Sunday, October 29, 2017 – 3:45 – 5:00 p.m.
More Than a Place to Sleep: Understanding the Health and Well-Being of Homeless High School Students
Room: Columbus GH
Rachel Barth, Policy Analyst
This session will focus on how to use data to highlight the health needs of homeless students in participant areas. Using New York City as an example, data showing disparities between homeless and housed students will be shared. Additionally, participants will be shown how the data has been analyzed and visualized, as well as where to access similar data, so participants can use this data or their own to spread awareness.
Monday, October 30, 2017 – 10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Mapping A Path Forward: How district data and geographic analysis can create locally-informed insights into the impact of homelessness on students
Room: Michigan 3
Josef Kannegaard, Principal Policy Analyst
Regardless of the size of a school district, data analysis can be a useful tool for improving the lives of homeless students. In this session, evidence from Seattle on the academic impact of homelessness will be used to show how local data can be translated into action. Mapping where these students attend school illustrates the effect that gentrification and other factors have had and where educators and policymakers can direct assistance. Attendees will also hear how a multi-pronged approach with local stakeholders created this project, and how similar strategies could be used to generate data-driven insights of their own.
Monday, October 30, 2017 – 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Let the Numbers Speak for Themselves: Using Local Data to Raise Awareness of the Impact of Homelessness on Children in Your Community
Room: Roosevelt 3A
Anna Shaw-Amoah, Senior Policy Analyst
A lack of awareness about the specific needs of homeless children and families is a significant barrier to developing policies and programs that support these vulnerable groups. One tool that can reduce this barrier is information on the impact of homelessness in a child’s life. In this presentation, participants will be guided through available data on the educational, health, mental health, and life outcomes of homeless children from the US’s largest city. Participants will discuss strategies for conducting similar local analyses and how this data can be used to increase local awareness.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 – 10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Identifying strategies for enrolling and serving homeless children: lessons to be learned from successful state-level reforms
Room: Roosevelt 3B
Amanda Ragnauth, Policy Analyst
Chloe Stein, Policy Analyst
State governments have increased their efforts to address homelessness in recent years, but many state plans lack an adequate focus on children. This presentation will discuss effective state strategies from across the country that have improved identification rates for homeless students, including doubled-up students and those with learning disabilities. These narratives will be presented alongside numbered rankings evaluating all 50 states on how well they serve students of all ages. Participants will come away with an understanding of best practices around the country and what improvements can be applied in their own state.
Remember to stop by our exhibit table and say hi!