PROBLEM: How to reduce school absenteeism for K-12 homeless children is New York City to help better prepare them with knowledge and skills needed for adulthood?
SOLUTION:
Create Attendance Matters using minimal new resources to identify, address and manage barriers while improving good school attendance among homeless children.
HOW WE DID IT:
Attendance in primary and secondary school, K-12 education, is one of the most critical factors contributing to positive trajectories for children who experience severe poverty and homelessness. But absenteeism severely limits their opportunities for success due to disrupted learning and reduced likelihood that children will acquire the knowledge, skills and resiliency necessary to transition successfully to adulthood. While U.S. federal policies in place seek to protect the K-12 education of homeless children, the implementation of policy directives at local levels remains a challenge. With support from Gateway Housing, the Samuels Group created Attendance Matters to use existing resources with minimal additional new resources and coordination to identify, address and manage multiple systemic, inter-generational and logistical barriers. The two-year Attendance Matters Pilot Program, undertaken at three homeless family shelters in New York City, began in June 2019. Interim results indicate improved school attendance among homeless children as a result of using a team approach and data-informed and evidence-based practices.
