunities available for parent to opportunities available for parent to participate in the education of their participate in the education of their children.children.

• To assist unaccompanied youth in To assist unaccompanied youth in placement and enrollment decisions.placement and enrollment decisions.

Duties of Homeless Duties of Homeless Liaison cont’dLiaison cont’d

Duties of Homeless Duties of Homeless Liaison cont’dLiaison cont’d• To disseminate public notices in To disseminate public notices in

places homeless children and youth places homeless children and youth receive services.receive services.

• To collaborate and coordinate with To collaborate and coordinate with state coordinators and other state coordinators and other personnelpersonnel

Populations Most at Populations Most at RiskRisk

• Least able to navigate through Least able to navigate through complex social service systems that complex social service systems that put barriers in their way (Dr. Ruby put barriers in their way (Dr. Ruby Payne).Payne).

• When the homeless receive services When the homeless receive services they are assigned services that do they are assigned services that do not put them on a track toward not put them on a track toward independence. (Community Visions)independence. (Community Visions)

Gazette Article on Gazette Article on Affordable HousingAffordable Housing

• This article, in particular, focused on This article, in particular, focused on families that will be asked to leave families that will be asked to leave public housing because of poor public housing because of poor maintenance. If there is no viable maintenance. If there is no viable solution offered for reconstructing a solution offered for reconstructing a failed system the likelihood of students failed system the likelihood of students and families in need of critical services and families in need of critical services will increase which could increase the will increase which could increase the number of homeless families if there is number of homeless families if there is no alternative to the elimination of the no alternative to the elimination of the public housing mentioned in the public housing mentioned in the article.article.

Gazette Article on Gazette Article on Affordable Housing Affordable Housing

Cont’dCont’d• Housing is essential to the success of Housing is essential to the success of

the students, their families, and the the students, their families, and the community. Being homeless or community. Being homeless or displaced creates feelings of anger, displaced creates feelings of anger, isolation, discontent, restlessness, isolation, discontent, restlessness, nobody cares therefore I do not care. nobody cares therefore I do not care. There is also shame and blame There is also shame and blame attached.attached.

• Gainful employment affects the esteem of Gainful employment affects the esteem of the student and their family. There is also the student and their family. There is also the problem of low wages not being in the problem of low wages not being in alignment with the cost of living. Rising alignment with the cost of living. Rising utility bills, bad credit, and criminal records utility bills, bad credit, and criminal records that can plague those who are homeless or that can plague those who are homeless or displaced. In the Cedar Rapids area, displaced. In the Cedar Rapids area, according to the Cedar Rapids Homeless according to the Cedar Rapids Homeless Demographics dated for the 2006-07 the Demographics dated for the 2006-07 the majority of homeless reflected in this data majority of homeless reflected in this data is predominantly Caucasian. A tracking is predominantly Caucasian. A tracking system that is mandated by the State.system that is mandated by the State.

Gazette Article on Gazette Article on Affordable Housing Affordable Housing

Cont’dCont’d

• Often times in the homeless and Often times in the homeless and displaced families we find that their displaced families we find that their student(s) educational skills are student(s) educational skills are stronger than their parent. This does stronger than their parent. This does not become visible until the parent not become visible until the parent identifies that he or she cannot read or identifies that he or she cannot read or comprehend the rules and guidelines comprehend the rules and guidelines for a successful relationship between for a successful relationship between school and parent.school and parent.

Gazette Article on Gazette Article on Affordable Housing Affordable Housing

Cont’dCont’d

Shelter and Support Shelter and Support ServicesServices

Shelters and support services can be Shelters and support services can be obtained through: obtained through:

• Key staff members at each elementary, Key staff members at each elementary, middle school, and high school. middle school, and high school.

• Development of a more centralized Development of a more centralized referral system. Referral system should referral system. Referral system should be able to be accessed through the be able to be accessed through the counseling office at each schoolcounseling office at each school

• Counselors could/would need to be Counselors could/would need to be notified by the Principal, Secretary, and notified by the Principal, Secretary, and or parent seeking the services.or parent seeking the services.

