Community and Family Connections (CFC) assists students whose living situation is not fixed, regular, and adequate as well as unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. CFC also assists families with Medicaid/CHP+ applications and provides referrals to other community resources.
Contact the CFC liaison in your area (listed below) for assistance. You can also view our program flyer in English and Spanish.
Who are Homeless and Unaccompanied Youth?
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act defines homeless youth as students whose living situation is not fixed, regular, and adequate. Unaccompanied youth are defined as students fitting the definition of homelessness and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
Examples include students who are:
- Sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason;
- Living in motels, hotels;
- Living in RVs, inadequate trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of adequate alternative accommodations;
- Living in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs;
- Abandoned in hospitals;
- Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live;
- Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations, etc.;
- Living in any of these situations and fleeing an abusive situation, even if the parent would provide support and a place to live;
- Migratory children living in the aforementioned circumstances;
- Unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.
The following educational accommodations or supports shall be made for homeless and unaccompanied students:
- Immediate enrollment without proof of residency, immunizations, school records, or other documents;
- Transportation to the school of origin;
- Enrollment in free lunch program and other school resources;
- Identify and remove barriers that prevent youth from receiving appropriate credit for full or partial coursework satisfactorily completed while attending a prior school, including barriers due to fees, fines, or absences.
- Assistance from counselors to advise such youths, prepare for, and improve readiness for college.
- Privacy protections under FERPA about a McKinney-Vento student's living situation.
- Providing school stability. School stability applies when students lose housing during the year or during the summer. Research demonstrates that keeping the student in the school of origin is in the student's best interest. School of origin is the school attended when permanently housed or school in which last enrolled. Once determined as in a homeless situation, the student shall be permitted to:
- Continue in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness, and until the end of the academic year in which the student becomes permanently housed; or
- Enroll in any public school that is within the attendance area where the student is residing.
Submit a Referral
Parents, school staff, and community members can use our online form to refer a student to the CFC program.
Submit a referral here
Community Resources and Toolkit
Below are links to resources and information to assist students and families with homelessness and at-risk issues. View resources here.
Contact
Intake Line
303-982-1144
Rebecca Dunn
Coordinator
303-982-5044
Rebecca.Dunn@jeffco.k12.co.us
Oscar Fonseca
Bilingual CFC Liaison
303-982-0830
Oscar.Fonseca@jeffco.k12.co.us
Covering Jefferson Articulation Area
Amy McDaniel
CFC Liaison
303-982-2096
Amy.McDaniel@jeffco.k12.co.us
Covering Conifer, Evergreen, Green Mountain, Lakewood, and Pomona Articulation Areas
Laura Monreal Herrera
CFC Liaison
303-982-0831
Laura.MonrealHerrera@jeffco.k12.co.us
Covering Standley Lake, Ralston Valley, Arvada, and Arvada West Articulation Areas
Beatriz Monsalve
Bilingual CFC Liaison
303-982-6618
Beatriz.Monsalve@jeffco.k12.co.us
Covering Alameda and Golden Articulation Areas
Naomi Xayavongsa
CFC Liaison
303-982-3008
Naomi.Xayavongsa@jeffco.k12.co.us
Covering Bear Creek, Chatfield, Columbine, Dakota Ridge, and Wheat Ridge Articulation Areas
Title I Office Secretary
303-982-0835