For some children, socializing and learning are being cruelly complicated by homelessness, as Scott Pelley reports from Florida, where school buses now stop at motels for children who've lost their homes.
View the 60 minutes presentation on March 6, 2011 below.
Even looks like you now have the option to dowload through the itunes store.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Homeless Students of OH
Okay, so the Facebook post about American Homeless students (RT, June 18,2011) peaked my interest.
So off to google, search Cleveland OH homeless students. Need to put the OH in there or end up with Cleveland Tennessee results! WOW a boat load of information.
First thing that catches my eye-- ODE, Homeless Students: Ohio Department of Education. Well we have enough in Ohio for a whole section to be dedicated them in the ADMINISTRATION area at that. There sections seems to be providing resources and facts to all admininistrators in schools throughout Ohio about a particular act of federal legislation--Any child lacking a fixed, regular or adequate residence, protected by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which allows enrollment of homeless students in their schools of origin or district of residence, despite a lack of records. The overview page had lots of referring links and of course as well as a new phrase to look up too--McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Homeless Education is a collaboration between McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance, Title 1 and the No Child Left Behind Title 10c. There is actually a 12 minute online training session that take you through all the different connections for any who are interested. Also at the document library, there was a form all districts must download that collects data for homeless students in the districts, excluding preschoolers.
The downloadable posters at the National Center for Homeless Education are a tad more informative. Click here to download a copy. The text of the poster is copied below.
If you live in any of the following situations:
• Inashelter,motel,vehicle,orcampground
• On the street
• Inanabandonedbuilding,trailer,orotherinadequateaccommodations,or • Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing.
Then, you have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.
You have the right to:
• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there.You must be given access to the same public education provided to other students.
• Continueintheschoolyouattendedbeforeyoubecamehomeless or the school you last attended, if that is your choice and is feasible. The school district’s local liaison for homeless education must assist you, if needed, and offer you the right to appeal a decision regarding your choice of school if it goes against your wishes.
• Receivetransportationtotheschoolyouattendedbeforeyou became homeless or the school you last attended, if you request such transportation.
• Attendaschoolandparticipateinschoolprogramswithstudents who are not homeless. Students cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
• Enrollinschoolwithoutgivingapermanentaddress.Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
• Enrollandattendclasseswhiletheschoolarrangesforthetransfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
• Enrollandattendclassesintheschoolofyourchoiceevenwhile the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrollment.
• Receivethesamespecialprogramsandservices,ifneeded,as provided to all other students served in these programs.
• Receivetransportationtoschoolandtoschoolprograms.
When you move, you should do the following:
If you need further assistance, call the NationalCenterforHomelessEducation at the toll-free HelpLine number: 1-800-308-2145
So off to google, search Cleveland OH homeless students. Need to put the OH in there or end up with Cleveland Tennessee results! WOW a boat load of information.
First thing that catches my eye-- ODE, Homeless Students: Ohio Department of Education. Well we have enough in Ohio for a whole section to be dedicated them in the ADMINISTRATION area at that. There sections seems to be providing resources and facts to all admininistrators in schools throughout Ohio about a particular act of federal legislation--Any child lacking a fixed, regular or adequate residence, protected by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which allows enrollment of homeless students in their schools of origin or district of residence, despite a lack of records. The overview page had lots of referring links and of course as well as a new phrase to look up too--McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Homeless Education is a collaboration between McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance, Title 1 and the No Child Left Behind Title 10c. There is actually a 12 minute online training session that take you through all the different connections for any who are interested. Also at the document library, there was a form all districts must download that collects data for homeless students in the districts, excluding preschoolers.
The downloadable posters at the National Center for Homeless Education are a tad more informative. Click here to download a copy. The text of the poster is copied below.
If you live in any of the following situations:
• Inashelter,motel,vehicle,orcampground
• On the street
• Inanabandonedbuilding,trailer,orotherinadequateaccommodations,or • Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing.
Then, you have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.
You have the right to:
• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there.You must be given access to the same public education provided to other students.
