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Housing Insecurity/Foster Care

Housing Insecurity/Foster Care

HOUSING INSECURITY

Children and youth experiencing homelessness lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, which includes living in:

  • a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground
  • in an abandoned building, trailer, or other inadequate accommodations
  • doubled up with friends or relatives due to economic hardship
  • youth living apart from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s)  without permanent housing

Students experiencing homelessness have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. These rights include:

  • Attend school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there.  Students must be given access to the same public education provided for other students.
  • Receive transportation assistance to the school the student attends at the time the student becomes homeless or the school within the boundaries where the student is temporarily living
  • Participate in school programs with students who are not homeless.  Students cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
  • Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided for all other students served in these programs

Centennial School District can assist with other needs for students experiencing homelessness.  Assistance may include: hygiene supplies, clothing, food, school supplies, equipment/clothing required for school athletics, laundry services and other identified needs.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your school's secretary, counselor or the Centennial SD Homeless Liaison, Lori Palmiter, 503-762-3632,  lori_palmiter@csd28j.org

You may also complete the Student Support Survey which will be sent electronically to the Centennial SD Homeless Liaison, who will get in contact with you.

Student Support Survey      

FOSTER CARE              

"Foster care" means substitute care for children placed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) away from their parents and for whom DHS has placement and care responsibility, including placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, and residential facilities.

Educational stability is a key component in a foster care student's success. At the federal and state level, laws have been passed that require local and state child welfare and education agencies to implement legislation focusing on continuity and stability in a foster care student's education.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact your school's secretary, counselor or the Centennial SD Foster Point-of-Contact, Lori Palmiter, 503-762-3632, lori_palmiter@csd28j.org