Empowering families to advocate for themselves so that children with special educational needs can reach their full potential in education and life - through support, training, and education. 
McKinney Vento and Homelessness
Who is affected?
How can we help?
    Students Affected by Homelessness

    "I wish I had been able to see a therapist. Being homeless, I had no money or insurance. I needed medication for my anxiety and depression, which only worsened with stress.... The stress of being in school and being homeless and not receiving any real help almost sent me to a psychiatric ward." - Youth who was homeless

    "Couch surfing is the hardest one to be on top of, as the students that have either been kicked out, abandoned or left home...usually do their best to hide it. Only after they are caught sleeping on school grounds or confess to a friend who comes forward, do we find out who is on the streets, and this is usually weeks or months into their hardship..." - Homeless Youth Liaison
McKinney Vento Education Act of 1987

  • The McKinney Vento Act is a Federal Law that provides services for homeless families.  
  • This law addresses the barriers that homeless youth in schools face, and helps to remove them. 
  • This law was passed by US Congress in 1987 and signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. 
  • Over the years, a substantial amount of data has been taken to help understand the cause of homelessness. 
What about Missouri?  
  • The number of homeless students identified by Missouri public schools has increased 53.71% since 2010-2011 school year. 

What is the definition of a "homeless youth?"

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Act describes homelessness as: 
  • "Children and unaccompanied youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate night time residence."
  • "Fixed" means stationary, permanent, and not subject to change
  • "Regular" means nighttime residence available on a predictable or routine basis
  • "Adequate" means the residence is sufficient for both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environment, including adequate and quiet space for studying
Examples of homelessness
  • Sharing the house of others
  • Living in motels, hotels, or on camping grounds
  • Living in an emergency or transitional shelter
  • Living in places not designed for humans to live, such as cars or abandoned buildings
Migratory children
Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Resources:
Every school in Missouri has a McKinney Vento Liaison.  If you have questions, contact your  local school district.   

(800) 743-7634
 
info@missouriparentsact.org 


Free Special Education Workshops
MPACT offers parents and professionals a variety of online and in-person trainings. All trainings are FREE of charge. Please  contact us if you would like to schedule a training for your area or organization.

Please register for any of the workshops you would like to attend so we can send you electronic copies of the materials and notify you of any changes in the schedule. You can register  here or by clicking the links below.
Northern Missouri Region

Special Education Law
January 13 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Rolling Hills Community Library
514 West Main St
Savannah,  MO 64485

Art of Effective Advocacy
January 13 @ 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Rolling Hills Community Library
514 West Main St
Savannah,  MO 64485

Kansas City Missouri Region

Special Education: What I Need to Know
January 6, 2018 @ 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Mid-Continent Public Library: Grain Valley Branch
101 SW Eagles Parkway 
Grain Valley, MO 64029

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Overview
January 22, 2018 @ 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Lord of Love Lutheran Church
8306 East 171st St
Belton, MO 64012

Understanding the Individualized Family Service Plan
January 23 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Trails West Branch Library
11401 East 23rd St
Independence,  MO 64052

Family Record Keeping
January 23 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Trails West Branch Library
11401 East 23rd St
Independence,  MO 64052

Understanding the IEP Process
February 14, 2018 @ 10:30 am - 12:45 pm
Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County - eitas
8508 Hillcrest Rd
Kansas City, MO 64138

Disagreement Resolution Processes
February 14, 2018 @ 1:00 pm - 2:45 pm
Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County - eitas
8508 Hillcrest Rd
Kansas City, MO 64138

McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act Overview
February 20, 2018 @ 10:30 am - 11:40 am
Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County - eitas
8508 Hillcrest Rd
Kansas City, MO 64138

Art of Effective Advocacy
February 20, 2018 @ 11:50 am - 1:45 pm
Developmental Disability Services of Jackson County - eitas
8508 Hillcrest Rd
Kansas City, MO 64138

Special Education: What I Need to Know
February 21, 2018 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Ray County Board of Services
200 North College St
Richmond, MO 64085

Steps to Success: Parental Rights
February 21, 2018 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Ray County Board of Services
200 North College St
Richmond, MO 64085

Understanding the Evaluation Process
March 19, 2018 @ 10:30 am - 11:45 am
Kansas City Public Library: Lucile H. Bluford Branch
3050 Prospect Ave
Kansas City, MO 64128

Section 504 and Students with Disabilities
March 19, 2018 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Kansas City Public Library: Lucile H. Bluford Branch
3050 Prospect Ave 
Kansas City, MO 64128

Special Education Law
March 26, 2018 @ 10:30 am - 12:45 pm
Kansas City Public Library: Central Library
14 West 10th St 
Kansas City, MO 64105

Special Education Mediation
March 26, 2018 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Kansas City Public Library: Central Library
14 West 10th St 
Kansas City, MO 64105

St. Louis Missouri Region

Solving the Employment Puzzle
January 30, 2018 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Special School District of St. Louis County
Room 61
SSD Central Office
12110 Clayton Rd
Town and Country, MO 63131
 
Disagreement Resolution Processes
March 14, 2018 @ 6:45 pm - 8:00 pm
St. Charles City-County Library District: Spencer Road Branch
427 Spencer Rd
St. Peters, MO 63376

Southwest Missouri Region

Understanding the IEP Process
December 19 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Springfield-Greene County Library District: Schweitzer Brentwood Branch
2214 Brentwood Blvd
Springfield, MO 65804

IDEA Boot Camp
January 11, 2018 @ 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Springfield-Greene County Library District: The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Ave
Springfield, MO 65807

Positive Behavior Interventions
January 14, 2018 @ 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
First Baptist Church Mount Vernon
611 South Vine St
Mount Vernon, MO 65712

Art of Effective Advocacy
May 19, 2018 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Springfield-Greene County Library District: The Library Center
4653 South Campbell Ave
Springfield, MO 65807

Southeast Missouri Region

Understanding the Evaluation Process
February 26, 2018 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
First Assembly of God Church
1324 West Grand 
Perryville, MO 63775

Be Determined
March 7, 2018 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Meadow Heights Church
472 South Main St 
Ironton, MO 63650

Understanding the IEP Process
March 13, 2018 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Easter Seals Midwest: Butler County
944 Lester St
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

Transition from ECSE to Elementary
May 10, 2018 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Caruthersville Head Start Center
710 East 18th St
Caruthersville, MO 63830
MPACT is funded in part or whole by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs Grant No. H328M090020-10. The contents of the website, however, and any documents cited herein do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S Department of Education.
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