Abbey Farias, TRRE Graduate, named the Peter C. and Kristin Van Curan Nordblom Summer Fellow at the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy

Abbey (Filiault) Farias, TRRE Graduate, was selected last summer as the Peter C. and Kristin Van Curan Nordblom Summer Fellow at the University of New Hampshire Carsey School of Public Policy. Farias proposed research on school services addressing rural homelessness in New Hampshire in her fellowship application. The final draft of her research project, A Case Study on Homeless School Liaisons in the North Country, was submitted to homeless school liaisons across the state to increase awareness of the issues uncovered in her research. What Farias learned was incredibly valuable as a teacher.

Did you know The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act1requires schools to find and assist homeless students and it is a child’s right to stay the school year in their school of origin? Although broad support through McKinney-Vento is offered, many families and educators are unaware of it. In addition, common challenges with implementation of McKinney-Vento become more complicated in a rural setting. Farias conducted interviews with homeless school liaisons in New Hampshire and organizations that provide direct to support to families facing housing instability to better understand the challenges rural homeless school liaisons and families in their district face. 

The most important thing Farias learned from this study was what language to use with families experiencing housing instability to decrease stigma. Additionally, being aware of the services available to students experiencing housing instability makes an impact. When parents are trying to find and sustain housing, they may not have the extra time to help their children with academics. Having extra educational support at school or even afterschool tutoring through McKinney-Vento is wonderful for students. Additionally, knowing your child is getting enough to eat is a weight off the family's shoulders. Farias was also unaware prior to this study that McKinney-Vento services could be extended to sports equipment and uniforms, field trips and even graduation costs. 

One hope Farias has is that sharing this project across the state may bring light to the fact that transportation everywhere is in short supply to get student's to and from school. It is also her hope that after reading the research compiled, homeless school liaisons will make a more concerted effort to increase communication amongst one another. 

Farias said, “Overall, this was a really wonderful and enlightening opportunity. I feel very privileged to have been chosen for a summer fellowship at the Carsey School of Public Policy.”

Abbey Farias is currently in her first year teaching in a second grade classroom at Pittsfield Elementary School in NH.

1) McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 US Code §§11431-11435.