• Continueintheschoolyouattendedbeforeyoubecamehomeless or the school you last attended, if that is your choice and is feasible. The school district’s local liaison for homeless education must assist you, if needed, and offer you the right to appeal a decision regarding your choice of school if it goes against your wishes.
• Receivetransportationtotheschoolyouattendedbeforeyou became homeless or the school you last attended, if you request such transportation.
• Attendaschoolandparticipateinschoolprogramswithstudents who are not homeless. Students cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
• Enrollinschoolwithoutgivingapermanentaddress.Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
• Enrollandattendclasseswhiletheschoolarrangesforthetransfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
• Enrollandattendclassesintheschoolofyourchoiceevenwhile the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrollment.
• Receivethesamespecialprogramsandservices,ifneeded,as provided to all other students served in these programs.
• Receivetransportationtoschoolandtoschoolprograms.
When you move, you should do the following:
- Contact the school district’s local liaison for homeless education (see phone number below) for help in enrolling in a new school or arranging to continue in your former school. (Or, someone at a shelter, social services office, or the school can direct you to the person you need to contact.)
- Tell your teachers anything that you think they need to know to help you in school.
- Ask thelocal liaison for homeless education,theshelter provider, or a social worker for assistance with clothing and supplies, if needed.
If you need further assistance, call the NationalCenterforHomelessEducation at the toll-free HelpLine number: 1-800-308-2145
Monday, June 13, 2011
Hygiene Items Needed!
If you can help with any or all of the items below, please contact Darlene Yeater as soon as possible.
- travel/trial sized Shampoo
- travel/trial sized conditioner
- travel/trial sized Hand/body lotion
- Travel size soaps
- travel/trial sized mouth wash
- travel/trial sized toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- travel/trial sized deoderants
- bandaids
- Suntan Lotion
- Bug Repellant Spray
- Pocket Tissues
We Care Connection
C/o Darlene Yeater
3596 Fulton Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
Cell: 440-567-7582
Send Email
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Redemptive Conversations
Have you ever wondered how to share your story?
Did you even know that your life is a story?
If you would like to learn - we are hoping that we can give you the tools.
Saturday, May 21st from 9am to 3pm, We Care Connection is sponsoring a training, "Redemptive Conversations" presented by Jacob Hawes.
It will be conducted at the Cleveland Bethel Church of the Nazarene (3596 Fulton Rd., Cleveland).
If interested, please send an e-mail to wecareconnection@sbcglobal.net.
Sandwiches and beverage will be provided - we are asking everyone to bring a snack item to share.
Darlene
Did you even know that your life is a story?
If you would like to learn - we are hoping that we can give you the tools.
It will be conducted at the Cleveland Bethel Church of the Nazarene (3596 Fulton Rd., Cleveland).
If interested, please send an e-mail to wecareconnection@sbcglobal.net.
Sandwiches and beverage will be provided - we are asking everyone to bring a snack item to share.
Darlene
Friday, April 22, 2011
Stinky feet
This morning in my devotions, I was brought to the Gospel of John 13:1-17 when Jesus washed his disciples feet. John 13:14 & 15 specifically spoke to me this morning.
"14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."
I started thinking about foot washing which was a custom back in the day of Jesus. Something we don't practice thanks to shoes (well unless you wear flip flops and sandals) ... It was necessary back then and was a demeaning task meant for the servant in the household. Washing mud, dirt, manure off of the feet of the guests. It was a dirty job and someone had to do it. As I read this and think about Jesus, master, teacher, claims to be the King of Kings and the one to save the world humbles Himself and becomes a servant and washes smelly, stinky feet.
I started thinking about what Jesus said in these two verses ... how are we doing at washing others feet? Are we willing to be a servant to those in society who are stinky and dirty? I think specifically of the homeless you can't get more stinky or dirty than someone who lives on the streets! How often do we turn people away because they are not like us? Their lives are smelly because of sin.
