How to Help Homeless students or students who are living in unsettled living situations in the State College Area School District

Homeless Liaisons
Cindy Sergeon and Jeanne Knouse
240 Villa Crest Drive
State College, PA 16801
Contact: ces31@scasd.org or 814-272-8225

Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness  

•   In emergency or transitional shelters
•   In motels, hotels, campgrounds, abandoned in hospitals, awaiting foster care
•   In cars, parks, public places, bus or train stations, abandoned buildings (living on the street)
•   Doubled up with relatives or friends
•   Migratory children living in these conditions
•   Students moving from home to home

What can you do if:

•  You suspect a student may be homeless?

Consult with your school counselor

•  You become aware that a student is homeless?

Call Student Services at 814-231-1054

•  You have a homeless student in your class who seems to be in need of some specific school or personal items to be purchase?       

Contact the Family Engagement Counselor at 814-231-1070 or the Student Services Office at 814-231-1054 to access a special budget.

What are some common signs of homelessness?

• Lack of continuity in education

                    —  attendance at many schools
                    —  lack of records needed for enrollment
                    —  gaps in skill development

• Poor Health, nutrition

                   —  lack of immunizations/records
                   —  unmet medical and dental needs
                   —  chronic hunger (may hoard food)
                   —  fatigue (may fall asleep in class)

• Transportation and attendance problems

                  —  erratic attendance or tardiness
                  —  inability to contact parents
                  —  numerous absences
                  —  avoidance of class field trips

•  Poor hygiene

                 —  wearing same clothes for several days
                 —  lack of shower facility or washers to stay clean

• Not ready for class

                —  lack of basic school supplies
                —  concern for the safety of belongs
                —  incomplete or missing homework

• Social and behavioral cues

               —  Change in behavior
               —  "Old" beyond years
               —  Protective of parents
               —  Poor/short attention span
               —  Poor self-esteem
               —  Difficulty or avoidance of making friends
               —  Difficulty trusting people
               —  Need for immediate gratification

• Reactions/Statements by Parent, Guardian or Child

                  —  Anger of embarrassment when asked about current address
                  —  Mention of staying with grandparents, other relatives, friends, or a motel
                  —  Comments such as:"Our address is new; I can't remember it,"or "We're going through a bad time right now"
                

Protective Factors That You Can Provide to Assure That the Students Have a "Normal Level of Participation in School Activities:

• Take steps to form caring and supportive relationships with students and their parents and other support people in their lives
• Be aware that there are resources to help students participate in all school activities
  
  

More information on Pennsylvania’s Homeless Initiative and services available can be located on the following websites:

The Pennsylvania Department of Education's website: www.pde.state.pa.us/homeless 

The National Center for Homeless Education's website: http://www.serve.org/nche/index.php