Skip To Main Content

McKinney-Vento Homeless Information

 

Rooks Creek CCSD 425 Homeless Policy

Rooks Creek Consolidated Community School District 425 shall provide an educational environment that treats all students with dignity and respect.  Every homeless student shall have equal access to the same free and appropriate educational opportunities as students who are not homeless.  This commitment to the educational rights of homeless children, youth and youth not living with a parent or guardian applies to all services, programs and activities provided or made available, as prescribed in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Homeless Definition Under the McKinney-Vento Act

According to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, a family and the children of the family are considered in transition (or homeless) if they and/or their children:
(A) Lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

(B) This includes—

(1) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason…

(2) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings …

(3) children who are unaccompanied youth, which includes youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian…

(4) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and

(5) migratory children.

Rights of Children of Families in Transition (or homeless)

Children in this situation are entitled to:

(A) Immediate Enrollment -The right to be enrolled immediately in school, without medical or academic records, regardless of district policy.

(B) Choice of Schools -The homeless child has three choices:

School of Origin - The School the child last attended.

School of Origin - The school the child attended when he/she became homeless

The school closest to temporary housing

(C) Transportation - Homeless children are entitled to the same rights to transportation as other children in their district.  School districts are responsible for transportation costs. 

(D) Services - Homeless children are entitled to the same services that are available to other children in their districts. 

(E) They qualify for wavier fees and free and reduced lunch. “School fees” that are waived include, but are not limited to: Charges for text books, instructional materials, locks, towels, lab equipment, field trips, for uniforms or equipment related to sports or fine arts programs, supplies related to a particular class such as shop, home economics, lab, and art. Fees for graduation like cap and gowns, school records, health services, and driver’s education.

 (F) Dispute Resolution - If problems arise between the school and parents or between districts, the parent shall be referred to an intermediary in each Regional Office of Education.  In the meantime, the child must remain in school and receive transportation.

Rooks Creek CCSD 425 Homeless Liaison

If you have any questions or know of any family in the district who may fit the above definition, please contact:

Todd Bean

Homeless District Liaison

Graymont Grade School

228 Lydia Street

Phone: 815-743-5346

Fax: 815-743-5392

beant@rookscreek.k12.il.us

ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

Resources for Families in Transition

Local Services and Agencies

American Red Cross: Livingston County Chapter

825 West Reynolds St.

Pontiac, IL 61764

(815) 842-1767

(309) 662-0500 (crisis)

 

Salvation Army

112 N. Division St. (across from County Market)

Pontiac, IL 61764

Contact:  Linda Voorhees

Hours: 8:30 – 4:30

Services: Can provide clothing, blankets, monetary resources

(815) 844-5005

 

Livingston County Housing Authority

903 W. Reynolds St.

Pontiac, IL 61764

(815) 844-6013

 

Medical Services

Livingston County Health Department

310 E. Torrance

Pontiac, IL 61764

Services:  Immunization clinics, communicable disease control, including tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, maternal and child health services

Contact: Malinda Hillman, Administrator

(815) 844-7174

 

Mental Health / Counseling

Institute for Human Resources

820 W Custer Avenue

Pontiac, IL 61764

Services:  Outpatient mental health counseling for adults and children, substance abuse services

Hours: M-W 8:30 am – 8:00 pm, R-F 8:30 am – 5:00 pm

(815) 844-6109

 

Project Oz

Services: for homeless youth (runaway and locked out)

1105 W. Front St.

Bloomington, IL 61701

Office: (309) 827-0377

Hotline: (309) 827-4005

 

ADV & SAS (Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services)

Services: Provides confidential services to victims of domestic violence, individual and group counseling, confidential emergency shelter

(800) 892-3375 (24-hour hotline)

 

Food Pantries

Livingston County Community Pantry

Open: Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Address: 420 N. Plum Street, Pontiac, IL 61764

Serves: Livingston County

 

First Baptist Church Food Pantry 

Open: Wednesday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 

Address: 515 N. Ladd Street, Pontiac, IL, 61764

Serves: Livingston County 

 

St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry Pontiac

Open: Thursdays 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Address: 401 E Water St, Pontiac, IL 61764

Serves: Livingston County

 

Salvation Army - Pontiac

Open: Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and Fridays 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Address: 112 N. Division Street, Pontiac, IL 61764

Serves: Livingston County

 

Christian Fellowship Food Pantry

Open: Mondays 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Address: 715 West Lincoln Avenue, Pontiac, IL 61764

Serves: Livingston County

Hotlines

AIDS                            (800) 243-2437

Child Abuse                (800) 252-2873

Drug & Alcohol         (800) 662-4357

Hunger Hotline          (800) 359-2163

Runaway Hotline       (800) 231-6946

STD Hotline                (800) 227-8922

Suicide Hotline            (800) 248-7475

Youth Crisis Hotline   (800) 448-4663