Woodland Unified School District - Homeless & Foster Youth Services

Homeless & Foster Youth Services

Our District helps support families in need of housing, food, and medical support services.

The term homeless children and youth means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

This definition also includes:

• Children and youth who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason

• Children who may be living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or shelters

• 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

• Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or similar settings

• Unaccompanied youth not in the presence of parent or guardian

Students experiencing homelessness—including unaccompanied youth—have the right to:

• Immediate enrollment in the school they last attended (school of origin) or the local school where you are currently staying, even if you do not have all the documents normally required at the time of enrollment.

• Continue to attend their school of origin, if requested by you and it is in the best interest.

• Receive transportation to and from their school of origin, the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children, including free meals and Title I.

• Receive the full protections and services provided under all federal and state laws, as it relates to homeless children, youth, and their families.

Know Your Rights:

Parents and Youth

Conozca Sus Derechos:

Padres y Jóvenes

Community and Family Resources

If you are in need please contact:

Rosie Caraveo

Homeless/Foster Liaison

rosie.caraveo@wjusd.org

(530) 406-3266

Foster Youth

Who qualifies as a foster youth?

• Children/youth who are dependents of the Dependency section of the juvenile court

• Children/youth residing in out of home placement as ordered by the Delinquency section of the Juvenile Court, Enrollment Rights

• WJUSD will enroll a foster child immediately even if the foster child is unable to produce records such as previous academic records, medical records, proof of residency, other documentation

• To ensure a student’s appropriate school placement, we encourage all relevant documents be provided at the time of enrollment if possible.

School of Origin Rights:

• When a home placement change occurs, a foster child is allowed to remain in his/her school of origin while under the jurisdiction of the court.

• If a foster child exits foster care mid-year they are allowed to remain in his/her school of origin for the duration of the school year.

• High school students whose court jurisdiction terminates while they are in high school, can remain in their school of origin through graduation.