Homeless students to find help with district's new Family Resource Center

Mar. 8—Billings Public Schools' new Family Resource Center, to be housed in the basement of the Lincoln Center downtown, will open for service in April.

Using grant money, BPS has established the center as a more centralized resource for the district's growing number of students experiencing homelessness. The Family Resource Center will act as a connection between students, their families and outside community resources, and provide basic and emergency needs for students in need.

"The ultimate goal is to keep students attending school regularly and ensure their needs are met, so they are able to focus and achieve in school," said BPS spokeswoman Melanie Willardson.

BPS has historically provided supplies and resources for students in need utilizing a homeless student liaison and school pantries throughout the district. The recorded number of homeless students in BPS has risen from 457 in the 2019/2020 school year, to 567 in the 2022/2023 school year.

With a growing number of identified homeless or poverty-stricken students, BPS has identified a growing need for a more central-overarching resource hub.

"Billings Public Schools has identified homeless students in all 32 buildings, but resources are not always available in all buildings," Willardson said.

Community liaisons

BPS has also identified the need to split the homeless liaison role into two community liaison positions, to better cover the whole of the district. BPS is the largest school district in Montana, serving approximately 16,800 students in total. The second largest school district in the state, in Great Falls, serves about half of that number.

BPS community liaisons will spend time visiting with students and families to understand their needs and connect them to the Family Resource Center and outside resources when needed. School principals, counselors and teachers can also refer students and families who struggle to meet their basic needs to their school's community liaison.

"The FRC will be a hub for BPS community liaisons to serve as a trusted, knowledgeable resource," according to the district.

BPS community liaisons spend a large portion of their days hitting the pavement, communicating with school counselors, secretaries, and students' families, identifying needs, and making strides to meet those needs.

"I would consider it a successful day of work when we've connected with a family and helped them overcome some of their obstacles," said community liaison Emma Bartel. "Whether that's figuring out a way to get their student to school the next day or connecting them with the right community organization. When we've supplied them with what they need to get through one more day."

"A big support we provide to these students in need is transportation," said community liaison Kim Sherman. "This is a huge barrier for many families, and we work with them to create a solution that will be consistent in getting their students to school."

Being able to make a difference in the lives of the students and families they connect with, the two liaisons said, makes their jobs so rewarding.

"When we can let a family know, 'We're on your side,' school doesn't seem like such a burden. Success is when a family can feel a little bit lighter as they go through such a heavy and difficult experience," Bartel said.

"Meeting them (families) where they are and letting them know that you are a trusted person who just wants to be there to support them when they are in such a vulnerable situation can be life changing," Sherman added. "To be able to bridge that gap and have that student in the classroom is one of the highest rewards in this job."

How to help

The Family Resource Center will serve as a central location for community donations of food, clothing and school supplies to support students' needs. Those who would like to make donations to the Family Resource Center may visit the FRC Donations page on the BPS website.

BPS' Homeless Education Department has direct partnerships with numerous community organizations.

Donation partners include Education Foundation for Billings Public Schools, United Way of Yellowstone County, Riverstone Health, Breakfast Optimist Club, Billings Breakfast Optimist Club, King of Glory Lutheran Church, Peace Lutheran Church, and Billings Scottish Rite.

Connection and Service partners include United Way of Yellowstone County, BPS Early Childhood Intervention, Riverstone Health, Downtown Billings Alliance, St. John's United Family Services, Family Promise, and Tumbleweed.

"There are so many more community partners that support Billings Public Schools in general. We are very appreciative," Willardson said. "The FRC is the epitome of collaboration, reducing duplication and working to prevent the root causes of students not attending school or having the tools to succeed in school."

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