Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work.

The theme for Social Work Month 2024 is Empowering Social Workers!.

Thank you to those of you who are social workers and serve as homeless liaisons and points of contact for foster care! We appreciate all you do for these high risk students!

Every March, National Social Work Month recognizes the dedication and empathy social workers across the country deliver while providing services to children and adults in need. Social workers are advocates, advisors, counselors, and facilitators in schools, clinics, businesses, and government offices.

In their roles, they provide support to people of all backgrounds, in our communities, and to

employers. Their services are provided in crisis situations or when life creates roadblocks and

uncertainty. They guide us through the obstacles and help lift us out of the potholes. Social

workers provide a voice for equal rights for the weakest of us and connect us to resources

when we are in need.

Since social workers take on many roles, they are always in demand. Whether they provide their services to children, adults or families, social workers are highly trained and have earned at least a Bachelor of Social Work degree or higher.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSocialWorkMonth

The month-long observance is an opportunity to learn more about social work careers and how social workers provide a vital service to every community.

During the month:

• Show your support for a social worker you know.
• Consider a career in social work.
• Learn about the different services provided by social workers.
• Participate in a job fair.
• Share why social work is important to you as a career or as a recipient of services.

Visit www.naswnc.org or honor the field of social work by using #NationalProfessionSocialWorkMonth.

Regions 4, 5 and 6 are planning a joint training for the ECYEH Programs in Western PA on May 9-10. While details are being finalized by our offices, we wanted to be sure to inform you of our plan so that you can plan accordingly and add the dates to your calendars.

Stay tuned for further details on location, lodging, presenters and more!

We hope to see you there!

Recently, Penns Manor School District invited us to present to their students about homelessness in Pennsylvania and their community.

The first presentation was given to third, fourth and fifth grade students at the elementary. Under Mrs. Christine Carpenter's supervision, the fifth grade class made no-sew blankets to be donated to the program to be distributed to students throughout Region 6. The elementary held a donation drive for hygiene items and school supplies as well.

The other presentations were done at the high school for all grades. The high school held a donation drive for hygiene items and school supplies. Additionally, a volleyball tournament was held as a fundraiser to support students within the district experiencing homelessness. The participating students were treated to a hot cocoa and s'mores celebration!

Thank you to the district administration and Mrs. Julie Miller, homeless liaison, for coordinating these events with the students, teachers and staff at Penns Manor!

This year, to help assist our graduating seniors experiencing homelessness, Region 6 will again be utilizing our ARP-HCY funds to provide graduation gifts for them as they move on to their post-secondary plans. We are wanting to get an earlier start for this year so that we can better plan deliveries

We recognize that not all seniors are heading off to college and may have other plans, therefore, we’d like to provide any assistance we can.

Please use this Google Form Survey and complete it for each senior within your district that is identified as homeless. They must be submitted separately for our records. If you are unable to use Google because of district restrictions, please complete the attachment and send it back to us for each student!

Please be sure to have each student entered into the ECYEH data system so that we may verify that they are eligible to receive this gift. If your students do not wish to participate and receive all of the items, please ask if they will allow us to provide them with the gift cards that will be purchased for each of them (Sheetz for gas and Amazon).

I would like to have everything submitted to our office by April 26, 2024. This will allow us to place orders to compile the gifts and deliver them to each district before the end of the school year. Of course we know that you may identify additional students after that date, and we will also provide them with the same materials upon notification!

If you have any questions or suggestions for items not on this form, please feel free to contact me! We will be happy to accommodate nearly any request for your students.

Act 1 of 2022, known as “Assisting Students Experiencing Education Instability” was approved by Governor Wolf earlier this year. The Act strengthens school supports and increases education equity to foster academic achievement and graduation for students experiencing one or more changes in school entity enrollment during a single school year. This includes children and youth in foster care. The Pennsylvania Department of Education, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, will issue guidance for local education agencies prior to the 2022-2023 school year. Guidance to County Children and Youth Agencies (CCYA) is also forthcoming.

To read more about Act 1, visit the Juvenile Law Center article.

Please share this information with your high school counselors and class advisors so that they may target their assistance with foster care youth.

Information about the college application timeline for Pennsylvania youth who have experienced the foster care system can be found in the Foster Care 2 College Timeline file below

All students have the right to a free, public and appropriate education. Being homeless can create barriers. The PA E.C.Y.E.H. program works hard to eliminate those barriers.

E.C.Y.E.H. works to provide services to all children and youth experiencing homelessness.

Services Offered by E.C.Y.E.H.

• School enrollment/placement, with the assistance of the local school district homeless liaison;

• Agency referrals (clothing, food, shelter);

• Increasing public awareness on homelessness;

• Consultative phone calls for homeless parents on preschool and school issues;

• Coordinating transportation services;

• Interagency problem-solving;

• Literature on homeless children;

• Personal visits to shelters/motels;

• Tracking/transferring school records; and

• Accessing educational programs.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime with questions or concerns.

ECYEH - Pennsylvania's website for supporting students experiencing homelessness

ECYEH Padlet

PA Foster Care.org

Foster Care Padlet

Region 6 Google Drive - new resources being added frequently that are now county specific. Send any new resources to sschroth@iu28.org or iwalker@iu28.org to be included in the drive.

Regional Coordinator for Region 6 in Pennsylvania. My office is located at ARIN IU28 in Indiana, PA. Region 6 serves the following 11 counties: Armstrong, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, and Potter.

Email: sschroth@iu28.org
Website: https://www.iu28.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1095629&type=d&pREC_ID=1379780
Location: ARIN Intermediate Unit 28, West Pike Road, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724-463-5300 ext 1203

Cell: 724-840-8672

Region 6 Coordinator for Educational Stability for Foster Care Youth in Pennsylvania and Homeless Specialist. My office is located at ARIN IU28 in Indiana, PA. Region 6 serves the following 11 counties: Armstrong, Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, and Potter.

Email: iwalker@iu28.org
Website: https://www.iu28.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1095629&type=d&pREC_ID=1379780
Location: ARIN Intermediate Unit 28, West Pike Road, Indiana, PA, USA
Phone: 724-463-5300 ext1207

Cell: 724-840-8677