2024 CDE Fall Conference: Creating a Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging

States are taking a variety of approaches to address the complex issues facing students experiencing homelessness. This presentation will highlight policy reform strategies aimed at removing barriers to the resources and services that many youth encounter so that they can focus on succeeding in school. These reforms include recognizing the role McKinney-Vento homeless liaisons, school counselors, social workers and district staff play in academic achievement of students experiencing homelessness and helping them navigate systems of support.

Session Objectives:

• Participants will learn about state policy reforms to address student homelessness and the advocacy necessary to drive that change.

This presentation will include a snapshot of data around highly mobile students and higher education. Along with a panel of both secondary and post-secondary professionals to build awareness of supports for vulnerable populations on college campuses, and strategies for highly mobile students transitioning into higher education.

Session Objectives:

1. Build awareness of available supports to vulnerable populations of students on college campuses
2. Learn about various programs that are designed to wraparound students in transition to higher education options
3. Engage in discussion with colleagues about strategies for transitioning to higher education settings

As LEAs welcome newly arriving immigrant children and youth into schools, many of these students are facing high mobility and homelessness. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, newly arriving children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to services and supports within the school community. However, school-community partnerships are essential to meet the needs of students and their families outside of school. This session will focus on the intersections of high mobility, homelessness, and immigration, as well as best practices to leverage school-community partnerships to meet student needs.

Session Objectives:

1. Participants will gain a basic understanding of immigration and its intersection with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

2. Participants will learn how school-community partnerships are critical to meeting the needs of immigrant children, youth, and families who are highly mobile or experiencing homelessness.

3. Participants will enhance their knowledge of best practices for supporting immigration students.

This engaging session will help participants unlock the potential of school-based out-of-school time (OST) programming to boost wellness and belonging among students and staff, enhancing the culture and connectedness of the school community. We will delve into how OST programs support each of the 5 features of the Landscape of Wellbeing and demonstrate how a focus on quality OST programming can positively impact students, families and staff within a school.

Session Objectives:

• Demonstrate the benefits of out of school time programming related to wellbeing and belonging for students, families and school staff
• Identify how OST programs can be leveraged to enhance each of the 5 features of the Landscape of Wellbeing and Belonging
• Give participants tangible next steps to building a culture of OST programming designed to enhance wellness at their school