Building Early Links for Learning: - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Building Early Links for Learning: Promoting quality early education for children in family shelter.J. J. Cutuli Rutgers University, CamdenChuck KiefferThe Cloudburst GroupAmanda Atkinson Will Curran-GroomePublic Health Management Corporation

2. Early Childhood Education (ECE) participation among children in shelterBELL Goal/PurposeCollaboration between emergency housing & early childhood education providersDevelopmental friendliness of housing programs

3. Overview Introduction and context (5 minutes) Key Learnings from Parents and Providers (20 minutes)Chuck Kieffer, The Cloudburst Group Models to improve early learning services (20 minutes)Amanda Atkinson, Public Health Management Corporation Facilitated discussion

4. Focus on Family Shelters:Emergency Shelter/Transitional Housing (ES/TH)18 City-contracted providersSpread out across the city, to some degree

5. Focus on Family Shelters:Emergency Shelter/Transitional Housing (ES/TH)18 City-contracted providersSpread out across the city, to some degree

6. Most children in ES/THare under 6 (53%)

7. ECE Survey of Parents in ES/TH, 2016(3-to-5 year olds)

8. Survey of ES/TH providers, 2016:ECE Use among Birth-to-Five Year Olds

9. Two questions:1) What are key issues to consider?2) What are strategies and models that might work in Philadelphia?

10. Key Learnings from Parents and Providers:Increasing Access to Quality Early Childhood Education Chuck KiefferThe Cloudburst GroupNAEHCY Annual Conference October 29, 2017

11. Focus Group Objectives & Process

12. Descriptors of Group Participants33 parents/guardians in 4 focus groupsTraits similar to homeless family population in general 88% female82% African American67% 20-29 years old97% single/never married19 staff members from Early Childhood Education and Homeless Shelter/Services programs in 3 focus groups

13. Key Findings:PARENTAL Reflections and Dialogue

14. Key Findings: PROVIDER Reflections and Dialogue

15. Practice Recommendations:Early Childhood Education Providers Expand community outreach and shelter in-reachBetter inform homeless parents of ECE resources Address programmatic challenges with enrollment/participation Address systemic barriers to parental participation, re:Enrollment requirements and proceduresFlexibility of schedulingTargeting/set-asides of slots and/or subsidiesEnsure more active and ongoing communication with homeless families participating in ECE programs

16. Additional Practice Recommendations: Early Childhood Education ProvidersEnhance responsiveness to childhood/family traumaIncrease emphasis on training for trauma-informed practiceIncrease attentiveness to issues of classroom structure, behavior management, and securityEnsure focus on cognitive and social developmentEnhance classroom structure that supports disciplinary strategiesEnvironmental supports for both cognitive and social developmentEnsure appropriate staffingAdequate number of personnelWell-trained/prepared for addressing challenges of homelessnessCertification of staff

17. Practice Recommendations: Housing Crisis Services ProvidersImprove sharing of information on ECE optionsProvide more user-friendly, comprehensive, up-to-date infoFacilitate more active/direct contact with ECE providersPromote access to quality ECE options Facilitate placements close to home/work/training sitesEnsure active and ongoing staff trainingAddress ECE issues, resources, and systems protocols

18. Additional Practice Recommendations: Housing Crisis Services ProvidersImplement early childhood focused protocols Develop/enhance ECE-focused assessments, action-plans, and referralsEnhance early childhood-friendly practice in homeless settings (e.g., ACF Early Childhood Self-Assessment Tool for Family Shelters)Facilitate/nurture parental skills re: early childhoodExpand parental supports facilitating both cognitive and social development while in housing crisis settings

19. Practice Recommendations: Community Homeless Response SystemsEnhance access to transportation assistanceSupport more family-sensitive/stable ECE participationFacilitate financial supports and subsidies for ECEIncrease access to financial supports/subsidies supporting consumer enrollment/stability in quality ECE programsExpand availability of ECE slots, birth to threeIncrease # of safe, secure, affordable slots for infants & toddlersSupport “targeting”/set-aside of slots, where possible Address particular need for increased access to infant care

20. Additional Practice Recommendations:Community Homeless Response SystemsEnsure quality of trauma-informed practiceRespond to widely shared concerns among parentsIncrease both recognition and response, across systemsDocument parental needs & systems challengesPromote cross-systems awareness of key needs & challengesHelp inform mainstream systems practice & policy

21. Concluding ThoughtsHomeless parents really are motivated and invested in accessing quality ECE for their kids, and are deserving of more helpful supports in addressing systemic barriersProgram staff are open to and in need of better training & supports to facilitate homeless family participation in quality ECEIncreasing thoughtful & strategic cross-systems planning and collaboration is key to success in enhancing homeless family access to quality ECE options

22. Contact InformationCharles H. Kieffer, Ph.D.chuck.kieffer@gmail.com The Cloudburst Group8400 Corporate Drive, Suite 550Landover, MD 20785-2238

