Homeless Education and Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.)
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The Homeless Education and Literacy Program (H.E.L.P.) office provides services aligned with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MVA), specifically, removing barriers to immediate enrollment and full participation in school (at the school of origin or attendance boundary zone school), school stability, academic support, and child-centered, best interest decision making. The office also works to resolve disputes related to McKinney-Vento services, identification, school enrollment, and school placement, as it pertains to the school of origin or the attendance boundary zone school.
This office is led by the HCPS Supervisor of School Social Work Services. Other personnel comprising the H.E.L.P. office include the District McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Liaison, 3 full-time social workers, 3 full-time school counselors, 3 parent liaisons, and 1 full-time Quality Assurance Analyst II. The H.E.L.P. office works closely with site-based school social workers, who serve as the school-based McKinney-Vento Liaisons, school counselors, and other student services personnel at the over 230 school sites to assist with ensuring children and youth experiencing homelessness are identified, immediately enrolled, and receive available services.
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Program Goals
The main focus of the H.E.L.P Office is to meet the educational needs of students identified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The specific goals are to:
- Increase identification of homeless children and youths
- Eliminate barriers to immediate school enrollment
- Increase students’ proficiency levels on all state assessments.
- Increase students’ overall academic success and graduation rate.
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Program Services and Support
The Homeless Education and Literacy Program offers services that are aligned with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The services and support offered are to ensure identified students have access to essential resources and opportunities for academic, personal
personal and academic advancement. To request services, parent should schedule an appointment with their child (s) school social worker.
- Academic Support, to include post-secondary planning and support
- Coordination of transportation to school of origin (if the Homeless Liaison determines it is in the best interest of the student) for the remainder of the school year,
- Gas card or HART bus pass while waiting for school bus transportation to start
- school supplies and uniforms
- Referrals to school-based programs and community-based agencies to address identified need (e.g. school social work services, family counseling services, medical, dental, mental health, and social services referrals)
- Transportation to extracurricular actives with proper verification from the sponsor (a gas card or HART bus pass
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Program Services and Supports for Unaccompanied Homeless YouthUHY
In addition to the services and supports listed above, Unaccompanied Homeless Youth also receive the following services and supports:
- Certification letter the entitles them to a free State Identification Card and a free copy of their Birth Certificate
- A senior unaccompanied homeless youth is eligible to receive a letter verifying their unaccompanied homeless status. These letters may be submitted to a post-secondary institution to assist with financial aid and completing the FAFSA application.
- Receive assistance in the completion of FAFSA by the HELP school counselors.
- Eligible to receive waivers for SAT, ACT and college applications.
- Eligible to receive assistance with school fees that may prevent graduation.
- Unaccompanied homeless youth are also eligible to receive waivers for SAT, ACT and college applications.
