Family Resource Center McKinney Vento and Foster Student Information

Family Resource Center:

Lisa Krietenstein, our Family Resource Specialist and Homeless and Foster Liaison is here for our families in the HUSD Family Resource Center. Please call Lisa at 928-759-5104 for information or to make an appointment with the resource center.

We provide free clothing and school supplies to HUSD students who qualify for and are registered with our McKinney Vento homeless program. If you have questions about the qualifications for the program please call your student's school for more information or contact Lisa. Community referrals are available for area resources as well.

For families in need, we also have clothing items such as coats, gloves, and jeans that are donated. They can make an appointment to come in and find items that they are needing. We have sizes ranging from 4T to men's and women's sizes for older kids. We also provide referrals to agencies that may offer assistance with rent, and/or utilities, and low-income housing information.

The Family Resource Center is located in what was the BMHS-East campus - now the District Office, located at 6411 N Robert Road, Prescott Valley, AZ. We are in building 400, room 422 - across from the bus parking.

Please call the Family Resource Center for referrals, information, and support at (928) 759-5104. We are here for you!

We welcome donations of clean, new, or gently-used children's and teens' clothing.

Humboldt Unified School District

Foster Care Transportation Plan

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 contains educational provisions to

promote educational stability and success for students in foster care.

A student in foster care is a child or youth in the custody of a child welfare agency (i.e.

Department of Child Safety or Tribal Social Services) and placed away from parents/legal

guardians. This might include students in a licensed or non-licensed kinship

placement, foster home, group home, residential facility, or other such placement.

Provisions for students in foster care include:

● Remaining enrolled in their school of origin for the duration of their time in care,

unless a determination is made that it is not in the child’s best interest to attend

the school of origin.

The term school of origin means the school in which the student was enrolled at the

time of placement in foster care, including preschool. If a child’s foster care placement

changes, the school of origin would then be considered the school in which the child is

enrolled at the time of the placement change.

Humboldt Unified School District (HUSD) will work in collaboration with parents,

guardians, concerned adults, students, and the Child Welfare Agency (CWA) to ensure

equitable access to a child in foster care’s school of origin. Children in foster care will

always be allowed to enroll in their school of origin or school of residence as required

under both federal and state law.

Transportation for children in foster care will be provided by the foster family, CWA or

HUSD utilizing the most cost-effective means to do so. If the child’s school of origin is

an HUSD school and the child is placed in a foster home outside of HUSD boundaries,

the district will work with CWA and/or the foster family to determine if the school of

origin remains the school of best interest for the child. The determination will

primarily take the following into consideration:

● The wishes of the child;

● The wishes of the foster family (according to state law);

● The wish of CWA;

● The distance and time required for travel;

● The safety of the child;

● Any applicable services available at the school of residence vs. the school

of origin.

Additional costs are calculated by the district Transportation Office and take into

account the availability of district transportation, the distance of the child’s residence

from the nearest applicable bus stop, and any related fuel and staffing costs necessary

in order to provide transportation. The time required in order for the district to

arrange transportation varies depending upon a number of factors such as current

demand, availability of staff and/or vehicles, and location of students.

While HUSD believes that the school of best interest for a child is most often their

school of origin, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the commute time and/or

distance is so great that transporting the child would have a negative impact on the

child’s social and/or academic life. For this reason, HUSD follows general guidance on

what the district considers to be a reasonable commute distance and time.

● Commute distance: 20 miles

● Commute time (one way): 30 minutes

The CWA point-of-contact will identify children in foster care, who are in need of

transportation assistance, and contact the HUSD point-of-contact, the HUSD foster

liaison. Additional costs for transportation (whether in-district or out-of-district) will

be financed through one of the following methods as provided for under the ESSA and

federal regulation (ESEA 1112(c)(5)(B)):

● CWA agrees to reimburse HUSD for any additional cost;

● HUSD agrees to pay for the additional cost;

● CWA and HUSD agree to share the additional cost;

If it is decided that it is not in the student’s best interest to remain in the school of

origin, the child is immediately enrolled in the new school, or school of residence, even

if the child is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment. This would

include, but not be limited to, a birth certificate, immunization record, former school

record, or proof of residency.

Students in foster care may also receive assistance with the following:

● Enrollment in school

● Backpacks and school supplies

● Clothing, toiletries, and other basic needs

● Information on school programs, including early childhood programs

● Referrals to community resources

ESSA requires that districts designate a point of contact to facilitate communication

and collaboration with the Arizona Department of Education, and the state and local

child welfare agencies, and to participate in the discussion around best interest, school

changes, enrollment, educational services, and other concerns. If you have questions or

concerns about your student in foster care, you may contact HUSD’s Family Resource

Specialist, (928) 759-5104.

Foster Student Point of Contact: Lisa Krietenstein

Humboldt Unified School District

Family Resource Specialist

Homeless & Foster Liaison

Family & Community Coordinator

6411 N Robert Rd

Bldg 400 Rm 422

Prescott Valley, AZ 86314

(928) 759-5104

RIGHTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS

The school district shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect. Every homeless student shall have access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless. This commitment to the educational rights of homeless children, youth, and unaccompanied youth, applies to all services, programs, and activities provided or made available.

