Overview
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Santa Barbara County has the second highest percent of students experiencing homelessness in the state, with more than 10% of all our K-12 students meeting the definition of homeless. The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) provides support and resources to the 20 school districts in the county, Juvenile Court and Community Schools, and countywide charter schools to implement McKinney-Vento. Technical assistance and training is available to the district homeless liaisons and other staff who are involved in working with students experiencing homelessness. The homeless education services coordinator (Transitional Youth Services Manager) serves as the county liaison for purposes of appeals before appealing to the California Department of Education.
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Definition
The term homeless children and youth means "individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." This definition also includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or shelters.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above
Local Resources
Students who experience homelessness often face trauma and instability that affect their educational access and achievement. In order to help address these challenges, Transitional Youth Services provides the following services:
• Assistance with enrollment, transportation, access to school services
• Backpacks filled with school supplies
• Educational materials & games
• Hygiene kits
• Assistance obtaining lost or missing school records
• Coordination of services between schools and the social service system
• Advocacy and training on the educational needs of homeless and foster youth
School districts also provide services to students and families experiencing homelessness. These services vary depending on the district and school site. We can assist you with referrals to school-based and community-based services such as:
• Tutoring and mentoring
• Assistance accessing and navigating educational and housing services
• Credit assessment, attendance checks, records review
• Ongoing educational case management
• Enrichment programs
Parents and guardians, students, school staff, and anyone working in the social services system may make a referral for services, or contact us for information or other assistance.
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason
- Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or shelters.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings, or
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above
