FWCS will accept $380,101 in American Rescue Plan — Homeless Children and Youth funds from the Indiana Department of Education to help homeless students affected by the pandemic.

All Fort Wayne Community Schools Board members were present for the vote Monday.

This money will help address the needs of homeless children and youth highlighted by the impact of COVID-19 to supplement existing funds, interventions and supports, according to the proposal brought before the board.

Contracted community partners and the school district will provide services to students outside of school hours to help homeless students who might have challenges learning. Some of these services will be transportation to and from doctors’ appointments, mental health services, food banks, shelters and other community supports that will benefit these students.

Board member Julie Hollingsworth asked how the homeless student population has changed since the pandemic began.

“It has increased,” FWCS Families in Transition Coordinator Christian Perez Mora said.

She said when the shutdowns occurred, there was a smaller number of homeless students in the student population. The approximate number she provided was just short of 700 students.

“As of last year, we ended the year with a little over 900 students,” Perez Mora said. “Currently, I have a total of 1,026 students right now. That is as of today. That is more than what we usually end the year with. So along with the increase in numbers, the increase in need and the assistance they require has increased as well.”

Hollingsworth asked how people could learn more about this program. Perez Mora said this is an internal process, and the funds would be used toward the contracting service.

“We get a case manager to help with the wraparound services to kind of fill in the gaps of the services that I can’t provide between 9 (a.m.) and 5 (p.m.),” Perez Mora said. “A lot of our students have needs to go to doctor’s appointments, mental health appointments. They provide hundreds of food vouchers monthly.”

She said she noticed there was a gap in those referrals and services that she was providing because of a lack of transportation.

“It doesn’t really help if I am providing a resource if the family can’t get to that resource,” Perez Mora said. “The contracted service piece of these funds, we really want to make sure this helps them follow through.”

The case manager will help the student and their families navigate this process.

Perez Mora said she generally does the intake process for every homeless student. She asks them what their greatest need is, and they tell her. This helps navigate them to the proper channels to help the students the most.

Board member Noah Smith asked how many case managers Perez Mora has. She said the funds would only cover one case manager.

“This will be a referral process,” Perez Mora said. “Since the funds are limited, this case manager will probably only be hired in for about year. So we want to try to help at least 100 students. That’s the goal.”

The board unanimously approved the receipt of funds.

The next meeting will take place May 9 at 6 p.m. in the Grile Administrative Center.

The board also:

• Approved the purchase of properties near Scott Academy at 5309 and 5313 Southern Court, allowing the school to expand and add more parking and separation of bus and parent pickup lanes. The purchase price is $13,000.
• Watched a video about the Ideal FWCS Graduate Workshop that took place April 20. Approximately 200 community leaders and educators attended.
• Heard a presentation about the College and Career Readiness Mentorship Program.