3:00 pm - National Association for the Education of Homeless Children

Tuesday
November
Concurrent
Sessions 7
8:15 -
9:30 a.m.
Practical Strategies for Serving our Youngest Homeless Children
Denver 1
Beth Snyder, Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher Specialist, Anchorage
School District (AK)
Mary Herrington, Coordinator, Richmond Regional Homeless Education Program (VA)
Gail Odorcich, Regional Coordinator, Homeless Children’s Initiative (PA)
This session is a REPEAT from Monday at 1:45 p.m.
Young children experiencing homelessness are at risk of developmental delays and other social,
emotional, educational and health problems that affect their ability to become successful learners
in elementary school and beyond. Young children need quality interventions and supports to
mitigate the negative impact of their circumstances. Come hear how McKinney-Vento Programs in
Anchorage, Alaska, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Richmond, Virginia collaborate with community
agencies, Head Start and early childhood programs to meet the developmental needs of children
and families. This session will provide practical strategies for identifying homeless children, birth
through 5 years of age and will offer concrete strategies for program development for working
with this population.
Federal Monitoring of State Homeless Education Programs:
A Catalyst for Program Improvement
Beth Garriss Hardy, Consultant, National Center for Homeless Education (SC)
Jan Moore, Program Specialist, National Center for Homeless Education (NC)
Denver 4
The value of the monitoring process reaches far beyond accountability for use of federal funds.
This session includes summary data from previous monitoring cycles, and discussion of the potential
impact of the monitoring process on program quality. The presentation will include tips for
State Coordinators as they prepare for changes in new monitoring cycle.
Advocacy and Opportunity in the Stimulus Era: Strategies to
Improve Educational Outcomes for Homeless Students Today and Tomorrow
Maura McInerney, Staff Attorney, Education Law Center, Philadelphia (PA)
This session outlines a strategic approach to using stimulus funds at the state and school district
level to improve educational outcomes for children who are homeless. Attendees will learn how
to develop strategy based on specific needs in your program; stretching available funds through
collaborations with and outsourcing to other organizations. Improve your homeless education
program through data collection, supplemental remedial assistance, credit recovery, and by coordinating
with Head Start, Title I, and DOE incentive/innovation grants.
The Phoenix out of Ashes: Practical Solutions to Help
Unaccompanied Youth Soar
Denver 2
Denver 5
Beth McCullough, Homeless Education Coordinator, Adrian Public Schools (MI)
This session is a REPEAT from Monday at 1:45 p.m.
How do you take a student from the streets to graduation? Housing, finances, food, community
support, scholarship programs and hope are all part of the fire that helps this population soar
above the challenges they face. The session will feature real life examples of programs, such as
grass roots housing programs, Department of Social Services networking, scholarship programs,
and mentor homes. Ways to address program barriers, including financial assistance, will be addressed.
28
Determining Eligibility: Case-by-Case Problem-Solving under McKinney-
Vento’s Definition of ‘Homeless’
Denver 3
Estella Garza, Homeless Liaison, San Antonio ISD (TX)
Patricia Julianelle, Counsel, NAEHCY (DC)
This session is a REPEAT from Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
This workshop puts the legal standards for determining McKinney-Vento eligibility (“fixed, regular,
and adequate”) into operation. By applying good strategies and problem-solving to real-life scenarios,
attendees will navigate the Act’s “black and white” and “grey” areas. Scenarios may confirm
or challenge participants’ present ideas, so be prepared for flexible thinking!