Homeless Education Program

Homeless Youth Liaison

Mono County Office of Education

Kevin Lian

Purpose

The program was designed to provide assistance to homeless students and families in compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act which is an integral part of Every Child Succeeds Act. School personnel works in collaboration with community service agencies in an effort to maximize access to various educational, social and enrichment programs which promote academic success and student achievement.

Mammoth Unified School District also recognizes the unique needs of students in foster care. While foster youth are not always identified under McKinney-Vento, they may experience similar educational disruptions and are provided additional support to promote school stability, consistent access to resources, and academic success.

Remove barriers to academic success.
Identify homeless students via the Student Residency Questionnaire (SRQ)
Ensure District compliance with federal and state mandates.
Assist students in staying on track to graduate.
Provide access to program services and community resources.
Provide consultation to support school staff i.e. school counselors.

Program Objectives

Remove barriers to academic success for McKinney-Vento eligible students by providing needed supplies such as backpacks, school supplies, clothing, transportation, etc.
Educate students and parents on their educational rights.
Promote parent participation in school-related activities.
Support foster youth in maintaining school stability and accessing appropriate educational services.
Collaborate with child welfare agencies and caregivers to ensure continuity of education for foster youth.

Homeless Definition

The McKinney-Vento Act defines a "homeless" student as a school-aged youth, who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and may include:

a primary nighttime residence that is a shelter designated to provide temporary living accommodations (motels/hotels, shelters or transitional housing).
living in a car, park, garage, abandoned building or any public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations.
living temporarily in a trailer park or camping area due to the lack of adequate living accommodations.
living "doubled-up" with another family, due to loss of housing, stemming from financial problems.
residing in a home for school-aged, unwed mothers or mothers-to-be, if there are no other available living accommodations.
being abandoned at a hospital.
being an abandoned, runaway or throwaway youth or migratory child living in any of the circumstances described above.
special populations who are also eligible are unaccompanied youth, homeless pregnant/parenting teens or 0-5-year-old children.

Special populations who are also eligible include unaccompanied youth, homeless pregnant or parenting teens, and children ages 0–5.

Foster Youth Support

Students in foster care may face challenges similar to those experienced by students identified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, including school changes, gaps in enrollment, and barriers to consistent academic progress.

Mammoth Unified School District is committed to supporting foster youth by:

Promoting school stability and minimizing disruptions in education
Assisting with enrollment, records transfer, and course placement
Coordinating with caregivers, social workers, and community partners
Ensuring access to academic supports, extracurricular activities, and enrichment opportunities
Providing a consistent point of contact for assistance and advocacy