McHenry County, IL
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MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS ASSISTANCE ACT
Who is homeless?
The term "homeless children and youth" means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes:
- Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement.
- Children and youth 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.
- Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described above.
The Laws and Provisions
The (federal) McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Illinois Education for Homeless Children Act ensures homeless children have a right to:
- A free, appropriate public education including a priority to preschool programs
- The choice of staying in the school of origin or attending any public school that non-homeless students who live in the attendance area in which the child is actually living are eligible to attend
- Immediate enrollment even when required documents such as school records, medical records, proof of residency, or other such documentation cannot be produced at the time of enrollment
- Assistance with transportation if needed
McHenry County Homeless Liaisons
One of the key provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act was to have every school district designate a Homeless Liaison. This would be the one person in the district that knows the law, and can help assist the student and family to the fullest extent. The McHenry County School District Homeless Liaison's are listed below:
| Dist. # | District Name |
Homeless Liaison |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Nippersink SD 2 |
Jackie Miller 10006 Main Street Richmond, IL 60071 815-678-6866 (P) 815-678-2810 (F) |
| 3 | Fox River Grove SD 3 |
Kim Neilson 401 Orchard Street Fox River Grove, IL 60021 847-462-2323 (P) |
| 12 | Johnsburg CUSD 12 |
2222 W. Church St. 815-385-4715 (F) |
| 15 | McHenry CCSD 15 |
Debra Barton 815-385-7210 (P) 815-344-7121 (F) |
| 18 | Riley CCSD 18 |
Lisa Gruber Marengo, IL 60152 |
| 19 | Alden- Hebron CCSD 19 |
Kim Qualls 11915 Price Road Hebron, IL 60034 815-648-2442 (P) 815-634-3898 (F) |
| 26 | Cary CCSD 26 |
Jennifer Thomas 847-516-9705 (F) |
| 46 | Prairie Grove CSD 46 |
Martha Maggiore 3223 IL Route 176 Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-459-3023 (P) 815-356-0519 (F) |
| 47 | Crystal Lake CC 47 |
Anastasia Gruper 300 Commerce Dr. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-788-5032 (P) 815-459-0263 (F) |
| 50 | Harvard CSD 50 |
Lauri Tobias 815-943-4022 (P) |
| 154 | Marengo Comm. High School 154 |
Angela Fink 110 Franks Rd. Marengo, IL 60152 815-568-6511x1312 (P) 815-568-6510 (F) |
| 155 | Community High School Dist. 155 |
Kim Dahlem 815-455-8514 |
| 156 | McHenry High School Dist. 156 |
Michael Roberts McHenry, IL 60050 |
| 157 | Richmond-Burton Comm High School 157 |
Jackie Miller 8311 N. Route 31 Richmond, IL 60071 815-678-6866 (P) 815-678-4324 (F) |
| 158 | Consolidated School Dist. 158 |
Terry Awrey Algonquin, IL 60102 847-659-6131 (P) 847-659-6122 (F) |
| 165 | Marengo-Union Elem. CSD 165 |
Jill Viktora 539 Locust St. Marengo, IL 60152 815-568-7632 (P) 815-568-7367 (F) |
| 200 | Woodstock CUSD 200 |
Justin Smith 227 W. Judd St. Woodstock, IL 60098 815-337-2153 (P) 815-338-2005 (F) |