Higher Learning: Educational Access for Homeless Unaccompanied Youth

1. Higher Learning: Educational Access for HomelessUnaccompaniedYouth Outreach, Inc. Institute for Children, Poverty & HomelessnessConference New York January 19, 2012

2. INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS • Largestschool district in Indiana • Enrollment 2011 - 2012 • 31,707 Students • AverageNumberHomeless Per Day • 1,100 Students • Free / Reduced Lunch October 2011 • 79% Free • 6% Reduced • 15% Paid • Ethnicity 2011-2012 • 53.47% Black • 22.77% White • 18.40% Hispanic • 4.77% Two or More Races • 0.43% Asian • 0.15% Native American / Alaska Native • 0.01% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander

3. HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT2010-2011 • Total Number of StudentswhowereHomeless – 1,909 • Doubled-up – 1,515 • Sheltered – 326 • Hotel/Motel – 68

4. HOMELESS SUMMARY REPORT2010-2011 • Total by Grade • PK – 6 • KG – 211 • 01 – 234 • 02 – 170 • 03 – 192 • 04 – 168 • 05 – 151 • Total by Grade • 06 – 117 • 07 – 112 • 08 – 116 • 09 – 135 • 10 – 132 • 11 – 78 • 12 – 87

5. OUTREACH, INC. • Founded by Eric Howard in 1996 • Mission: “Equipping and empowering homeless teens and young adults to exit street life.” • Statement of Beliefs • Outreach believes in the redemptive power of Christ to help homeless youth find a home by: • Offering the hospitality of Christ; • Journeying with them to provide transformational guidance; and • Instilling hope to exit the streets toward a more stable lifestyle.

6. WHAT DOES OUTREACH DO? • Case Management • Graduation, Occupation, Address and Life Style (G.O.A.L.) • Drop-in Center • Referrals • Street Work • Statistics

7. IPS AND OUTREACH • Collaborative relationshipbegan in 2004 to addressneeds of homelessyouth • Increase the enrollment, attendance and academic success of unattached high school youth and promote postsecondary education • Heighten the sensitivity of the public to the challenges of students and familieswho are homeless • Startedwithreferralsfrom one (1) highschool • Served __ students • Fundingthrough the Indiana Department of Education • Currentcontract – $27,200 • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

8. MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Indianapolis Public Schools • Ensureeducationalrights and protections for studentswho are homeless • Serve as the fiscal intermediary for grant funding • Enter into contracts for services to meet identified gaps • Facilitate communication between the partners • Oversee the implementation of all objectives in proposal • Work with shelters and volunteers to provide tutors for students • Monitor the work of the evaluation team • Report to the State Department of Education

9. MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Outreach, Inc. • Provide intense case management for a minimum of thirty (30) IPS high school unattached youth • Work collaboratively to develop a "homeless immersion program" and/or "multimedia presentation" that promotes increased sensitivity and public awareness of homeless youth and related problems • Provide professional development to IPS school social workers and other school staff on best practices and non-traditional ways of working with homeless youth • Work collaboratively with IPS on truancy, school police training, law enforcement and equitable treatment in schools

10. MOU ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Outreach, Inc. • With other partners, provide opportunities for employment or internships • Work collaboratively to develop and distribute informational posters on rights, resources and access • Supply resources and services in areas to which public schools do not generally have access (e.g., rent, utility bills, state identification cards, etc.) • Support effective communication between youth agencies, shelters and schools • Present at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Youth and Children Conference when requested

11. G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011 • Supported at-risk unaccompanied high school youth with a case manager • Three (3) case managers – two (2) females and one (1) male • Average caseload of __ students • Provided wraparound services and case management while accompanying youth through their immediate and future needs • Reduced barriers enabling students to remain connected to school

12. G.O.A.L. PROGRAM2010-2011 • Empowered youth to complete high school and pursue employment and/or post secondary options • Received ninety-five (95) new referrals • Completed thirty-one (31) intakes • Worked with one hundred ten (110) IPS unattached youth from nine (9) high schools and two (2) alternative education programs

13. GRADUATION • Eighty-three (83) educational contacts • Advocated for students in schools • Enrolled students in high school • Dealt with attendance and truancy matters • Prepared students for SAT and ACT testing • Secured funding to pay graduation fees • Guided students through credit recovery • Assisted students in securing scholarships • Prepared students to attend college • Assisted in coordinating school bus routes and provided city bus passes • Transported youth to appointments, graduations and various educational events

14. GRADUATION • Thirty-four (34) seniors graduated with high school diplomas in May/June 2011 • Ninety-two (92) % of seniors graduated from high school • Twenty-seven (27) graduates were scheduled to begin postsecondary classes • Three (3) received Outreach, Inc. scholarships toward college and vocational schools • Two (2) entered military service • One (1) went to Job Corps • Celebrated first college graduation of a former G.O.A.L. participant

15. OCCUPATION • Eighty-one (81) employment connections • Obtained state IDs • Searched for jobs • Completed job applications • Advocated with vocational rehabilitation • Referred to job coaching • Attended job fairs • Assisted with background checks • Referred to vocational schools

16. ADDRESS • Sixty-eight (68) housing referrals and connections • Supported rent and utilities • Assisted with low-income housing • Searched for apartments • Secured apartments / housing • Referred to transitional living programs • Made general referrals

17. LIFE STYLE • One Hundred Sixteen (116) students received health advocacy and assistance • Referred for health insurance • Assisted with Medicaid, food stamps, WIC, prenatal care and medical appointments • Provided clothing, school uniforms and cap and gowns for graduation • Referred for eye exams and glasses • Connected with the Dress for Success program to aid in job preparation and professional clothing

18. LIFE STYLE • Four (4) youth were matched with Outreach, Inc. mentors • Eighteen (18) youth received mental health referrals for: • Crisis counseling • Suicide assessments • Psychiatric services

19. LIFE STYLE • Six (6) youth received spiritual support • Connected to churches and faith communities • Nine (9) youth received legal support • Court advocacy • Probation support • Child welfare assistance

20. LIFE STYLE • Various youth also received • Relational and emotional guidance • Reconciliation with family members • Senior pictures • Teen parenting classes • Baby showers • Spring break trips • Courses on sex trafficking • Trips to art galleries • Trip to Marengo Cave for male students • Trip to the Underground Railroad Museum in Cincinnati, OH for female students

21. EVALUATION • Monthly invoices with narrative • Internal tracking of students through client objectives • Map-Journey-Path tracking sheet • Weekly client meeting consultations

22. SUCCESSES "If students fail, it isn't because of lack of support from G.O.A.L. Case Managers.  The Case Managers offer options students didn't have before which gives them (the students) hope.  Any homeless kid I have I would refer to the program."   Jan Riesche, School Social Worker at Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities

23. FOR MORE INFO CONTACT: • Eric Howard, ChiefExecutiveOfficer Outreach, Inc. (317) 951-8886 http://outreachindiana.org/ ehoward@outreachindiana.org