Foster Youth & Homeless Services
Foster Youth and McKinney-Vento Youth
We strive to provide educational advocacy and services for the Foster Youth, and Homeless Youth of Sierra County. We strive to meet the unique educational needs of foster youth and the homeless by working collaboratively together with students, caregivers, schools, placing agencies, group home providers, and other related agencies.
Often times, foster children, as a group, tend to function at a lower academic level, are less likely to graduate high school, exhibit more behavior problems, and have lower self-esteem than the general school-age population. Therefore, it is essential that they are provided with the advocacy and support needed to face these challenges.
Our goal is to act as an advocate for students and to provide the support to help foster children develop the skills and confidence necessary to become effective students and adults.
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Kim Askew, Foster and Homeless Youth Coordinator
Sierra County Office of Education
Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District P.O. Box 955, 109 Beckwith Road Loyalton, California 96118 Phone: 530-993-1660 |
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FOSTER YOUTH RIGHTS
AB490 Chapter 862 was created to establish new duties and rights related to the education of dependents and wards in foster care.
- Access to the same educational opportunities and resources as other students
- Increased stability of school placements
- Immediate enrollment even if records are not available
- Timely transfer of student records
- Calculation of full or partial credits for coursework completed by the student at prior schools attended
- Education placement decision that is determined by the child’s best interest
HOMELESS YOUTH (MCKINNEY-VENTO YOUTH)
DEFINITION OF HOMELESS
The term homeless children and youth means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate residence. This definition also includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons
- Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters, or awaiting foster care placement
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
- Migrating children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above