The McKinney-Vento Act is still fully in effect.  The way in which the law is implemented must change, of course, but the law is in effect. It is more important than ever to continue with identification efforts. We expect many new families and youth to fall into homelessness due to the economic crisis, with many urgent needs. McKinney-Vento liaisons should be considered essential personnel, due to their extensive statutory responsibilities under federal law. The liaison is responsible for ensuring identification, enrollment, and connection to services for homeless students.

• Phone call from teachers, counselors, district support staff. Utilize number last given by parent on emergency card.  In many cases this number is a cell phone, so texting is recommended as well.
• Posting homeless support information on district Facebook page, in case families and unaccompanied youth are looking there for help. Create a Facebook profile for homeless program and connect through Facebook messenger.
• Texting and emailing families and students and asking families if they possibly have new school age individuals currently residing with them as a result of COVID-19.
• Utilize current SROs to make non-contact visits to locations where families or unaccompanied minors may reside as a result of COVID-19.
• Distribute posters, flyers, brochures, etc., with information about the McKinney-Vento program to shelter facilities, campgrounds, motels, and other areas where families and youth might seek shelter during COVID-19.
• Use McKinney-Vento or Title I, Part A, funds to contract with additional personnel, or add FTE to existing personnel, to increase outreach efforts.
• Districts should consider, if they do not have access to a work phone/office phone for connecting with their families, using Google Voice, Skype number, forwarding work phone, or entering *67 to block your personal number.
• Ask campgrounds/motels to provide the estimated number of school-age children, or unaccompanied youth, staying at the campground or motel; then, go to the campground or motel with that number of meals. Ask motels and campgrounds to post information about educational services and resources, McKinney-Vento rights, and local contact information.
• Create a shared Google form for community partners, family resource centers, mental health agencies, and others to help identify students with enrollment issues.

Privacy laws are still in full effect, so all communications should be careful not to share personally identifiable information and to protect the privacy and safety of all students.