23. Improving Early Learning Services for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness in PhiladelphiaRecommendations for Early Childhood and Housing Support Services PartnershipsAmanda AtkinsonManaging Director, Child Development and Family ServicesOctober 29, 2017

24. Collection of programs that cultivate, expand, and demonstrate high quality early childhood servicesQRIS Administrator Federal Head Start Grantee Fund For Quality PHLpreK IntermediaryERS & CLASS AssessmentEarly Intervention Service CoordinationECE Workforce Transformation InitiativeParent Child Home Program

25. Internal partnerships on these initiatives:Early Childhood Action Collective (ECAC) http://ecactioncollective.org/ Employer Sponsored ChildcareECE Workforce Transformation InitiativeBuilding Early Links for Learning (BELL)

26. PHMC’s Scope of Activities with BELL Landscape analysis of successful approachesFundingService delivery model Program components Design a model for Philadelphia What’s replicable?Apply to Philadelphia context and resourcesTry it outImplement Philadelphia pilot

27. Landscape analysis

28. Landscape AnalysisPHMC performed a national, state and local landscape analysis to identify applicable:Policy and Funding Landscape Intervention ModelsPractice RecommendationsThe process included an analysis of available data, a review of literature, and targeted interviews

29. Percent of Students Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania, by Local Educational Authority (SY14-15)

30. Total Students Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania, by Local Educational Authority (SY14-15)

31. Federal, State, and Local Policies and Agencies PolicyState/Local EntityElementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), McKinney-Vento, Title IPA Dept of Ed (PDE), School District of Philadelphia (SDP)Early Head Start and Head Start, PreK Counts, HSSAPSDP, PHMC, OCDEL, and other granteesIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Elwyn, Service Coordinators, SDP, Early Learning ProvidersChild Care Development Fund (CCDF), Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), CCW Subsidy, QRISOCDEL, CCIS, Regional KeysCity Government AgenciesHHS, OHS, MOE, DOH, PHA, CBH

32. Notable PracticesCoordination of Activities & Leveraging of FundsRace to the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTT – ELC)Co-location of ServicesCross-systems CollaborationsIntegration of Comprehensive Services

33. Opportunities in PhiladelphiaPA Child Care Development Fund PlanRace to the Top – Early Learning Challenge (RTT – ELC)Program-level PrioritizationPHL PreK

34. Philadelphia pilot

35. ModelA locally designed Head Start option for ES/TH residents:Home-based model at ES/TH facilities and in communityMeeting all requirements of the HS Home Visiting modelThe Home Visitor remains with the family throughout geographic instability with the aim of transition to Center-based HS enrollmentA family may maintain Home Visiting until Kindergarten

36. Activities and Status To Date3 potential emergency shelter partners Based on number of age eligible children, administration interest Relationship development between HS and ES administrationTarget of 24 enrolled children (viable fiscal scale)Head Start staff participated in onsite information sessions and opportunities for application completionLow interest from families

37. Next StepsRevise intervention model Integrate early learning programming into the ES/TH support model Contrasts with early learning as an add-on to existing EH/TS servicesIdentify and utilize a family partnership model specifically designed for families in emergency housingSecure funding for services that do not meet qualifications for application of housing supports or Head Start fundingHow best to apply the new HS Performance Standard allowance of 3% of funded seats (18) for homeless childrenContinue to cultivate relationships between OHS and ECE providers

38. Thank YouNameTitleKaren HughesExecutive Director, Vogel AlcoveAbigail McMahonIntake Program Manager, Office of Early Childhood Education, School District of PhiladelphiaAlfred Quarles, Jr.Regional Coordinator, Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) Program, Office of Student Enrollment and Placement, School District of PhiladelphiaCarie BiresPolicy Manager, Ounce of Prevention FundMarsha BasloeSenior Advisor for Early Childhood Development and Education, Administration for Children and FamiliesGrace WhitneyDirector, Connecticut Head Start State Collaboration OfficeRyan StrackDistrict Liaison for Homeless and Highly Mobile Students, Minneapolis Public SchoolsMary GuertinDirector, Thames Valley Council for Community Action’s Head Start/Early Head Start Programs

39. QuestionsAmanda Atkinson aatkinson@phmc.org

40. Works Cited1. National Center for Homeless Education. The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless. Available from: http://center.serve.org/nche/legis/mv-def.php.2. U.S. Department of Education. SY 2014-15 Homeless Students Enrolled (C118). 2016; Available from: http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/edfacts/data-files/school-status-data.html.3. National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education. Common Core of Data, Local Education Agency (School District) Universe Survey Data, 2014-15, Membership. 2016; Available from: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/pubagency.asp.4. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Summary of Major Amendments on Homelessness and Foster Care in "The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015". 2015; Available from: https://www.theotx.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ESSA_short_summary_changes.pdf.5. U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Policy Statement on Meeting the Needs of Families with Young Children Experiencing and at Risk of Homelessness. 2016; Available from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/echomelessnesspolicystatement.pdf.6. Child Trends Databank. Homeless Children and Youth: Indicators on Children and Youth. 2015; Available from: http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/112_Homeless_Children_and_Youth.pdf.7. Child Trends Databank. Homeless Children and Youth. 2015; Available from: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=homeless-children-and-youth.8. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Brain Architecture. Available from: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/.

