In a critical briefing on education for youth facing homelessness and foster care, national experts Barbara Duffield (SchoolHouse Connection) and Kathleen McNaught (ABA Center for Children and the Law) discussed urgent federal challenges and the steps funders can take in these uncertain times.
In this conversation, Barbara and Kathy explained how federal actions and threats may impact educational support programs like McKinney-Vento, and which critical services for students experiencing homelessness and foster care are at stake. Students experiencing homelessness and foster care face interconnected and multi-faceted challenges, including school mobility and systemic barriers. The landscape of federal, state, and local laws impacting them is complex.
Here are actions you can take today:
Provide general operating support to organizations advocating for youth experiencing homelessness and foster care, especially those connected to state and local leaders, as well as youth and families.
Support advocacy, including litigation efforts, that seek to defend and protect educational rights, services, and supports.
Fund technical assistance and capacity-building for state and local-level education agencies and advocates.
Invest in organizing and mobilization efforts of local constituents to engage with elected officials, especially federal policymakers.
Support efforts to translate complex policy challenges into accessible, actionable information.
In addition to prioritizing the unique needs of individual student populations, prioritize funding that addresses issues of intersectionality.
Maintain or increase investments in federal and state-level policy work.
speakers includeD:
Barbara Duffield – Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection
Kathleen McNaught – Associate Director, ABA Center on Children and the Law
This collaborative learning opportunity is co-sponsored by Grantmakers for Thriving Youth and Funders for the Education Success of Students Experiencing Homelessness, Child Welfare, and Juvenile Justice.