Problem Problem SolvingSolving

• Individuals and families referred to the Individuals and families referred to the required services such as mental health required services such as mental health agencies, medical services, family agencies, medical services, family counseling, parenting classes or life skills counseling, parenting classes or life skills classes that held by various social services classes that held by various social services agencies in the community.agencies in the community.

• Tour of the service oriented facilities would Tour of the service oriented facilities would be helpful for counselors and other school be helpful for counselors and other school staff. This tour would also include answer staff. This tour would also include answer and questions with a cooperative solution.and questions with a cooperative solution.

Shelter and Support Shelter and Support ServicesServicesProblem Problem

Solving cont’dSolving cont’d

Family Resource Family Resource CentersCenters

• Jane BoydJane Boyd– Preschool Preschool – Youth Sport ProgramsYouth Sport Programs– Adult & Family FunAdult & Family Fun– After School ProgramsAfter School Programs– Parent Support GroupParent Support Group– Employment InformationEmployment Information– Health InformationHealth Information– Free Medical ClinicFree Medical Clinic– Food BankFood Bank– LEAF Emergency FundsLEAF Emergency Funds

Family Resource Family Resource Centers cont’dCenters cont’d

– Tanager PlaceTanager Place

ResidentialResidential Treatment ShelterTreatment Shelter•Independent Living ProgramIndependent Living Program

•Supervised Visits – DHSSupervised Visits – DHS

•CounselingCounseling

•Adoption ServicesAdoption Services

Family Resource Family Resource Centers cont’dCenters cont’d

– Inn CircleInn Circle

Transitional HousingTransitional Housing

•Head Start/PreschoolHead Start/Preschool

•WICWIC

•Monthly Food BoxesMonthly Food Boxes

•Heating & Emergency AssistanceHeating & Emergency Assistance

•Nutritional InformationNutritional Information

•Parenting GroupsParenting Groups

•Holiday Food Sign-upHoliday Food Sign-up

Family Resource Family Resource Centers cont’dCenters cont’d

– Foundation 2Foundation 2•Crisis Hotline – DVCrisis Hotline – DV

•Crisis Family Counseling/SupportCrisis Family Counseling/Support

•Skills Building Services – DHS referralSkills Building Services – DHS referral

•Anger ManagementAnger Management

•Crisis Response TeachCrisis Response Teach

•Counseling ReferralsCounseling Referrals

Family Resource Family Resource Centers cont’dCenters cont’d

– Parent Education ConsortiumParent Education Consortium•Parenting classesParenting classes

•Parenting Resource LibraryParenting Resource Library

•Community EducationCommunity Education

– Big Brothers, Big SistersBig Brothers, Big Sisters•Mentoring ServicesMentoring Services

•Lunch BuddiesLunch Buddies

ABBE CenterABBE CenterMetro Care ConnectionMetro Care Connection• A collaborative school and community A collaborative school and community

effort focused on removing barriers to effort focused on removing barriers to learning for youth by offering expanded learning for youth by offering expanded school-based health services. school-based health services.

• Metro Care offers students school-Metro Care offers students school-based:based:– Health CareHealth Care– Mental Health CounselingMental Health Counseling– Substance Abuse CounselingSubstance Abuse Counseling

Cedar Rapids SheltersCedar Rapids Shelters

– Madge Phillips CenterMadge Phillips Center– Domestic Violence ShelterDomestic Violence Shelter– Catholic Worker HouseCatholic Worker House– Cedar House ShelterCedar House Shelter– Willis Dady Emergency ShelterWillis Dady Emergency Shelter– American Red CrossAmerican Red Cross

Hawkeye Area Hawkeye Area Community Community

Action Program, Inc. Action Program, Inc. (HACAP)(HACAP)• Transitional housing for individuals Transitional housing for individuals

and familiesand families• 24 month program24 month program• Offers safe and affordable housingOffers safe and affordable housing• Allows working toward self-sufficiencyAllows working toward self-sufficiency• Inn Circle 44 unit apartment complexInn Circle 44 unit apartment complex• Scattered Site housingScattered Site housing

21 homes, apartments and duplexes 21 homes, apartments and duplexes throughout Cedar Rapidsthroughout Cedar Rapids

