Family & Community Resource Center

In Between Housing? We can help you...!
Youth and Family Support
McKinney Vento Program

What is McKinney Vento?
The Kelso School Districts McKinney Vento program works with youth and families who are in between housing.  We ensure students have access to education and can fully participate in school. We encourage student’s education by removing barriers that would limit their ability to fully engage and participate in school activities and events. We strive to partner with families to stay involved in their student’s education by providing resources and community referrals to assist with educational support services and basic needs.

Students who are in between housing have the right to remain in their school of origin or enroll in the local attendance area school nearest to their nighttime residence. Upon request, transportation is provided to students and youth if qualified according to district transportation standard.

Click here for housing questionnaire forms. Please return this form to your students school or directly to Nancy Baldwin, Youth and Family Support Specialist at nancy.bladwin@kelsosd.org or dropped off at the Family and Community Resource Center, 2001 Allen Street.

How are students considered homeless?

A student or their family is considered homeless according to the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homelessness. McKinney-Vento Definition of homelessness:

Individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

• Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason.

• Living in emergency shelter or transitional housing.

• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

• Living in a public or private place not designed for or regularly used as accommodations.

• Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

What does "Unaccompanied Youth" mean...is that me?

If you are a youth that is in between housing and not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian, you may be considered an Unaccompanied Youth and we can help you!

Know Your Rights

McKinney-Vento eligible students have the right to:

• receive a free, appropriate public education;

• enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment, or having missed application or enrollment deadlines during any period of homelessness;

• enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents;

• continue attending the school of origin, or enroll in the local attendance school if attending the school of origin is not in the best interest of the student or is contrary to the request of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth;

• receive transportation to and from the school of origin y, if requested by the parent or guardian, or by the local liaison on behalf of an unaccompanied youth; and

• receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to each students need.

• If the school district assigns your child to a school other than the school of your choice, you have the right to a written explanation and the right to appeal that decision.

Dispute Resolution Process
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (also referred to as the Act or the McKinney-Vento Act) acknowledges that disputes may arise between the school district and homeless students and their parents, or unaccompanied youth, when the district seeks to place a student in a school other than the school of origin or the school requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth. The Act includes dispute resolution among the required duties of the local education agency (LEA) liaison. The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has developed a dispute resolution process as required by the McKinney-Vento Act.

Dispute Process paperwork can be found here. Or call the McKinney-Vento District Liaison, Don Iverson at 360.577.2456 to request a McKinney-Vento Dispute Resolution Process packet. Once forms are completed, submit to the District Homeless Liaison, at don.iverson@kelsosd.org

The mental health crisis lines listed below are available for all people in Washington regardless of your income or whether you have insurance or not.

• For immediate help: call 911 for a life-threatening emergency or 988 for a mental health emergency.

• For immediate help with a mental health crisis or thoughts of suicide: contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TRS: 1-800-799-4889) or call or text 988.