McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children

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Click for DAY (Dogs and Youth) JOB Slideshow

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 . . .

• lacks a regular, fixed and adequate nighttime residence (substandard housing).
• is sharing housing due to economic struggles (doubled-up).
• is living in a shelter, hotel or motel.
• is living in a public place not designated for sleeping (cars, parks).
• is an unaccompanied youth.
• is a child or youth awaiting foster care placement.
• is a child or youth abandoned in a hospital.
• is a migrant child who qualifies under any of the above.

Children's Rights

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

• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there.
• Continue in the school they attended before you became homeless or the last one they attended.
• Receive transportation to school and to school programs.
• Attend a school and participate in school programs.
• Attend a school and participate with children who are not homeless.
• Enroll without giving a permanent address.
• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of required school records or documents.
• Enroll and attend classes even while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrollment.

Mendocino County School District Liaisons

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

• Anderson Valley - Donna Pierson-Pugh 895-3010  dpp@mcn.org
• Fort Bragg - Lura Damiano 961-2850 x3519  ldamiano@fbusd.us
• Laytonville - Jayma Shields 984-8089  JaymaShields@pacific.net
• Leggett - Tamara Tardiff 925-6285  tamara@leggett.k12.ca.us
• Manchester - Cindy Gonzalez 882-2374 mansupt@mcn.org
• MCOE Coordinator - Abbey Kaufman 467-5104  ab@mcoe.us
• Mendocino - Andrea Arenas 937-5871  aarenas@mcn.org
• Mendocino College- Jacque Bradley 468-3106 jbradley@mendocino.edu
• Point Arena Joint Union High/Arena Union Elementary- Holly Rawlins 882-2131  rawlins@mcn.org
• Potter Valley - Syd Renwick 743-1142 x222 srenwick@mcoe.us
• Round Valley - DeeDee Hurt 983-6171 x1-101 dhurt@covelo.k12.ca.us
• Ukiah Unified - Jeanne Yttreness 472-5101 jyttreness@uusd.net
• Willits Unified - Laura Sleeper 459-5314 x1101 laurasleeper@willitsunified.com

Additional Resources / Referrals

24 HOUR HOTLINES

• Call 211 for Mendocino County referrals
• (707) 463-HELP (4357)
• (800) 575-4357
• (707) 459-4357
• National Runaway Switchboard, 800-runaway or 800-786-2929
• 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, CDE   Wheeler@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.

WorkIntern Video

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.

The staff 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