Published: 03/23/20
Last Updated: 05/12/20
 

Jump to: Latest News | Liaison Resources | Resources for Families

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is drastically affecting families and students experiencing homelessness. Without the safety and stability schools often provide for these children and youth, it is important now more than ever to provide support and resources to ensure students’ well-being. Below are resources and news to help McKinney-Vento liaisons and others better support students experiencing homelessness. Make sure to check back here for continuous updates on the COVID-19 pandemic as it related to student homelessness.

Latest News on School & COVID-19 

• New York State Education Department (NYSED) – Coronavirus Guidance

• US Department of Education – COVID-19 Information and Resources 

• National Center on Homeless Education – COVID-19 Information

• New York City Department of Education – Coronavirus Communications

 

Resources for McKinney-Vento Liaisons/ COVID-19 & Student Homelessness

• SchoolHouse Connection Brief – COVID-19 and Homelessness: Strategies for Schools, Early Learning Programs, and Higher Education Institutions

  • • Check out the Checklist for Local Education Agencies and Early Childhood Providers

• Joint Guidance from the Juvenile Law Center, The Hope Center, and SchoolHouse Connection – Beyond the Food Pantry: COVID-19 Response for Students Who are Homeless or With Experience in Foster Care

• SchoolHouse Connection: Five Strategies to Help Homeless Youth Transition to College During COVID-19

 

 

Resources for Families 

Remote School – Resources and Supports for Connecting with District Remote Learning Programs:

Please Note: Title I, Part A set-asides and McKinney-Vento grant funding can be used to pay for devices and/or wi-fi hot spots if they are not otherwise available for students in temporary housing. 

• Directory of Providers Offering Free Wi-Fi or Special Accommodations  

• New York City public school students may fill out a remote learning device request form to borrow internet-enabled iPads to support remote learning.

 

Food Resources: 

• Grab-And-Go School Meals (NYSED)

• Find a Local Food Pantry in NYS 

• New York City

  • • Food Bank NYC is giving out free meals, groceries and SNAP support all over New York City. 

    • Find food help in Spanish: Check out an interactive map in Spanish of “comida gratis” (free food) around New York City. 

    • NYC Food Hub: The Covid-19 food hub for NYC is continuously gathering information about free groceries and meals around the city as well as about financial help for restaurant workers. 

    • Invisible Hands: Volunteers across the city are delivering groceries, medication and other necessities to elderly and otherwise at-risk residents for free. 

 

Physical & Mental Health Resources: 

• Guide to Helping Families Cope with Coronavirus (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network) 

• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (National Association of School Psychologists) 

• Healthy & Ready to Learn: COVID-19 

• MENTOR’s Tips for maintaining connection with young people during a time of social distancing

• NYC Department of Education’s Physical Education & Activity and Health Education

• Check out Teens Take On COVID, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services’ page which connects teens and youth with resources related to education, physical and mental health services, LGBTQIA services, bullying, and housing.

• Find mental health support through the New York State Office of Mental (OMH) Health Program Directory or by calling the OMH Emotional Support Line (1-844-863-9314). In NYC, contact NYC-Well (1-888-692-9355) to connect with someone who will listen and help 24/7.