McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children

The Homeless Youth Services program offers assistance for youth ages pre-K through 21 with educational and vocational opportunities.  In addition to advocacy and referral services, clothing, hygiene and school supplies are available to those in need.

Federal Definition of Homeless

The federal government's legal definition of homelessness based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is anyone who . . .

Children's Rights

Your preschool and school-aged children have the following rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act:

Mendocino County School District Liaisons

Please refer to the following list to find the appropriate Liaison.

• Anderson Valley - Donna Pierson-Pugh (707) 895-3274, dpp@mcn.org
• Fort Bragg - Lura Damiano (707) 961-2850 x16, ldamiano@mcoe.us
• Laytonville - Jayma Shields (707) 984-8089, JaymaShields@pacific.net
• Leggett - Catherine Scott (707) 925-6285 x20, cscott@leggett.k12.ca.us
• Manchester - Pedro Abteya (707) 882-2374, mansupt@mcn.org
• MCOE - Abbey Kaufman (707) 467-5104, ab@mcoe.us
• Mendocino - Tom Pepper (707) 937-5871, counselor@mcn.org
• Mendocino College- Gerri Dutton (707) 468-3184 , gdutton@mendocino.edu
• Point Arena - Holly Rawlins (707) 882-4090, rawlins@mcn.org
• Potter Valley - Yareli Macias (707) 743-1142, 223, ymacias@pottervalley.k12.ca.us
• Round Valley - Kathy Britton (707) 983-6171, x1-101, kat@covelo.k12.ca.us
• Ukiah - Jeanne Yttreness (707) 744-1333, jy@uusd.net
• Willits -Mariam Galvarin(707) 459-5314 x1102, mgalvarin@willits.k12.ca.us

School Site Homeless Advocates in Ukiah and Willits

Additional Resources

HOUSING

Fort Bragg

• Coast Community Center-The Homeless Resource Centerand Day Shelter, 253 North McPherson Street, 961-6363
• Hospitality House Emergency Shelter (showers, laundry), 237 North McPherson Street, 961-1150

Ukiah

• Buddy Eller Center (homeless shelter, meals, showers), 201 Brush Street, 462-6290
• Mendocino County Youth Project Transitional Living Program, 462-3354
• Salvation Army (closed Fridays), 714 South State Street, 468-9577
• Ukiah Community Center-The Homeless Resource Centerand Day Shelter, 888 North State Street, 462-8879
• United Way (information and referral), 421 North Oak Street, 462-4483

Willits

• Willits Community Services-The Homeless Resource Center, 229 East San Francisco Street, 459-3333

FOOD

Fort Bragg

Lunch:

• Mondayand Wednesday, 12:00-12:30 pm, 255 South Harold Street
• Friday 12:00-12:30 pm, First Baptist Church (corner of East Pineand North Franklin Streets)
• Saturday 12:00-12:30 pm, 499 East Laurel Street (park near the public library)
• Sunday 12:30 pm, Lighthouse Foursquare Gospel Church, 126 North McPherson Street

Breakfast, Dinner:

• Daily 7:00-8:00 amand 5:00-6:00 pm, Hospitality House, 237 North McPherson Street
• Mon-Wed and Fri, 12:00-3:00 pm - Seniors only10:45-11:15am, Food Bank (groceries), 910 West Franklin Street, 964-9404
• WIC (Women Infants and Children), Supplemental Nutrition Program (for pregnant women, Mothers with infants and children under 5), 790 South Franklin Street, 964-7106

Ukiah

• Plowshares, Dinner Monday-Friday 5:30-6:30 pm, 1346 South State Street, 462-8582
• Ukiah Community Center Services and Food Bank (meals, groceries), 888 North State Street, 462-8879
• WIC (Women Infants and Children) Supplemental Nutrition Program (for pregnant women and mothers with infants and children under 5), 1120 South Dora Street, 472-2743

Willits

• Willits Community Services and Food Bank (emergency food, emergency shelter, propane for cooking, medical prescription help) Open: Tues. 1:00-4:00 pm-Wed 12:00-5:00 pm-Thurs 12:00-4:00 pm; Food Bank (groceries)Open: Wed 1:00-3:00 pm& 4:00-5:30 pm- Fri 1:00-3:00pm, 229 East San Francisco Street, 459-3333
• Willits Daily Bread, Open: Mon - Thurs 5:30-6:30 pm, 59 Bush Street, Willits, 459-5072
• Brown Bag Lunch Program, City Park (across from City Hall), Saturday Lunch 1:00-2:00 pm, 111 East Commercial Street

