{"id":1587,"date":"2014-11-05T21:32:08","date_gmt":"2014-11-06T06:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/wpmu\/?p=1587"},"modified":"2014-11-05T21:32:08","modified_gmt":"2014-11-06T06:32:08","slug":"candlelight-vigil-for-homeless-youth-and-family-in-soldotna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2014\/11\/05\/candlelight-vigil-for-homeless-youth-and-family-in-soldotna\/","title":{"rendered":"Candlelight Vigil for homeless youth and families"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District News Release\"Print\"<\/a>
\nContact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888<\/p>\n

Candlelight Vigil for homeless youth and families<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Soldotna, November 5, 2014\u2014Families and unaccompanied youth are homeless on the peninsula. An invisible reality to most residents, the number 253 is important. Would it surprise you to know that 253 is the average number of students who are homeless in the KPBSD Students In Transition (SIT) program, and attending a KPBSD school?<\/strong>
\nThe community is invited to learn more at an annual candlelight vigil for homeless youth and families:<\/p>\n

Thursday, November 13, 2014<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

6:00 \u2013 7:00 p.m.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Farnsworth Park<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Birch Street, Soldotna, Alaska<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Guest speaker Dr. Steve Atwater, KPBSD superintendent, will help raise awareness about the reality of homelessness on the Kenai Peninsula. Music will be provided by Beau Miller and Scott Lazaros. Please dress for the weather.
\nThe SIT program has enrolled 138 students since the start of the school year, which is thirty-three percent higher than last year at this time. In the central peninsula, 111 youth are enrolled, and thirteen are unaccompanied youth, while ninety-eight are with a family unit. In the southern peninsula, twenty-seven students are enrolled, eighteen are unaccompanied youth, and nine are with a family unit.
\n\u201cOne of our more persistent challenges is serving our students in transition,\u201d said Dr. Steve Atwater, superintendent. \u201cThe good work of our students in transition coordinator Kelly King and our Students in Transition Facebook page<\/a> are helping us to meet this challenge. The public vigil is a good opportunity for all of us to stop and reflect on our students in transition. I trust that each of these students will benefit from this attention.\u201d
\n\"2014<\/a>About KPBSD Students in Transition (SIT) program<\/strong>
\nStudents experiencing homelessness are provided assistance through two KPBSD homeless liaisons. This program\u2019s primary purpose is to ensure that educational programs for students are not interrupted while they are in transition. In order to facilitate helping our communities grow in awareness and advocacy, KPBSD created a Facebook page to provide updates and resources. Please like and share, KPBSD Students in Transition.<\/a>
\nThe SIT program provides KPBSD Pre-K to12th grade students:
\n<\/strong>\u2022 An advocate to help students and families find the resources they need in the community for food, shelter, clothing, transportation, and permanent housing
\n\u2022 Free school lunches
\n\u2022 School supplies
\n\u2022 Immediate school enrollment
\n\u2022 Paperwork assistance to secure school documents
\n\u2022 Special academic support if needed
\n\u2022 Local referrals to other agencies
\nEligible families or youth are those who lack a stable, adequate, and permanent place to sleep at night. If you or someone you know is sleeping in a motel, a camper, a tent, couch-surfing, or living with friends or relatives then this program can help.
\nKPBSD Students in Transition program contacts<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nKelly King, homeless liaison, serving Central Peninsula, Seward and Tyonek schools, kking@kpbsd.k12.ak.us<\/a>, 907.714.8869
\nJane Dunn, homeless liaison, serving Southern Peninsula schools and Ninilchik,
\njdunn@kpbsd.k12.ak.us<\/a>, 907.226.1890
\nLinks
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