As I read this passage, I thought about an experience I had on Sunday afternoon. I'm sure if you've been keeping up, you know my little friend, Mary at the shelter. I had promised to take her to lunch since I wasn't able to serve with We Care that Sunday. So I arrive at the shelter to see if she still wanted lunch. She thought about it and then she asked me where we were going, I asked where she wanted to go, she shrugged. I asked if she liked hamburgers and she nodded. So I thought of either McDonald's or Wendy's ... so I told her what I was thinking. She then said that she didn't want to go inside because her hair didn't look good and she didn't have regular shoes. I told her that would be fine. So off to the Wendy's in the Ohio City neighborhood in Cleveland we went. I went in and ordered and we sat in the car. It was a quiet afternoon, Mary, again didn't talk but I would look over and notice a smile on her face.
Mary doesn't wear normal shoes due to diabetic feet, her breath stinks (yours would too if you don't have resources for proper hygiene) and she is as skinny as a rail. No family, not sure what her past is, but one that society would consider a stinky outcast. One whom Jesus would touch and wash her feet.
As we think about the events leading up to Sunday, let us remember that Jesus did this for ALL ... whether we know we need it or not ... the rich the poor, the clean, the dirty. We have all had a stinky past and stinky lives ... some more stinky than others ... we don't deserve what Jesus did for us, but He did it anyhow. We choose to accept His gift and we now need to share it with others.
Micheal Card's song the Basin and The Towel says
"And the call is to community,
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility, to take the vow,
that day after day we must take up the basin and the towel."
I challenge you today to wash some stinky feet today!
"To wash the feet of a brother or sister in Christ, to allow someone to wash our feet, is a sign that together we want to follow Jesus, to take the downward path, to find Jesus' presence in the poor and the weak." Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche communities
In Him,
Becky
Original post on April 21, 2011 at 8:02am as note on Becky Phillip's Facebook page.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
God is Full of surprises
This past Tuesday we had our monthly Bible study at the women's shelter in Cleveland. I have been working out of a Women of Faith Bible study book called Amazing Freedom, but I was feeling lead to go a different route. At 11:30 PM, I was praying and struggling and was not sure what God was going to do. I looked at my bookshelf and found another Women Of Faith book about life in Jesus. So I opened it up and read the first chapter, and knew that was the study I needed to do. It was about having a new life in Christ.
Now, God is full of surprises, if you remember the last e-mail I had sent it was about a silent lady at the shelter named Mary. When I arrived at the shelter, I told Beth and Darlene I was going to check on Mary and I did. I came in the room and she was laying on her bed and she smiled! Then she pointed to the chair and said "have a seat" so I sat down and I asked her how she was doing, she said she was good. We had a verbal conversation! She didn't use signs or nods or shrugs, she used her words! I asked her if she wanted to come to Bible study and she asked where it was and who was going to be there. I told her and then she thought and thought and thought and she asked if she had to dress up, I told her no and she said, ok let me freshen up and she came to Bible study! The workers were amazed that I had Mary out of her room! Mary came into Bible study, she was quiet as usual and that is okay, but she seemed to listen.
We had two more ladies at Bible study as well, Laura and Linda. We were talking about helping others and I'm not sure exactly what triggered her, but Linda just became upset and said "this place is full of drunks and drug users and they are beyond help" and then she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. I didn't let that get to me. Laura is new in the shelter and she said that she feels as if God has her in the shelter for a purpose. Instead of me giving the salvation message I wanted to do in the end, I used my witness bracelet I had and taught Laura how to use it. Please pray for Laura. Pray for Linda as well, I know she is getting an apartment, so her days in the shelter are numbered, but as she is in the shelter he needs encouragement.
Lastly, I visited Donna who has a shattered spine and is facing possible surgery. I went to her room to check on her as well. She is supposed to find out when she is having surgery. Pray for her because with this surgery she will have a 50% chance of not walking and she is afraid.
God is moving and I am excited to see what he is doing. Please pray for me as I minister to these ladies. It is humbling to be used by God in this aspect.