HEALTH SERVICES

Fort Bragg

• Coast Clinic, 205 South Street, 964-1251
• Medi-Cal/Social Services, 825 South Franklin, 962-1000
• Public Health, 120 West First Street, 964-4713

Ukiah

• Alcohol and Other Drugs Program, 472-2637
• Consolidated Tribal Health, 6991 North State Street, 485-5115
• First Five, 166 East Gobbi Avenue, 462-4453
• Hillside Health Clinic, Medicaland Dental, 333 Laws Avenue, 468-1010
• Medi-Cal, 333 Laws Avenue, 468-1010
• Public Health, 1120 South Dora Street, 472-2600
• Ukiah Valley Medical Center, 275 Hospital Drive, 462-3111

Willits

• Public Health, 221-B South Lenore, 456-3800

COUNSELING

Fort Bragg

• Mental Health, 790-B South Franklin, 964-4747
• Alcoholand Other Drugs Program, 124 East Pine, 961-2522

Ukiah

• A Healing Cooperative (United Methodist Church), 270 North Pine Street, 462-3360
• Mental Health, 860 North Bush Street, 463-4303
• Mental Health (at Hillside Health Clinic), 333 Laws Avenue, 468-1010
• Nuestra Casa, 487 North State Street, 463-8181
• Project Sanctuary/ Domestic Violence, 800-575-4357

Willits

• Medi-Cal, 45 Hazel Street, 456-9600
• Mental Health, 221-B South Lenore, 459-4638

Countywide

• Mendocino County Youth Project, 463-4915

LEGAL

• Legal Services of Northern California, 421 North Oak Street, 800-529-7700
• Mexican Consulate, 916-441-3287
• US Immigration Services, 800-375-5283

24 HOUR HOTLINES

• (707) 463-HELP (4357)
• (800) 575-4357
• (707) 459-4357
• National Runaway Switchboard, 800-runaway or 800-786-2929
• Youth Crisis Line, 800-448-4663
• California Missing Children's Hotline, 800-222-3463
• Project Sanctuary/ Domestic Violence, 800-575-4357

National Asssociation for Education of Homeless Children and Youth - NAEHCY: www.naehcy.org/

Leanne Wheeler, Homeless Education Coordinator, California Department of Education (LWheeler@cde.ca.gov) 916-319-0383

To view or download a copy of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children, What Families Need to Know About Homelessness, brochure in English, please click here. . . or for the same brochure in Spanish, please click here.

Special Projects

DAY JOB

Using McKinney-Vento stimulus funding through the Mendocino County Office of Education, DAY (Dogs And Youth) JOB is a vocational training program for homeless youth ages 16-21.

Once a week the youth spend two hours at our county's Animal Shelter to work with a dog-trainer and/or groomer. The objectives for the youth are multi-faceted. Only youth who have an innate dog-loving heart are invited to partake in this program. Given that strong motivation, the skill set of developing a work ethic becomes more attainable. They are paid minimum wage for their on-the-job training. As their skills increase, the plan is to partner with local veterinarians and groomers to place these youth as interns, with the stimulus funds continuing to support them. The overarching goal for the youth is to increase their chances of finding meaningful employment.

As a subcontractor, Mendocino County's Health and Human Services Agency supports DAY JOB by transporting and accompanying the youth to the weekly sessions. The people and dogs at the Animal Shelter benefit by the additional assistance from our program.

Overall it's one big win-win-win.

Requirements for Admission into Program:

• Must Love Dogs!
• Ages 16 - 21
• Meets McKinney-Vento guidelines regarding housing* status

Housing Guidelines

• lack a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence
• share housing due to economic struggles (doubled-up)
• live in a shelter, hotel or motel (TLPand THP qualify)
• live in a public place not designated for sleeping (cars, parks)
• is an unaccompanied youth
• is a youth awaiting foster care placement

For more info: Abbey Kaufman ab@mcoe.us