The Problem
Every year, more than one million children under 6 years old in the U.S. experience homelessness. How can providers support these vulnerable children and their families?
One Solution
There are two new resources on this topic posted on the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC) website:
- Caring for the Health and Wellness of Children Experiencing Homelessness, a four-page tip sheet developed by the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness. Some of the areas addressed in this resource include:
- Common health and wellness issues among children experiencing homelessness
- How to identify community health and wellness partners and work with them to make health and wellness a priority for children experiencing homelessness, and their families
- Tips and resources to ensure all areas of health and wellness are addressed when developing strategies to improve outcomes for children experiencing homelessness
- Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness, a series of interactive learning modules for providers. Each module includes knowledge checks and practice scenarios. The eight modules are:
- Overview of Family Homelessness
- Understanding Family Homelessness (includes federal laws and regulations that govern CCDF-funded child care programs)
- Understanding the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s Definition of “Homeless”
- Determining a Family’s Homeless Situation
- Identifying and Reaching Out to Families Experiencing Homelessness
- Enhancing Program Access and Participation for Children Experiencing Homelessness
- Building Relationships with Families
- Connecting with Community Partners
You can also search ECLKC for other resources on this topic, and others.
