ERIC Number: ED522283
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Immigrant and Homeless: Information for School District Title III Programs and Community Agencies. Best Practices in Homeless Education
National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE
Adjusting to U.S. culture can take immigrants 10-20 years. Even those who are well-educated and hold professional credentials usually experience an initial drop in their status and earnings while they improve their English skills, re-take courses, and pass licensing exams needed to practice in this country. Those with less education may struggle to find employment sufficient to meet their families' basic needs. These economic challenges make immigrant families more likely to experience poverty and homelessness. Many immigrant children experiencing high mobility and poverty may be eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. These services can help create a safe and welcoming environment for immigrant students and their parents who are experiencing homelessness. The McKinney-Vento Act promotes school stability by allowing eligible students to remain in the same school (school of origin) despite frequent moves. The Act requires each district to appoint a local homeless education liaison, who will examine each child or youth's situation on a case-by-case basis to determine eligibility. Strong collaborative relationships with Title III programs and community agencies enable liaisons to secure the most appropriate services for immigrant children and families, thereby enhancing their adjustment to the community. Local homeless education liaisons can increase opportunities for and the quality of parental participation in school activities for homeless immigrant parents by providing interpreters, explaining the school's expectations, and arranging transportation for school meetings. (Contains 5 resources and 3 endnotes.)
Descriptors: Homeless People, Immigrants, Disadvantaged Youth, Eligibility, Federal Legislation, Best Practices, Agency Cooperation
National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE. P.O. Box 5367, 915 Northridge Street 2nd Floor, Greensboro, NC 27435. Tel: 800-755-3277; Fax: 336-315-7457; e-mail: homeless@serve.org; Web site: http://www.serve.org/nche
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: National Center for Homeless Education, Greensboro, NC.
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Stewart B McKinney Homeless Assistance Act 1987
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A