A student may be considered eligible for services as a “Homeless Child or Youth” under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act if he or she is presently living:

Doubled up with family/friends due to economic hardship.
In a shelter, temporary shared housing, or transitional living program
In a hotel/motel, campground, or similar situation due to a lack of alternative housing
At a bus station, park, car, or abandoned building

According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Act, eligible students have rights to:

Immediate enrollment: Documentation and immunization records cannot serve as a barrier to enrollment in school.

School Section: McKinney-Vento eligible students have a right to select from the following schools:

· The school he/she attended when permanently housed (School of Origin)

· The school in which he/she was last enrolled (School of Origin)

· The school in the attendance area in which the student currently resides (School of Residency)

Remain enrolled in his/her selected school for the duration of homelessness, or until the end of the academic year in which they become permanently housed.

Participate in programs for which they are eligible, including Title I, National School Lunch Program, Head Start, Even Start, etc.

Transportation services: A McKinney-Vento eligible student attending his/her School of Origin has the right to transportation to and from that School of Origin.

Dispute Resolution: If you disagree with school officials about enrollment, transportation, or fair treatment of a homeless child or youth, you may file a complaint with the school district. The school district must respond and attempt to resolve it quickly. During the dispute, the student must be immediately enrolled in the school and provided transportation until the matter is resolved. The Homeless Liaison will assist the student in making decisions, providing notice of any appeal process, and filling out the dispute forms.

For more information, refer to https://www.azed.gov/homeless

or contact:

Lisa Krietenstein

H.U.S.D. Homeless/Foster Liaison & Family Resource Specialist

6411 N. Robert Rd. Prescott Valley, AZ. 86314

(928)759.5104

lisa.krietenstein@humboldtunified.com

DERECHOS DE LOS ESTUDIANTES SIN HOGAR:

El Distrito Escolar debe brindar un ambiente educativo que trate a todos los estudiantes con respeto y dignidad. Todo estudiante sin hogar, debe tener acceso a las mismas oportunidades educativas gratuitas al igual que los estudiantes con hogar. Este compromiso a los derechos educativos de los niños sin hogar, jóvenes, o jóvenes sin compañía aplica para todos los servicios, programas y actividades provistos o disponibles.

Un estudiante puede ser considerado elegible para los servicios como “Niño o Jóven sin hogar” bajo el acto de ayuda McKinney-Vento, si actualmente vive en:

Un refugio, casa compartida temporalmente, o programa de vida de transición
Un hotel/motel, campamento o situación similar debido a falta de alternativas
Una estación de autobús, parque, auto/carro, o edificio abandonado

De acuerdo al acto McKinney-Vento, los estudiantes elegibles tienen derecho a:

Inscripción Inmediata: La documentación y cartilla de vacunación no son una barrera para la inscripción escolar.

Selección Escolar: Todo estudiante McKinney-Vento tiene derecho a seleccionar una de las siguientes escuelas:

La escuela a la que asistía cuando tenía una casa permanente (Escuela de Origen)
La escuela en la que estuvo inscrito/a por última vez (Escuela de Origen)
La escuela dentro del área de residencia actual del estudiante (Escuela de Residencia)

Permanecer Inscrito en la escuela de su elección durante el período en que no tenga hogar, o hasta que termine el año escolar en el cual han conseguido casa permanentemente.

Participar en programas para los cuales son elegibles, incluyendo Título I, Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares, “Head Start”, “Even Start”, etc.

Servicios de Transporte: Un estudiante McKinney-Vento asistiendo a su Escuela de Origen tiene el derecho de transportación desde y hacia dicha Escuela de Origen.

Resolución de Disputas: Si usted está en desacuerdo con los oficiales escolares respecto a la inscripción, transporte o trato justo de un niño(a) o joven sin hogar, usted puede enviar una queja al Distrito Escolar. El Distrito Escolar debe responder y tratar de resolver rápidamente. Durante la disputa el/la estudiante, debe ser inscrito de inmediato a la escuela y el servicio de transporte debe ser brindado hasta que el asunto sea resuelto. El Enlace Sin Hogar, le ayudará en la toma de decisiones, avisándole sobre cualquier proceso de apelación y ayudándole a llenar las formas de disputa.

*Para mayores informes, visite la página https://www.azed.gov/homeless

Lisa Krietenstein, Enlace a Desamparados de H.U.S.D.

Escuela Bradshaw Mountain High School- #422

6411 N. Robert Rd. Prescott valley, Az. 86314

Su teléfono: (928)759-5104

lisa.krietenstein@humboldtunified.com

DISPUTES:

The dispute resolution's purpose is to provide the parent/guardian an opportunity to dispute a Local Educational Agency (LEA) decision on eligibility, school selection, enrollment, or transportation feasibility.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 requires the State Educational Agencies (SEAs) have a procedure for the prompt resolution of disputes regarding the educational placement of homeless children and youth.

For the dispute form or for more information on dispute resolution, please click the link below to be directed to the Arizona Department of Education's website.

http://www.azed.gov/homeless/

McKinney-Vento Homeless Applications and Public Notice Posters:

Files: