Children's Education Partnership

Program History The Children’s Education Partnership was created as a collaborative effort between New Haven Home Recovery, the New Haven Board of Education, the New Haven Diaper Bank, New Haven Head Start, the Department of Social Services, Christian Community Action and Life Haven.  The goal of the program is to ensure that all youth facing homelessness receive necessary services mandated under the McKinney-Vento Act to achieve academic success.  During the 1980s, the federal government recognized the magnitude of the problem of homelessness within our country and, more specifically, the increasing incidences of homelessness among families with children and unaccompanied youth. To address this issue, Congress passed the Stewart B. McKinney Act, reauthorized most recently as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This act guarantees homeless children and youth the following:

•  The right to immediate enrollment in school, even if lacking a permanent address or paperwork normally required for enrollment such as immunization records or birth certificate.
• The right to attend school in his/her school of origin (if this is requested by the parent and is feasible) or in the school in the attendance area where the family or youth is currently residing.
• The right to receive transportation to his/her school of origin, if this is requested by the parent.
• The right to attend school along with children not experiencing homelessness. Segregation based on a student’s status as homeless is strictly prohibited.
• The posting of homeless students’ rights in all schools and other places around the community.
• The right to services comparable to those received by housed schoolmates, including transportation and supplemental educational services.

While having the opportunity to enroll and succeed in school may seem like a given to many of us, the McKinney-Vento Act was enacted due to the numerous barriers homeless children faced in obtaining a free, appropriate public education.  Under McKinney-Vento, States must review and undertake steps to revise any laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as barriers to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children and youth.

Mission

The goal of the program is to ensure that all youth facing homelessness receive necessary services mandated under the McKinney Vento Act to achieve academic success. 

Services The CEP Manager educates school personnel and parents on the McKinney Vento Act, as well as the rights of the homeless students.  The CEP Manager holds collaborative meetings, which includes Life Haven Shelter, CCA, Board of Education Homeless Liaison, Beth el Shelter and Beyond Shelter Coordinator. The CEP Manager visits CCA, Life Haven, Martha’s Place and CareWays shelters, to educate parents on the educational rights of their children.

• In addition, all clients have access to food, toiletries, hygiene essentials, diapers, The Furniture Co-Op and other goods from our on-site pantry throughout the year.
• Clients benefit from community donations including blankets, sheets, clothing, diapers, cleaning supplies, toiletries, household items and food.
• 100% have access to TFC for clothing and furniture, when they were moving into permanent housing.
• In 2008, a new plan was implemented by the Homeless Education Committee, in which each school would appoint a staff member to serve as the homeless liaison for their school.  The job of the homeless liaison is to ensure that they are tracking each homeless student in their building and ensuring they receive proper services.  Each liaison is trained yearly by the CEP Manager, who is also there to give additional support when needed.

Eligibility

All children and youth who are homeless according to the definition outlined in the McKinney Vento Act:

• Children who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.
  • They can be living:
    • in an emergency, transitional,  runaway or domestic violence Shelter
    • temporarily in a hotel or motel
    • “doubled-up,” living with friends or family temporarily because of loss of housing
    • in a car, campground, park, abandoned building or any other space that is not meant to house
      humans
• children who are awaiting foster care placement
  
• Youth who are unaccompanied; who are not within the physical custody of their parent or guardian and who are also homeless are also eligible

Application Process

Contact the program directly at 203-492-4866 ext. 25 or email Coryne Legare at clegare@nhhr.org.

Understanding the Need

During the 2009-2010 school year, over 350 children ages 0-18 were identified as homeless in New Haven (up from 174 last year).

Community Partners

Board of Education & Head Start Program

Funding

The CEP program is funded through the New Haven Board of Education by a McKinney-Vento sub-grant from the State Department of Education

Success Stories

Click here for CEP success stories!