Higher Learning: Educational Access for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth Outreach, Inc. Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness Conference New York.

Higher Learning: Educational Access for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth

Outreach, Inc.Institute for Children,

Poverty & Homelessness ConferenceNew York

January 19, 2012

INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS• Largest school district in

Indiana• Enrollment 2011 - 2012

• 31,707 Students• Average Number

Homeless Per Day• 1,100 Students

• Free / Reduced Lunch October 2011

• 79% Free• 6% Reduced• 15% Paid

• Ethnicity 2011-2012• 53.47% Black• 22.77% White• 18.40% Hispanic• 4.77% Two or More

Races• 0.43% Asian• 0.15% Native

American / Alaska Native• 0.01% Native Hawaiian

/ Pacific Islander

HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT

2010-2011• Total Number of Students who

were Homeless – 1,909• Doubled-up – 1,515• Sheltered – 326• Hotel/Motel – 68

HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT

2010-2011• Total by Grade

• PK – 6• KG – 211• 01 – 234• 02 – 170• 03 – 192• 04 – 168• 05 – 151

• Total by Grade• 06 – 117• 07 – 112• 08 – 116• 09 – 135• 10 – 132• 11 – 78• 12 – 87

OUTREACH, INC.• Founded by Eric Howard in 1996• Mission: “Equipping and empowering homeless

teens and young adults to exit street life.”• Statement of Beliefs• Outreach believes in the redemptive power of Christ

to help homeless youth find a home by:oOffering the hospitality of Christ;o Journeying with them to provide transformational

guidance; and o Instilling hope to exit the streets toward a more stable

lifestyle.

WHAT DOES OUTREACH DO?

• Case Management• Graduation, Occupation, Address and

Life Style (G.O.A.L.)• Drop-in Center• Referrals• Street Work• Statistics

IPS AND OUTREACH• Collaborative relationship began in 2004 to address needs

of homeless youth• Increase the enrollment, attendance and academic

success of unattached high school youth and promote postsecondary education

• Heighten the sensitivity of the public to the challenges of students and families who are homeless

• Started with referrals from one (1) high school• Served __ students

• Funding through the Indiana Department of Education• Current contract – $27,200

• Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Indianapolis Public Schools• Ensure educational rights and protections for students who

are homeless• Serve as the fiscal intermediary for grant funding• Enter into contracts for services to meet identified gaps • Facilitate communication between the partners• Oversee the implementation of all objectives in

proposal• Work with shelters and volunteers to provide tutors for

students• Monitor the work of the evaluation team• Report to the State Department of Education

MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Outreach, Inc.• Provide intense case management for a minimum of

thirty (30) IPS high school unattached youth• Work collaboratively to develop a "homeless

immersion program" and/or "multimedia presentation" that promotes increased sensitivity and public awareness of homeless youth and related problems

• Provide professional development to IPS school social workers and other school staff on best practices and non-traditional ways of working with homeless youth

• Work collaboratively with IPS on truancy, school police training, law enforcement and equitable treatment in schools

MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Outreach, Inc.• With other partners, provide opportunities for

employment or internships• Work collaboratively to develop and distribute

informational posters on rights, resources and access• Supply resources and services in areas to which

public schools do not generally have access (e.g., rent, utility bills, state identification cards, etc.)

• Support effective communication between youth agencies, shelters and schools

• Present at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Youth and Children Conference when requested

G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011

• Supported at-risk unaccompanied high school youth with a case manager

• Three (3) case managers – two (2) females and one (1) male• Average caseload of __ students

• Provided wraparound services and case management while accompanying youth through their immediate and future needs

• Reduced barriers enabling students to remain connected to school

G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011

• Empowered youth to complete high school and pursue employment and/or post secondary options

• Received ninety-five (95) new referrals

• Completed thirty-one (31) intakes • Worked with one hundred ten (110)

IPS unattached youth from nine (9) high schools and two (2) alternative education programs

GRADUATION• Eighty-three (83) educational contacts• Advocated for students in schools • Enrolled students in high school• Dealt with attendance and truancy matters • Prepared students for SAT and ACT testing • Secured funding to pay graduation fees• Guided students through credit recovery• Assisted students in securing scholarships • Prepared students to attend college

• Assisted in coordinating school bus routes and provided city bus passes

• Transported youth to appointments, graduations and various educational events

GRADUATION• Thirty-four (34) seniors graduated with high

school diplomas in May/June 2011 • Ninety-two (92) % of seniors graduated from high

school• Twenty-seven (27) graduates were scheduled to

begin postsecondary classes• Three (3) received Outreach, Inc. scholarships

toward college and vocational schools• Two (2) entered military service• One (1) went to Job Corps• Celebrated first college graduation of a former

G.O.A.L. participant

OCCUPATION• Eighty-one (81) employment

connections• Obtained state IDs• Searched for jobs• Completed job applications • Advocated with vocational rehabilitation• Referred to job coaching• Attended job fairs• Assisted with background checks• Referred to vocational schools

ADDRESS

• Sixty-eight (68) housing referrals and connections• Supported rent and utilities• Assisted with low-income housing• Searched for apartments • Secured apartments / housing• Referred to transitional living programs• Made general referrals

LIFE STYLE• One Hundred Sixteen (116) students

received health advocacy and assistance• Referred for health insurance • Assisted with Medicaid, food stamps, WIC,

prenatal care and medical appointments• Provided clothing, school uniforms and cap and

gowns for graduation • Referred for eye exams and glasses• Connected with the Dress for Success program

to aid in job preparation and professional clothing

LIFE STYLE

• Four (4) youth were matched with Outreach, Inc. mentors

• Eighteen (18) youth received mental health referrals for:• Crisis counseling • Suicide assessments • Psychiatric services

LIFE STYLE• Six (6) youth received spiritual

support• Connected to churches and faith

communities

• Nine (9) youth received legal support• Court advocacy• Probation support• Child welfare assistance

LIFE STYLE• Various youth also received• Relational and emotional guidance• Reconciliation with family members• Senior pictures• Teen parenting classes• Baby showers• Spring break trips• Courses on sex trafficking• Trips to art galleries• Trip to Marengo Cave for male students• Trip to the Underground Railroad Museum in

Cincinnati, OH for female students

EVALUATION• Monthly invoices with narrative• Internal tracking of students through

client objectives • Map-Journey-Path tracking sheet• Weekly client meeting consultations

SUCCESSES"If students fail, it isn't because of lack

of support from G.O.A.L. Case Managers. The Case Managers offer options students didn't have before which gives them (the students) hope. Any homeless kid I have I would refer to the program."

Jan Riesche, School Social Worker at Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:• Eric Howard, Chief Executive Officer

Outreach, Inc.(317) 951-8886http://outreachindiana.org/[email protected]