Integrated Support Services/Healthy Start

Increases learning support services and other resources available to help children, youth and families by bringing together schools and health and human service agencies, city and county governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, parents and community members.  The largest program managed by this department is the Healthy Start Initiative.  In 2003-2004, there are currently 21 operational Healthy Start sites in our district.  The department also manages the district's Homeless Services program and the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Village Project Initiative.

Director:  Michele Hobza
Telephone:  (916) 643-9413
Fax:  (916) 643-9481
E-mail:  micheleh@sac-city.k12.ca.us

• Homeless Services

Provides services through the Parker Avenue Resource Center/Homeless Services Office to support the enrollment and attendance of homeless students in school and to assure equal educational opportunities for homeless children and youth.  Specific services include assistance in the following areas:  school enrollment and attendance, special school programs, records retrieval, school supplies, hygiene supplies, uniform and clothing referrals, health/immunizations, housing and community agency referrals, and emergency transportation assistance.

DEFINITION OF HOMELESS STUDENTS:  Students are defined as homeless when they lack a fixed, permanent, and adequate nighttime residence.  This may include students living in: shelters, transitional housing programs, motels/hotels, cars and travel trailers, the street or public places, or living in places not suitable for or normally used as a nighttime residence, etc.

LEGAL RIGHTS OF HOMELESS STUDENTS:  Students identified as homeless have the right to be immediately enrolled in school even if they lack the documentation normally required at enrollment, such as immunizations or immunization records, birth certificates, proof of residency, transcripts, etc. Schools should contact last school of enrollment to obtain needed information and refer the student to Parker Avenue Resource Center for additional support, services, and verification of homeless status. Homeless students have the right to remain at their original school for the duration of their homelessness, or if permanent housing is found, until the end of the current school year. If conflicts arise between the school and parent regarding school placement, enrollment, attendance, residency, etc., the student must be allowed to attend the school pending resolution of the conflict. The Program Coordinator for Homeless Services must be contacted to facilitate resolution of the conflict.

Program Eligibility: Homeless students

Who Should Refer:  Any school employee

Program Contact:  Monica McRho, Program Coordinator
Telephone:  (916) 277-6892
Fax:  (916) 277-6426
E-Mail:  monicamc@sac-city.k12.ca.us
Homeless Program Webpages

• Safe Schools/Healthy Students Village Project Initiative

Enhances school-community partnerships which provide children and families with integrated support services to promote their health, safety and academic success.   The Village Project is a three-year federal initiative (2002-2005).  The six elements of the Village Project are:  Safe Schools Environment; Alcohol, Other Drug and Violence Prevention; School and Community Mental Health/Prevention & Intervention; Early Childhood Development Services; Education Reform.  The Village Project operates a Mobile Crisis Team which ______________________________

Program Eligibility:  Services primarily targeted at students attending Hiram Johnson High School, Will C. Wood Middle School, Albert Einstein Middle School, the Success Academy, the CHESS Academy (Community Day School),  and fourteen designated elementary schools:  Abraham Lincoln, Fruit Ridge, Elder Creek, Peter Burnett, O.W. Erlewine, Isador Cohen, Sequoia, Tahoe, A.M. Winn, Joseph Bonnheim, Earl Warren, Mark Twain, Golden Empire and James Marshall.  Some services are provided for the entire district.

Who Should Refer:  Any school employee

Program Contact:  Dian Baker

Telephone:  (916) 643-9141
Fax:  (916) 643-9481
E-Mail:  dian-baker@sac-city.k12.ca.us

• Healthy Start Initiative

Improves the well-being and performance of students, families and communities.  Healthy Start is a long-term, results-based change initiative built at schools and clusters of schools.  Healthy Start builds on the learning support activities that foster the child's social, emotional and cognitive development.  Healthy Start helps schools and school clusters restructure service systems as it develops interagency collaboration. 

A typical Healthy Start Family Resource Center houses:  A Specialist III, who coordinates the services; a Family Advocate, who case manages and links families to service providers; one or two AmeriCorps members, who provide tutoring, attendance support, and other support services; a Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance Human Services Specialist, who helps families with CalWorks and MediCal; a Sacramento County Mental Health Clinician who provides individual and group therapy to MediCal eligible children; and one or two college interns representing various fields.  Check with the specific site to confirm the services offered.  The hours of operation vary, but are generally 8 am-5 pm Monday through Friday.  Program Eligibility:  Families and students at each Healthy Start School

Program Eligibility:  Families and students at each Healthy Start School

Who Should Refer:  Any school employee or family

Overall Program Contact:  Michele Hobza, Director
          Telephone:  (916) 643-9413
          Fax:  (916) 643-9481
          E-Mail:  micheleh@sac-city.k12.ca.us

Site Program Contact:  See school-by-school listing

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