Challenges of Support Challenges of Support SystemSystem

TIMETIME is the most important component in is the most important component in the process of supporting the children the process of supporting the children and their families. A normal day for a and their families. A normal day for a “normal” family does not always fit in “normal” family does not always fit in the academic frame work of getting the academic frame work of getting thins done to the smallest effort of thins done to the smallest effort of signing a planner. The socio-economic signing a planner. The socio-economic status does not matterstatus does not matter

PERCEPTIONPERCEPTION What a one person may What a one person may perceive as normal another can perceive perceive as normal another can perceive as a contradiction. Perception can be as a contradiction. Perception can be often times subjective because of often times subjective because of extreme difference in environment, social extreme difference in environment, social settings, education, religion, cultural settings, education, religion, cultural belief systems, societal and other belief systems, societal and other influences that mold or shape an influences that mold or shape an individuals life. Important to keep individuals life. Important to keep perception in an objective position.perception in an objective position.

Challenges of Support Challenges of Support System Cont’dSystem Cont’d

Proposed SolutionsProposed Solutions

• Active Website – utilized for updatesActive Website – utilized for updates

• Handbook – Information regarding Handbook – Information regarding homelessness. homelessness.

• Guidelines – for reporting and Guidelines – for reporting and attaining assistanceattaining assistance

• HomelessnessHomelessness – Redefined - in order to – Redefined - in order to maintain client integrity the word maintain client integrity the word homelessness has been substituted with homelessness has been substituted with “Temporarily Displaced” in some school “Temporarily Displaced” in some school district to be sensitive to parents and district to be sensitive to parents and students who may find the word “Homeless” students who may find the word “Homeless” as being offensiveas being offensive

• In ServiceIn Service – “to improve the service of the – “to improve the service of the children and families in need is critical”, a children and families in need is critical”, a statement in line with the Title X Mc Kinney statement in line with the Title X Mc Kinney Homeless Assistance grant.Homeless Assistance grant.

Proposed Solutions Proposed Solutions Cont’dCont’d

TransportationTransportation• One of the biggest barriers for One of the biggest barriers for

students of economic poverty and has students of economic poverty and has the biggest impact upon homeless the biggest impact upon homeless students of economic poverty.students of economic poverty.

• Has also been mandated by the Has also been mandated by the Federal government and local state, Federal government and local state, Juris Prudence,Juris Prudence, that demographics that demographics should not impede their choice of should not impede their choice of school. school.

• Reported by Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa and Reported by Chet Culver, Governor of Iowa and the Department of Education Director, Judy A. the Department of Education Director, Judy A. Jeffrey “It should be reviewed and accommodations Jeffrey “It should be reviewed and accommodations made for the homeless since this area made for the homeless since this area (transportation) appears to be a barrier for some (transportation) appears to be a barrier for some homeless children and youth in the district. homeless children and youth in the district. Maintaining students in the school of origin is Maintaining students in the school of origin is important to stabilizing schooling for homeless important to stabilizing schooling for homeless children”.children”.

• Poverty within the district is rising based on input Poverty within the district is rising based on input from public housing authorities and shelter staff from public housing authorities and shelter staff indicating that homelessness will remain a indicating that homelessness will remain a challenge into the future. The local board is challenge into the future. The local board is encouraged to address barriers to learning and to encouraged to address barriers to learning and to establish an at-risk improvement plan in the near establish an at-risk improvement plan in the near future that addresses poverty and homelessness.future that addresses poverty and homelessness.

Transportation Transportation Cont’dCont’d

Video Of Homelessness in North Liberty / Corridor

KCRG Special Report and Video on Homeless Students

A Lesson From Geese

List of ResourcesList of ResourcesThe numbers represented and The numbers represented and

referenced in the Waypoint Critical referenced in the Waypoint Critical Services Report is reflective of the Services Report is reflective of the Cedar Rapids area for shelters that are Cedar Rapids area for shelters that are provided by Waypoint. These shelters provided by Waypoint. These shelters are the Domestic Violence Shelter and are the Domestic Violence Shelter and The Madge Phillips Center for The Madge Phillips Center for Homeless Women and Children.Homeless Women and Children.