Family and Homeless Youth Perceptions of McKinney-Vento Services

This cross-sectional, mixed method study was designed to examine both the parents’ and unaccompanied youths’ perception of the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. Participants included homeless parents whose children were enrolled in a Maryland county school district. The cross-sectional survey design was comprised of district-administered parent surveys disseminated in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 school years. District-administered surveys were also distributed to 25 high school students who were identified or considered to be unaccompanied homeless youth enrolled in the same school district. The students attended one of four high schools or evening high school. The data for the qualitative portion of the study was collected through the case manager’s field notes. The purpose of the qualitative portion of the study was to give the unaccompanied homeless youth the opportunity to voice their perceptions of their living situation in their own voice and gain an understanding of the living situations that led to their homeless status. The quantitative portion of the study, provided participants the opportunity to rank the services they perceived were beneficial to their children’s academic success. Findings show that the majority of homeless parents and the unaccompanied homeless youth were satisfied with the provisions of the program, and it improved their overall academic experience. Parents also reported that their children did not feel a connection to their school environment, and many also indicated that their children felt that they could not be successful. This study includes implications for district and school-level leadership.

Publication Date: 
2016
Publisher(s): 
Wilmington University