The McKinney-Vento Act and Children and Youth ... - State of Michigan

stakeholders to the table, such as the courts, legal advocates, Court Appointed
Special Advocates (CASAs), foster parents, and alumni of out-of-home care.
Once an interagency agreement is designed and approved, it must be
implemented with oversight and the flexibility to adapt to new challenges and
lessons learned. Ongoing, open interagency communication is imperative.
This oversight should be written into the agreement.
Here are two examples:
• The agreement between Washtenaw (MI) Intermediate School
District and the Student Advocacy Center requires that “both
parties shall meet once a year to evaluate the effectiveness of this
agreement.”
• Delaware’s MOU establishes a steering committee to:
1. Oversee implementation of the MOU.
2. Recommend and make changes as needed in the MOU.
3. Address policy issues that may arise in implementation.
4. Appoint representatives to:
- Ensure adherence to the MOU procedures.
- Provide training and support for the implementation of
the MOU in coordination with DSCYF.
- Develop and maintain positive interagency relationships.
- Identify other training needs and develop cross-training
efforts.
Continued from page 26.
• Policies and procedures
for resolving disputes
about a student’s eligibility
or best interests.
• How education and
child welfare agencies
will maintain ongoing
communication and
coordination, to ensure
prompt and effective
services for youth in care.
• How both schools and
caseworkers will receive
ongoing professional
development about the
McKinney-Vento Act, the
educational and other
needs of youth in out-ofhome
care, the benefits
of school stability, and
relevant policies and
practices of each agency.
Once child welfare and education agencies have begun building relationships,
understanding each other’s roles and policies, and discussing concerns, they
are ready to embark on the task of defining awaiting foster care placement.
The following section explains the results of this undertaking in eight
jurisdictions.
Design and implement
interagency agreements.
2. Defining awaiting foster care placement under the
McKinney-Vento Act
The McKinney-Vento Act covers all children and youth who meet the Act’s
definition of homelessness, including those “awaiting foster care placement.”
Homeless liaisons are charged with identifying homeless children and youth,
Strategies for Improving Educational Outcomes through School Stability 27