Dive Brief:
- A new survey found homeless children and families outnumber single adults in Washington, DC, for the first time.
- A 2014 study from Tufts University's Center for Promise found homeless students were 87% more likely to stop going to school than their peers.
- States and districts have attempted different approaches to serving this specific population, including increasing transportation options, funding group homes and increasing the therapeutic approaches utilized in whole-child programs.
Dive Insight:
In Missouri's Maplewood Richmond Heights school district, homeless students have a chance to take up residency in a group home called Joe’s Place. Joe's Place is an unprecedented experiment, funded and operated by the school district. It's been open for nine years now, and according to the Huffington Post, grade point averages and attendance rates for student residents improve dramatically after a student begins living in the group home.
Some districts have asked for greater community engagement to help homeless students with food, clothing, and computers. And programs like
Maryland's Hunger Free Schools Act of 2015 ensure all students in impoverished districts will receive free meals.
In California, disadvantaged youth can achieve personal and academic wellness by attending
therapeutic schools, which help students tackle
underlying issues that contribute to poor learning among low-income K-12 students. These programs sometimes pair students with therapists or social workers to help them overcome trauma.
Just a single traumatic event can trigger consequences like a decline in schoolwork, according to the American Psychological Association, and in Los Angeles' elementary and middle school charter network
Camino Nuevo, approximately 25% of students attend group therapy sessions.