41. Works Cited9. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Toxic Stress. Available from: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/toxic-stress/.10. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development: Findings for Children up to Age 4 1/2 Years. 2006.11. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Definitions of Homelessness for Federal Programs Serving Children, Youth, and Families. 2014; Available from: http://nche.ed.gov/ibt/sc_eligibility.php.12. PA Head Start Association. PA's Head Start Programs' Current Enrollment. Available from: http://paheadstart.org/index.php/head-start-in-pa/list-of-pa-hs-programs/.13. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start. Head Start Act. 2007; Available from: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/standards/law.14. Administration for Children and Families. Promising Practices for Children Experiencing Homelessness: A Look at Two States. 2014; Available from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/final_promising_practice.pdf.15. National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Summary of Final Head Start Regulations Related to Homelessness. 2016; Available from: http://naehcy.org/sites/default/files/dl/legis/Summary%20of%20Final%20Head%20Start%20Regulations%20Related%20to%20Homelessness%20FINAL.pdf.16. Administration for Children and Families. Building Partnerships to Address Family Homelessness. Available from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/building_partnerships.pdf.17. U.S. Department of Education. Serving Preschool Children through Title I: Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. 2012; Available from: http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/preschoolguidance2012.pdf.

42. Works Cited18. National Center for Homeless Education and National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Early Care and Education for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness. McKinney-Vento Law into Practice Brief Series 2013; Available from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/nche_early_childhood_brief_november_2013.pdf.19. National Center for Homeless Education. Supporting Homeless Children and Youth with Disabilities: Legislative Provisions in the McKinney-Vento Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. McKinney-Vento Law into Practice Brief Series 2015; Available from: http://nche.ed.gov/downloads/briefs/idea.pdf.20. Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians' Network. Healing Hands: Mitigating Homeless Childrens' Risk for Developmental Delay. 2009; Available from: https://www.nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Apr09HealingHands.pdf.21. Grant, R., et al., The Health of Homeless Children Revisited. Advances in Pediatrics, 2007. 54(1): p. 173-187.22. Pennsylvania Department of Education. Pennsylvania's Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program: 2014-15 State Evaluation Report. 2016; Available from: http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Homeless%20Education/2014-15%20Pennsylvania%20ECYEH%20State%20Evaluation%20Report.pdf.23. Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Care. FY 2015 CCDF Allocations (Inlcuding Realloted Funds). 2015; Available from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/fy-2015-ccdf-allocations-including-realloted-funds.24. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Pennsylvania Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) Plan with Conditional Approval Letter for FY 2016-2018. 2016; Available from: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/occ/pennsylvania_stplan_pdf_2016.pdf.

43. Works Cited25. Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness. Meeting the Child Care Needs of Homeless Families: How Do States Stack Up? 2014; Available from: http://www.icphusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ICPH_policyreport_MeetingtheChildCareNeedsofHomelessFamilies.pdf.26. U.S. Department of Education. IDEA 2004: Building the Legacy Part C (birth - 2 years old). 2004; Available from: http://idea.ed.gov/part-c/statutes.27. Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning. At-Risk Tracking for Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness. 2014; Available from: http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/Early%20Learning/Early%20Intervention/Laws%20Regulations%20and%20Announcements/Announcements/2014/EI%2014-01%20At-Risk%20Tracking%20for%20Infants%20and%20Toddlers%20Experienceing%20Homelessness.pdf.28. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor's Office. Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge: 2014 Annual Performance Report. 2015; Available from: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-earlylearningchallenge/2014apr/paapr2014.pdf.29. Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness. A Tale of Two Students: Homelessness in New York City Pulic Schools. 2014; Available from: http://www.icphusa.org/PDF/reports/ICPH_policyreport_ATaleofTwoStudents.pdf.30. Glazer, J. At a homeless shelter, a pre-K program almost like any other. Chalkbeat 2014; Available from: http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2014/07/24/at-a-homeless-shelter-a-pre-k-program-almost-like-any-other/#.V6iQ4PkrKUl.31. National Center for Homeless Education and National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. Early Care and Education for Young Children Experiencing Homelessness. Best Practices in Homeless Education Brief Series 2013; Available from: http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/early-childhood.pdf.

44. Works Cited32. Colangelo, L. and B. Chapman. Homelesss families signing kids up for prekindergarten grow following city push. Daily News 2015; Available from: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/exclusive-homeless-familes-signing-city-pre-k-grow-article-1.2216703.33. Administration for Children and Families Office of Head Start, Program Information Report, 2015. 2016.