RE: Upstream Project Robinson, Tim Mon 11/25/2019 8 23 AM To: Neal Morton Neal –   If you use any of this, please attribute to Tyra Williams, SPS Student Support Services Manager.   Seattle Public Schools has made it a point to support efforts to reduce youth homelessness and the incidence of families experiencing instability in housing.  In the past five years our McKinney-Vento program, which has grown from two to eight central office staff, and the Family Support program -- along with points of contact in each of the 104 school sites -- have been a focus of our work. Through our experience, we have found there are a variety of ways to identify and support youth and families. As a result, we have seen progress with the supports and partnerships we have been able provide.   Additionally, in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Casey Family Foundation, and City of Seattle, we are in year three of a tiered system of support effort where we field test to eliminate opportunity gaps for all students. Within this effort, there is an intentional focus on improving school climate for African-American males and other students of color, PreK-8.  Based on identifying risk factors, this work has shown growth towards the development of an effective Multi-tiered System of Support model that accurately assesses and addresses the actual needs of the student.  During the first two years of the work, just under 40 percent of the students identified for Tier 2 care coordination showed evidence of housing being a risk factor.  Once risk factors and protective factors are identified, a care plan is co-designed (student, family, school staff, community partners) and is implemented, monitored, and modified as needed.  Two years of preliminary attendance, discipline, and student climate survey data are producing positive results for students.   To summarize, we:   Coordinate homelessness identification with SPS building staff, shelter partners, community organizations, and other entities. Provide educational supports to remove barriers to participation and ensure students and families fully engage in school and participate in afterschool activities. Provide direct service support such as (enrollment, transportation, tutoring, financial support for school activities: ASB, field trips, school clubs, waive fines and fees) and provide extended educational assistance. For example, supporting seniors with graduation, FASFA letters for college, career, and beyond. Provide referrals to community agencies for basic needs, medical/mental health, shelter and housing supports.   These two efforts have served as our primary focus the past couple of years and we didn’t have capacity within the team to take on a new project.   For the past couple of years, the SPS McKinney-Vento program and the City of Seattle have worked together to develop a School Housing Partnership. The recently announced DEEL and YWCA partnership is a direct result of an initial plan to develop and implement a housing partnership to ensure SPS families are connected to housing resources through the district’s McKinney-Vento Program. This housing partnership will allow SPS to refer families directly to the YWCA, thus providing a warm hand off and direct connection to housing support to promote school stability.     Tim Robinson Lead Media Relations Specialist tirobinson@seattleschools.org 206-252-0203/206-465-5404 c 2445 3rd Ave S Seattle, WA 98124 Office of Public Affairs website he/him   From: Neal Morton Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 11:24 AM To: Robinson, Tim Subject: RE: Upstream Project   Hey Tim,   I got a break sooner than expected so here’s what I’m wondering about the Geelong/Upstream Project and Seattle Public Schools:   -I’m still waiting on some records related to the local pilot, but an early batch of emails from the district suggest a lot of enthusiasm for trying the Geelong model in Seattle schools. But now the district won’t participate in the early launch. Can you please provide any reasoning of why that initial enthusiasm changed or what contributed to the district’s decision not to participate?   -What concerns or questions did the district have in evaluating whether the Upstream Project would make a good fit here?   -Will the district reconsider participating if results from other local pilots show it’s made a difference in keeping youth and their families from becoming homeless?   -What will Seattle Public Schools do in the meantime to help students experiencing homelessness?   -What role, if any, did the recently announced DEEL and YWCA partnership have in the district’s decision to participate in the Upstream Project pilots?   Appreciate your help on this, Tim!   -Neal Morton (he/him)   Reporter Education Lab The Seattle Times   Office: 206-464-3145 Twitter: @nealtmorton   From: Robinson, Tim [mailto:tirobinson@seattleschools.org] Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 9:58 AM To: Neal Morton Subject: RE: Upstream Project   Neal – the appropriate folks have let me know that they will provide input to emailed questions.   Please send me your questions and I’ll make sure they get them.   After that, if you have follow-up, we may be able to arrange an interview by phone or in-person.   Tim   Tim Robinson Lead Media Relations Specialist tirobinson@seattleschools.org 206-252-0203/206-465-5404 c 2445 3rd Ave S Seattle, WA 98124 Office of Public Affairs website he/him   From: Neal Morton Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:24 AM To: Robinson, Tim Subject: Re: Upstream Project   All Home: http://allhomekc.org/   And here's what I wrote last year: https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/using-an-idea-from-australia-seattle-could-try-to-endyouth-homelessness-before-it-begins/ (The local pilot of the Geelong Project will be called the Upstream Project) From: Robinson, Tim Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:21 AM To: Neal Morton Subject: RE: Upstream Project   I’m trying to find info on All Home – all I can find is something called “Homeless Hub.”   Can you share a link about All Home…and the Upstream Project?   Tim Robinson Lead Media Relations Specialist tirobinson@seattleschools.org 206-252-0203/206-465-5404 c 2445 3rd Ave S Seattle, WA 98124 Office of Public Affairs website he/him   From: Neal Morton Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:19 AM To: Robinson, Tim Subject: Re: Upstream Project   Thanks Tim, and will do. From: Robinson, Tim Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:16 AM To: Neal Morton Subject: RE: Upstream Project   I will look into it and let you know as soon as possible. If you don’t hear from me, please contact me again.   Tim Robinson Lead Media Relations Specialist tirobinson@seattleschools.org 206-252-0203/206-465-5404 c 2445 3rd Ave S Seattle, WA 98124 Office of Public Affairs website he/him   From: Neal Morton Sent: Monday, November 18, 2019 11:03 AM To: Robinson, Tim Subject: Upstream Project   Morning Tim,   I'm in the middle of drafting my story about the Australia program that will launch here soon as the Upstream Project, most likely in the Renton and Tukwila school districts. Last time I bugged you about this -- I believe right before New Years -- Seattle had some tentative interest in joining the local pilots, but from what the folks at All Home tell me, that's no longer the case. They mentioned capacity issues at the district, but my editor asked me to check in with y'all to get an official sense of why SPS no longer will participate in the early tests of the Upstream Project here.   Who would be best to answer questions about that? And can I schedule an interview with them soon? Either this or early next week work well for me, as I'll be out of town Dec. 2 to 6.   Please let me know if you have any questions about this request. Thanks!   -Neal CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Please don't click links, open attachments, or reply with confidential details unless you are certain you know the sender and are expecting the content.   CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Please don't click links, open attachments, or reply with confidential details unless you are certain you know the sender and are expecting the content.   CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Please don't click links, open attachments, or reply with confidential details unless you are certain you know the sender and are expecting the content.   CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Please don't click links, open attachments, or reply with confidential details unless you are certain you know the sender and are expecting the content.