Gatherings of Superintendents and Liaisons in Madison
On May 17 there were two important gatherings among key stakeholders in Dane County’s “homeless education community.” First, a number of superintendents from around the region assembled to discuss homelessness in its various forms and to express their thoughts about engaging the issue. Afterward, a several local homeless liaisons led a session for 40-50 other liaisons from the area. They discussed research, best practice, and, perhaps most importantly, made progress in establishing cross-district collaborative arrangements in service of homeless students and families. I was lucky to be able to spend the first part of the day with them and am hopeful that their efforts will continue…for the ultimate benefit for the hundreds of homeless kids in our community.
For more info:
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/article_02bbea52-8025-11e0-8e36-001cc4c03286.html
Symposium for Homeless Service providers
I’m partnering with the United Way of Dane County on a symposium that addresses a number of issues relating to homelessness and education (4/29 at the United Way Building in Madison). I’ll present a series of ideas about how school and community-based service providers can improve families’ supportive networks and I’ll also lead a session on how community advocates can help ensure that students’ educational rights are not compromised by periods of homelessness.
We’re expecting a big crowd and hope the event will help lots of families!
Child homelessness growing
60 Minutes segment on how kids’ lives are increasingly impacted by homelessness — very moving stories:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358670n&tag=related;photovideo
$150 million for Promise Neighborhoods (?)
From Patrick Lester’s Building Neighborhoods blog…
President Obama’s FY 2012 budget proposal was released this morning (February 14). The budget proposes $150 million for Promise Neighborhoods, $250 million for Choice Neighborhoods, and $30 million for the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation program for the federal fiscal year that begins October 1, 2011.
According to the documents: “The Budget reflects a strategy in which HUD, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies will work together, coinvesting, and pooling their expertise as part of a focused Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.”
We are still searching for any other relevant parts and will update the blog as we find them. For those who want more details, please be sure to tune into the February 15 Neighborhood Revitalization Budget Briefing, which will include speakers from the White House and departments. (RSVPs required, please click the link for details).
Here is the relevant language from the budget:
Promise Neighborhoods: Invests $150 million in Promise Neighborhoods, to support effective community services, strong family supports, and rigorous comprehensive education reforms to improve the educational and life outcomes for children and youth in high-need communities.
Choice Neighborhoods: The Budget provides $250 million for the Choice Neighborhoods initiative to continue transformative investments in high-poverty neighborhoods where distressed HUD-assisted public and privately-owned housing is located. The Budget will reach five to seven neighborhoods with grants that primarily fund the preservation, rehabilitation and transformation of HUD-assisted public and privately-owned multifamily housing, and will also engage local governments, nonprofits, and for-profit developers in partnerships to improve surrounding communities.
This initiative is a central element of the Administration’s interagency, place-based strategy to support local communities in developing the tools they need to revitalize neighborhoods of concentrated poverty into neighborhoods of opportunity. The Budget reflects a strategy in which HUD, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies will work together, coinvesting, and pooling their expertise as part of a focused Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative.
Byrne: The Budget provides $30 million for the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation Program, which supports the Administration’s multiagency Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative by directing resources where they are needed in higher-risk neighborhoods, integrating public safety, housing services, and other investments.
Social Network Analysis
I strongly recommend Alan Daly’s new book, “Social Network Theory and Educational Change.” It offers great insights into SNA theory and methods and it highlights the central roles of social networks in wide-ranging educational change efforts. Go pick up a copy today!
Opening Doors
In 2010, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released the first comprehensive federal plan to eliminate homelessness. You can view the plan at:
http://www.usich.gov/OpeningDoors.html
Among the central elements in the plan is a shift toward rapid re-housing programs for families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. This shift from traditional foci on shelters is a significant one and beckons examination — especially in terms of its effects on kids and schooling.
NAEHCY as a resource
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Youth and Children (NAEHCY) is a great resource for practitioners (school and community-based) and for policy-makers who are concerned about how issues of homelessness affect students’ education experiences. You can visit their website at:
Key decisions on Promise Neighborhood funding…
this link describes Congress’ consideration of Promise Neighborhood funding — which will have big implications for how the broader initiative unfolds in the months ahead…
http://unca-acf.org/?p=3941
Racine Journal Times series on homeless children
Check out this interesting series of articles (Nov 2010) on homeless children and a number of school-related issues in Wisconsin:
http://www.journaltimes.com/homelesschildren/
Research Update
A video update on Prof. Miller’s recent research directions and interests. He points to his rising interest in Ronald Burt’s theory of “Structural Holes,” Promise Neighborhoods, and what he calls, “Educational Leadership on a Social Frontier.” Read more
