Professional Development
Districts and schools can provide opportunities for professional development to strengthen access to educational stability for students experiencing homelessness. Federal law requires that homeless education liaisons ensure that schools and districts provide professional development for personnel. Homeless education liaisons can include personnel that have direct relationships with students and their families, such as:
- School counselors;
- School resource officers;
- Secretaries;
- Teachers;
- Principals and Assistant principals;
- Custodial staff;
- Bus drivers; and
- Nurses.
A trauma-responsive system can be helpful as educators support the whole child needs of students experiencing homelessness. For more information on trauma-informed practices and resources, access the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Trauma-Informed Schools webpage.
The Every Student Succeeds Act defines professional development as activities that are “sustained (not standalone, one-day, or short team workshops), intensive, collaborative, job-embedded, data-driven, and classroom focused.” For more information about professional development, access the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s Ohio Standards for Professional Development.
Ohio Toolkit for Homeless Education Liaisons
As part of a grant-funded partnership, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO) developed a toolkit to assist homeless education liaisons in meeting the needs of students experiencing homelessness. The customizable document templates and guides included below can help liaisons streamline identification, enrollment, and support processes within their school districts and coordinate access to vital resources within communities.
Common Signs of Homelessness
Community Collaboration Guide
Community Resource Template
Data Meeting Template
Family/Student Needs Checklist
Guided Interview for Students
McKinney-Vento Brochure
McKinney-Vento Poster Tracker
McKinney-Vento Web Communication Guide
New Liaison Checklist
Professional Development Tracker
Social Media Guide
Statewide Collaboration and Communication
Transitions to Adulthood Checklist
Transportation Plan
Trauma-Informed Guide
Unaccompanied Youth Checklist
Unaccompanied Youth Rights Flyer
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Translated Community Resource Template:
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Additional Resources
Below are state and national resources that can provide opportunities for professional development, often at no cost, to districts and schools:
Ohio Resources
National Resources
Last Modified: 2/20/2026 2:25:44 PM