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The Luzerne Intermediate Unit #18 Homeless Initiative Program staff consists of a Project Coordinator/Educational Liaison who oversees all aspects of the program; and hourly tutors who provide educational activities at the transitional housing sites. These educators work under the guidance of the Federal and State Program Director. The program goal is to ensure the consistency of education for homeless children so that they may have the equal access to education that is provided to other children. Our initiative has improved community awareness and homeless parent awareness of the rights and availability of services to the homeless. We have addressed the barriers that affect homeless children and their parents, and have made a concentrated effort to eliminate these barriers. |
WHO ARE THE HOMELESS???????
Homeless children may be found in the following places or situations:
- Public or private places not designated for ordinary use as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings----vehicles, parks, motels, campgrounds, etc.
- Living with a parent(s) in a domestic violence shelter
- Individuals and/or families living out of necessity with relatives or friends due to lack of housing
- Run-away children (under 18 years of age) and children and youth who have been abandoned or forced out oftheir homes by parents or other caretakers
- Children in temporary shelters awaiting assistance from social service agencies
- Living alone on the street or moving from place to place between family members, friends, or acquaintances
- Youth from 18 through 21 years of age who may still be eligible for educational services in regular or special education
- Children of migrant families who lack adequate housing
Homeless parents can assist in the education of their children. By teaching parents to respond to the emotional and academic needs of their children, support efforts will be enhanced. Parent workshops have provided parents with education on parenting, pre-employment skills, social skills, self-esteem and stress management. Counseling is available for parents and children.
Our major accomplishments have included an increase in public awareness that there are homeless families in our community. Our public awareness also explains that we as educators must protect the rights of homeless children and provide for their needs. We have encouraged timely identification and assessment of homeless students in collaboration with county agencies, transitional housing facilities and the Luzerne Intermediate Unit #18 twelve-member school districts. Contact with school district and agency personnel has allowed us to establish an ongoing communication system to assist homeless families We have provided children with school supplies, clothing, tutoring, summer program activities and have arranged special school transportation so that homeless children can remain in their original schools whenever possible. We have addressed administrators for timely placement of homeless special needs children.
Our liaison has ongoing contact with the director of our county Head Start Program and also with the director of the Luzerne County Early Childhood Intervention Program to help reduce the barriers of preschool homeless children.
The Homeless Children’s Initiative Program is in an area with numerous existing agencies with whom our project coordinator successfully networks. This coordination and collaboration helps to provide our families with more comprehensive services. School administrators have become more knowledgeable of the rights of homeless students. Community, agency, and school awareness of homeless children has been a primary goal of our project. Through this collaboration and cooperation we have helped to reduce the barriers facing homeless children and their families.
Mailing Address:
Homeless Children’s Initiative
368 Tioga Ave. Kingston, PA 18704
Telephone: 570-332-6526
email: margenio@liu18.org
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