Again, it is fun serving Him!
Becky
(Becky Phillips, Wasdworth Church of the Nazarene. reprinted from her Facebook Note on 3/30/2011)
Monday, December 20, 2010
Opened doors, Jesus disguised as an elderly woman
Dear friends,
I just want to share some stories from my adventures in serving the homeless. If you remember last month, I talked about the new ladies shelter and how we weren't allowed to bring food and stuff in. Well, last Sunday (December 12th) before we went out and in our prayer circle we prayed that God would open a door for us to come in and serve. Darlene told everyone that we would have to prepare for not coming inside. So we arrived to the shelter, talked to the guard. Well, one of the staff members just happened to be in the lobby and she said this once she will let use in. So, we came in and we never did this before. It was chaotic ... but we were inside, however, we talked after and discussed asking if we could use the kitchen and use the serving window. So we added that to the prayer list, if they would let us in and let us use the kitchen.
Well, now to December 19th ... we went to the shelter and the staff told us we could come in. Well as Darlene went to the bus so we could back it into the drive and unload ... I went to the staff lounge and asked them to hang up signs for the Bible study next week. I asked if we could use the kitchen and they told me we could. The staff actually had me kind of take charge of things. So what we did this time I numbered the 15 tables and had the ladies draw numbers and we ate a table at a time. It was great!
As we were working, a lady came to me and said, "come with me" so I did ... she took me to the hallway where the sleeping rooms were and introduced me to Mary. She is 84 years old, diabetic and is wilted down to nothing. She was laying in her bed trying to keep warm. My heart sank ... 84, no family and a sweet spirit. I went to the bus and smuggled in a big blanket and covered her up. I then smuggled a hat and gloves in. I just put a hat on my head and walked out without one! It was great! I was reminded of the verse "Whatever you do to the least of these, you did to me" and I realized, this elderly woman is Jesus in disguise. Pray for Mary. A couple of the ladies told me she is forgotten a lot. And it touched my heart to see that a few of the ladies are taking care of Mary.
God is moving ... I'm excited to see what is next!
Serving Him,
Becky
Published on Facebook profile, Becky Phillips on December 20, 2010
I just want to share some stories from my adventures in serving the homeless. If you remember last month, I talked about the new ladies shelter and how we weren't allowed to bring food and stuff in. Well, last Sunday (December 12th) before we went out and in our prayer circle we prayed that God would open a door for us to come in and serve. Darlene told everyone that we would have to prepare for not coming inside. So we arrived to the shelter, talked to the guard. Well, one of the staff members just happened to be in the lobby and she said this once she will let use in. So, we came in and we never did this before. It was chaotic ... but we were inside, however, we talked after and discussed asking if we could use the kitchen and use the serving window. So we added that to the prayer list, if they would let us in and let us use the kitchen.
Well, now to December 19th ... we went to the shelter and the staff told us we could come in. Well as Darlene went to the bus so we could back it into the drive and unload ... I went to the staff lounge and asked them to hang up signs for the Bible study next week. I asked if we could use the kitchen and they told me we could. The staff actually had me kind of take charge of things. So what we did this time I numbered the 15 tables and had the ladies draw numbers and we ate a table at a time. It was great!
As we were working, a lady came to me and said, "come with me" so I did ... she took me to the hallway where the sleeping rooms were and introduced me to Mary. She is 84 years old, diabetic and is wilted down to nothing. She was laying in her bed trying to keep warm. My heart sank ... 84, no family and a sweet spirit. I went to the bus and smuggled in a big blanket and covered her up. I then smuggled a hat and gloves in. I just put a hat on my head and walked out without one! It was great! I was reminded of the verse "Whatever you do to the least of these, you did to me" and I realized, this elderly woman is Jesus in disguise. Pray for Mary. A couple of the ladies told me she is forgotten a lot. And it touched my heart to see that a few of the ladies are taking care of Mary.
God is moving ... I'm excited to see what is next!
Becky
Published on Facebook profile, Becky Phillips on December 20, 2010
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