Vacaville Unified School District

Homeless Youth Rights & Services

Under federal law, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness. Homelessness comes in many forms, and the McKinney-Vento definition includes: Youth who are sharing housing due to economic hardship; youth who live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, and shelters; youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned building, bus stations, or similar settings. McKinney-Vento-qualified students have the right to remain in their school of origin and are entitled to immediate enrollment, even if some records such as immunizations or transcripts are not available at the time of enrollment.

The Vacaville Unified School District Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison is available to assist with school enrollment, school placement, educational issues and will work with families to address any barriers that students may be facing.

Additional Supports & Services

Additional services may also be available to foster and homeless youth:

• assistance with school supplies
• basic needs, such as clothing and hygiene items
• transportation
• free breakfast and lunch at school
• fee waivers
• assistance with school records transfers
• adjusted credit requirements for graduation

The Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison or School Counselor can help determine which services and supports may be available to help students be successful in school.

Foster Youth Rights & Services

Foster youth have the right to remain in their "school of origin". This includes the previous school, the school attended in the last permanent placement, or any other school to which a student felt connected within the last 15 months. Foster youth can immediately enroll and start school, even if some records such as immunizations or transcripts are not available at the time of enrollment.

Supporting Access For Students In Foster Care

Students in foster care must have access to the same academic resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities that are available to all students. All educational and school placement decisions are made by the Educational Rights Holder in consultation with other parties and must be based on the child's best interest and consider, among other factors, educational stability and the least restrictive educational setting necessary to achieve academic progress. We are here to help students through transitions and ensure stable and supportive educational access.

Supports For Foster Youth

Solano Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP) provides services, supports and activities for foster youth ages 16-20.  For more information:  www.firstplaceforyouth.org

Support & Information For Resource Parents & Caregivers

Information, support and classes are available and open to the public through the Solano Community College Foster Kinship Care Education (FKCE) Program. Many topics are covered, including:

Anxiety and Depression

CPR & First Aid

Discipline & Trauma

Exploring Foster Care & Adoption

Raising Resilient Children

Role of the Resource Family

Support for Caregivers

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program 

For more information, see the class calendar at:

www.fosterluv.com

 Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison

Vacaville Unified School District has a Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison who is available to assist foster youth and students without permanent housing, and their families with school enrollment, school placement and other educational issues.

Rae Ann Quinata
Foster & Homeless Youth Liaison
[email protected]
(707) 453-6137

Foster & Homeless Family Services

View a PDF of the VUSD Foster & Homeless Family Services brochure.

Community Resources

Solano County Resource & Referral Line - Call 211

SHELTER & HOUSING

Resource Connect Solano -
(707) 652-7311

Family Resource Center -
(707) 469-6608
650 Merchant Street, Vacaville

Health & Social Services -
(707) 469-4500
1119 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville

Opportunity House -
(707) 447-1988
267 Bennett Hill Court, Vacaville

Mission Solano -
(707) 422-1011
740 Travis Boulevard, Fairfield

Heather House -
(707) 427-8566
724 Ohio Street, Fairfield

FOOD & CLOTHING

Family Resource Center -
(707) 469-6608
650 Merchant Street, Vacaville

Cal-Works, H&SS and Cal-Fresh -
(707) 469-4500
1119 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville

Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano
(855) 309-3663
2370 N Watney Way, Fairfield, CA 94533

Saint Mary's Church -
(707) 447-2390
350 Stinson Avenue, Vacaville

Vaca FISH -
(707) 447-5482
40 Eldridge Street, Suite 9, Vacaville

Vacaville Storehouse -
(707) 454-0268
1146 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville

Women, Infant & Children -
(707) 469-4555
1119 E. Monte Vista Avenue, Vacaville

A service of VUSD, My Friend's Closet offers free backpacks, school supplies and toiletries to foster and homeless students. To arrange a visit to the closet, please contact Rae Ann at [email protected] 
or (707) 453-6137.