|
|
|
Independence, MO —
It is hard to imagine that some students do not have a place to go to after school ends for the day. They don’t know if they are going to eat, and they don’t know where they will find a place to sleep.
These students do not have a home to go to.
They are homeless.
While there are some organizations and groups to help children and families who are homeless, there are few services in the Eastern Jackson County area. That is why the Independence School District is partnering with the Drumm Farm Center for Children to provide some relief and assistance to homeless Independence students.
“Part of our role is to operate a school district,” Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson said Tuesday at the Independence Board of Education meeting. “But we have to understand that there are a lot of kids who are experiencing life that is unlike what we experienced at that age. There is a real need for this kind of program.”
The program will pair homeless children with families who will host these children for a period of time. Drumm Farm will help in identifying the families, handling training sessions and performing background checks.
The first information session for interested host families is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Central Office.
“There are a growing number of students we work with whose family is experiencing being homeless,” said John Trammel, director of family services for the district. “There is also a group of students who experience not being with their family of origin and end up in various places every night trying to find somewhere to sleep. Through this program, they will know where they will be each night, have something to eat and have a place to take care of those essential needs.”
Board of Education member Matt Mallinson, who has been working on the committee that is developing this program, said he is happy to know that this program will serve a definite need.
“I think the number of students that are in this situation would make everyone surprised,” he said. “There will be a number of students served by this. That makes me very, very happy.”
It is hard to imagine that some students do not have a place to go to after school ends for the day. They don’t know if they are going to eat, and they don’t know where they will find a place to sleep.
These students do not have a home to go to.
They are homeless.
While there are some organizations and groups to help children and families who are homeless, there are few services in the Eastern Jackson County area. That is why the Independence School District is partnering with the Drumm Farm Center for Children to provide some relief and assistance to homeless Independence students.
“Part of our role is to operate a school district,” Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson said Tuesday at the Independence Board of Education meeting. “But we have to understand that there are a lot of kids who are experiencing life that is unlike what we experienced at that age. There is a real need for this kind of program.”
The program will pair homeless children with families who will host these children for a period of time. Drumm Farm will help in identifying the families, handling training sessions and performing background checks.
The first information session for interested host families is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Central Office.
“There are a growing number of students we work with whose family is experiencing being homeless,” said John Trammel, director of family services for the district. “There is also a group of students who experience not being with their family of origin and end up in various places every night trying to find somewhere to sleep. Through this program, they will know where they will be each night, have something to eat and have a place to take care of those essential needs.”
Board of Education member Matt Mallinson, who has been working on the committee that is developing this program, said he is happy to know that this program will serve a definite need.
“I think the number of students that are in this situation would make everyone surprised,” he said. “There will be a number of students served by this. That makes me very, very happy.”
