For more information related to homeless education: California Department of Education - Homeless Education 

Dear Students, Parents, & Caregivers, 

Our dedicated team of teachers, administrators, school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists, and other staff are here to help you achieve your academic goals and meet your individual needs. We are committed to providing the support you need to succeed. Our school teams can connect you with resources and services beyond what is available at your school. Our school team works closely with homeless service providers, have information about shelters, can help access food, and provide school supplies. If you ever feel like you need additional support, don't hesitate to reach out to your district McKinney-Vento Liaison. See the contact information below. 

Through our vision of "Unlimited You" together, we can create a supportive and nurturing environment where every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

AUHSD Team

What is McKinney-Vento

Que es la Ley McKinney-Vento?

Need Food?

• ocfoodhelp.org
• After School and Summer Meals For Kids
• Second Harvest Food Bank
• AUHSD Food Resources
• Text: 898-211

Ask at school about: 

• Getting eye exam and glasses
• Dental care
• Medical care
• Mental health services
• School supplies (backpacks, notebooks, etc.) 
• Hygiene products and toiletries

Housing Resources 

• Anaheim Housing Authority
• 211 Housing Resources - All OC Residents
• Emergency Shelters (Typically 0-3 Month Stay)
• Transitional Shelters (Typically 3 Months-2 Year Stay)
• Domestic Violence Shelters
• Human Trafficking Shelters
• Youth Shelters
• Former Foster Youth Shelters
• Maternity Shelters 

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 

The first Federal law to directly impact the education of students experiencing homelessness was enacted in 1987 as part of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. 

Since its initial passage, the homeless education law has been reauthorized with stronger and more specific requirements for State Educational Agencies (SEAs) and LEAs to ensure the immediate enrollment, school stability, and academic support needed to increase the educational success of homeless children and youth.  The McKinney-Vento Act was most recently reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). Under ESSA, homeless education is included in Title IX, Part A. 

The McKinney-Vento Definition of Homeless 

Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (per Title IX, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act) defines homeless as follows:

The term “homeless children and youths”–

(A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and
(B) includes–

1. children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;* 
2. children and youths 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 (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)(C)); 
3. children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and 
4. migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (1) through (3).

*Per Title IX, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act, “awaiting foster care placement” was removed from the definition of homeless on December 10, 2016; the only exception to his removal is that “covered states” have until December 10, 2017 to remove “awaiting foster care placement” from their definition of homeless.

Eligible children have the right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment. Enrollment documents are still required for all students. The district must give you time to provide documents while your child attends school. 
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
  • If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with an explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this. For additional information go to the following: Transportation Services 
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.
• If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and support may be available. 

SCHOOL OF CHOICE: Please note that families/students that meet the criteria for homelessness have the right to enroll in their school of residence or school of origin, if that is in the best interest of the child. A request for any other school the parents/student prefers must go through the normal transfer request process. Follow this link: Transfers and Other Student Support Services

Source: National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

Need help? The school staff can help with school supplies, community resources, food, and other educational materials. Please ask for help at your school site or call the number listed here. 

At school seek support from the following: 

• Community School Coordinator
• Family and Community Engagement Specialist (FACES)

District McKinney-Vento Office 

• Office Phone: 714-999-7734
• District Office Address: 501 N Crescent Way, Anaheim, CA 92801

Estudiantes elegibles tienen derecho a:

• Recibir una educación pública gratuita y apropiada.
• Inscribirse en la escuela inmediatamente, aunque falten documentos normalmente requeridos para la inscripción.
• Inscribirse y asistir a clases mientras que la escuela obtiene los documentos necesarios.
• Inscribirse en la escuela local; o continuar asistiendo a la escuela de origen (la escuela a la cual asistió el estudiante cuando tenía una residencia permanente, o la última escuela en la cual estaba inscrito), si esto es su preferencia.
  • Si el distrito escolar cree que la escuela escogida no es la mejor para el estudiante, el distrito tiene que darle al estudiante una explicación  de su posición e informarle de su derecho de apelar su decisión.
• Recibir transporte a/de la escuela de origen, si se lo pide. Para obtener información adicional, acceda a lo siguiente: Servicios de Transporte
• Recibir servicios educacionales comparables a los que están provistos para otros estudiantes, según la necesidad del estudiante.

ESCUELA DE ELECCIÓN: Tenga en cuenta que las familias/estudiantes que cumplen con los criterios de falta de vivienda tienen derecho a inscribirse en su escuela de residencia o escuela de origen, si eso es lo mejor para el niño. Una solicitud para cualquier otra escuela que los padres/estudiantes prefieran debe pasar por el proceso normal de solicitud de transferencia. Siga este enlace: Transferencias y otros servicios de apoyo para estudiantes

Source: National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE)

¿Necesitas ayuda? El personal de la escuela puede ayudar con útiles escolares, recursos comunitarios, alimentos y otros materiales educativos. Solicite ayuda en su escuela o llame al número añadido a continuación.

En la escuela busque el apoyo de las siguientes personas:

• Coordinador de escuela comunitaria
• Especialista en participación familiar y comunitaria (FACES)

Oficina del distrito McKinney-Vento

• Teléfono de la oficina: 714-999-7734
• Dirección de la oficina del distrito: 501 N Crescent Way, Anaheim, CA 92801

McKinney-Vento / Foster Youth District Liaison

Adela Cruz

• Anaheim Union High School District 

• 501 N Crescent Way, Anaheim, CA  92801

• 714-999-7734

• cruz_ad@auhsd.us 

OCDE Coordinator, Homeless Education

Jeanne Awrey

• Orange County Department of Education 
• 200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 
• 714-966-4093
• jawrey@ocde.us

California Department of Education (CDE)

Homeless Children and Youth​​​

• Leanne Wheeler, CDE Consultant  ​
• ​​​​866-856-8214
• homelessed@cde.ca.gov​

DISCLAIMER REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ON THESE PAGES

The contents of the AUHSD website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material ("content"), are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. AUHSD does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information posted on its site, whether by AUHSD, our employees, users of our site, or third parties. Always seek the advice of a mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s needs or condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the AUHSD website!

Please note that AUHSD and staff are not available 24/7, and our schools are not emergency response centers. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you, your child, or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.

AUHSD does not recommend or endorse any clinicians, counselors, psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website or linked through an outside agency or provider. AUHSD has developed partnerships with community-based mental health care providers. However, it is up to the consumer (parent/legal guardian) of the child to accept or decline services and to ask questions about eligibility, costs, and insurance coverage.  Any links to other websites are provided only for the purpose of convenience or information and do not constitute a referral or endorsement of any of these sites or the owners, services, products, or content on those sites.

AUHSD is not responsible for any aspect of any third-party service providers or websites that may be linked from the AUHSD site, including without limitation the accuracy of the content on those services or use of information you may provide to those services. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites.

With input from a multidisciplinary team of administrators,  social workers, school counselors, and school psychologist, the  contents of this webpage are managed by:

Dr. Adela Cruz, LCSW

• Director of School Mental Health & Wellness
• McKinney-Vento Homeless & Foster Youth Educational Liaison
• Section 504 District Coordinator (504Coordinator@auhsd.us)

If you have questions or comments regarding its contents, please send an email to cruz_ad@auhsd.us.