Homeless Services - Families in Transition Program
Welcome to Families in Transition Program (FIT)
Mission
The FIT Program strives to provide successful educational experiences for children and youth living with unstable housing in Martin County. By collaborating with parents, families, schools and community agencies, removing barriers, and promoting a healthy sense of self, our students look toward the future with pride!
Meeting the Law
The Martin County School District Families in Transition (FIT) Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth face in enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school. Under this program, federal, state and local educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children and youth.
Homeless children and youth must have access to the educational and other services that they need to enable them to meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards to which all students are held. In addition, homeless students may not be separated from the mainstream school environment.(McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth)
Program Description
The FIT (Families in Transition) Program assists with the identification, enrollment, attendance and academic support of students living in unstable housing.
Each school has a designated FIT Program Site Liaison to help identify students living in unstable housing, as well as work with other district staff and community members on services for students.
Upon immediate enrollment into FIT, students will be provided with free breakfast and lunch.
A request for transportation assistance can be made, if over two miles from the School of Origin, (the school the student was attending when he/she had stable housing).
FIT Program Student Eligibility
FIT Program Student Eligibility:
FIT Martin County services are available to students enrolled in the Martin County School District from Head Start through 12th grade who are experiencing unstable housing. Any student, who lacks fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, as defined by the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act, qualifies for the FIT Program.
A student who is residing in one of the following circumstances for housing may qualify for the FIT Program:
Sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, also known as “doubled-up”
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
Living in emergency or transitional shelters; or
Living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, train or bus station, or other public or private place that is not designed for or ordinary use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Rights of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Staying in the school of origin, even if the youth lacks a permanent address, as long as it is in the student's best interest
Enrolling immediately as not to be delayed due to the lack of proof of residency or other documents
Receiving free school meals
Getting help with school supplies and other needs
Dispute Resolution
If a dispute arises, the student must be enrolled immediately in the McKinney-Vento eligible school until the dispute is resolved. When a determination has been made, the school district must provide the parent or guardian with a written explanation of its decision and the right to appeal.
Community Information
How Can the Community Help?
FIT of Martin County is happy to have agencies in our community that come together to assist our families. When students don’t have to worry about food, clothing and school supplies, they succeed in and out of the classroom.
To donate items please contact your school’s FIT Contact or the District Team.
We are accepting the following new items:
New clothing and shoes (Light jackets for winter)
Toiletries (e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc.)
Backpacks
School Supplies (e.g. notebooks, composition books, paper, pens, pencils, etc.)
Websites
Resources for Unaccompanied Youth and College/Career Ready Information
If you are a student in the Martin County School District without safe and stable housing and living on your own without a parent, guardian, and not in foster care, please contact the FIT Program Coordinator for assistance and support. We can assist you while you are still attending one of our schools and also help you transition to college. The FIT Program partners with Florida colleges, such as, Indian River State College (IRSC), in helping unaccompanied students attend college, or a certificate program they offer at IRSC. Unaccompanied students who are eligible for FIT services can also qualify for a verification letter that assists with FAFSA completion. Please contact your FIT Coordinator today!