The New Jersey Department of Education is launching the statewide Homeless Case Management System as part of its education for homeless children and youth plan, according to an advisory.
The plan, approved by the United States Department of Education, details how access to timely data on displaced students and their families improves the quality of life and the utilization of needed services. The system is designed to assist local educational agencies in gathering, reporting and analyzing high-quality data. By utilizing this data, district homeless liaisons can more effectively plan, target and scale interventions tailored to meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness, ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable youth receive the necessary services to support their education.
The HCMS will be rolled out in three phases:
- October: the onboarding of NJDOE’s regional grantees.
- November – January: LEAs within the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission region that volunteer to pilot the system.
- February onward: LEAs statewide.
In addition to providing technical assistance for the application, the state coordinator and ERESC’s director will work closely with LEAs during the rollout period. By Nov. 1, 2024, LEAs within the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission region (Essex, Hudson, Morris and Union counties) are asked to complete this form to share their interest in participating in the pilot. Please direct questions to the McKinney Vento Unit via email.
