Homeless & Foster Youth - Education Rights
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (McKinney-Vento Act) (42 U.S.C. § 11431-11435) is federal legislation that ensures the educational rights and protections of children and youths experiencing homelessness. It requires all local educational agencies (LEAs) to ensure that homeless students have access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschools, as provided to other children and youths. The McKinney-Vento Act defines LEAs as public school districts, direct-funded and locally funded charter schools, and county offices of education. The McKinney-Vento Act also authorizes the funding for the federal Education for Homeless Children and Youths Program.
WIN: A Mobile App for LA’s Homeless & Struggling Youth, Families & Adults – In the APP Stores
WIN is a free mobile and web app designed to connect homeless or resource insecure youth ages 12-25, as well as families, adults, and seniors, to essential services- all accessible without a referral. Developed by Our Community LA with guidance from our region’s unaccompanied youth, WIN users can search a database of over 2000 essential service providers and connect to 12 categories of resources.
WIN is the First and Only Mobile App Designed for and with Los Angeles’ Homeless
Over 94% of homeless individuals use a smart device, even more, homeless students, and adults heads of families have cell phones and access to computers. The problem too many face is that too many do not know how to find reliable and up-to-date information about the shelter, food, jobs, and other services they need.
Our Community LA (formerly known as Our Children LA) seeks to empower anyone who is homeless or at-risk of homelessness by offering them free access to an easy-to-use mobile app that connects them to nearby services. WIN's design reflects a collaboration between the OCLA leadership, dedicated volunteers, and participating homeless youth at various drop-in centers around Los Angeles County. (Why Youth? because they are quite tech-savvy!) Originally launched in Fall 2015, in October 2018, OCLA released an updated and fully redesigned WIN with many new features. Most importantly WIN was expanded to serve not only youth but also all families and adults! In the Fall of 2020, OCLA expanded to include Senior Only Services.
Foster Youth Information and Services
If you are a foster parent or a foster student at WISH, please reach out to your grade-span counselor and our Foster Youth Liaison Kimberlie Traceski to ensure we are providing all of the supports needed to be successful scholars and achieve both academic and social-emotional goals. We are here to help!
LACOE Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program FYSCP helps connect Students in Foster Care who need additional academic support with tutoring services. If you are a foster parent or a student currently in foster care, please contact Kimberlie Traceski ([email protected]) for more information about this program. You can also call the Foster Youth Services Hotline at 562 922 6161
