Foster Youth and McKinney-Vento Youth

Resources

• Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency
• National Center for Homeless Education

We strive to provide educational advocacy and services for Families in Transition, Foster Youth, and Homeless Youth of Amador County through the Amador County Office of Education. The Foster Youth and Homeless Services Program (FYHS) provides support and resources to the school district in the county. We strive to meet the unique educational needs of foster youth and the homeless by working collaboratively together with students, caregivers, schools, placing agencies, group home providers, and other related agencies.

We know that foster children, as a group, tend to function at a lower academic level, are less likely to graduate high school, exhibit more behavior problems, and have lower self-esteem than the general school-age population. Therefore, it is essential that they are provided with the advocacy and support needed to face these challenges.

Our goal is to act as an advocate for students and to provide the support to help foster children develop the skills and confidence necessary to become effective students and adults.

Amador County Office of Education works closely with the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency to provide services.

The Housing Questionnaire is intended to assist the McKinney-Vento Act. The fact that a child is homeless or is classified as an unaccompanied minor, is not a sufficient basis for initiating a mandated report.  Your answers will help determine the documents necessary to enroll your child quickly and/or to determine if you are eligible for additional educational support.

Foster Youth

Foster Youth Rights

AB490 Chapter 862 was created to establish new duties and rights related to the education of dependents and wards in foster care.

• Access to the same educational opportunities and resources as other students
• Increased stability of school placements
• Immediate enrollment even if records are not available
• Timely transfer of student records
• Calculation of full or partial credits for coursework completed by the student at prior schools attended
• Education placement decision that is determined by the child’s best interest

For more information regarding Foster Youth Rights follow the link below.

Homeless Youth (McKinney Vento Youth)

Please be sure to fill out the homeless questionnaire, which is included in the annual required Aeries Parent Data Confirmation. Your response is crucial for our funding.

Definition Of Homeless

The term homeless children and youth mean individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate residence. This definition also includes:

• Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons
• Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, shelters, or awaiting foster care placement
• Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation
• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings
• Migrating children who qualify as homeless because they are children who are living in similar circumstances listed above

For more information regarding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and other resources for homeless youth please follow the link below.