SWBOCES Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support

The Homeless Student Program (HSP) is a collaboration between SWBOCES, the Westchester Department of Social Services, school districts, and community-based organizations. Our program’s mission is to improve the identification, enrollment, attendance, academic competence and educational confidence of homeless students.
Services provided by the SWBOCES Homeless Student Program include:

• Technical assistance to school and community agencies regarding McKinney-Vento regulations

• Math and literacy programs in temporary housing facilities and community-based sites

• The Jackson School Model: an intensive case management model to review and discuss the academic progress of homeless students

• Regional meetings for district homeless liaisons

• Workshops for school administrators, teachers, shelter staff and community agencies

• Assistance for Homeless Liaisons to become familiar with the available community resources, navigate the various systems available, and to resolve issues and communication with the Department of Social Services and shelter case managers 

 Maria McGinty has been the Program Coordinator of the Southern Westchester BOCES Homeless Student Program since 2001.  She has an MSW from Columbia University and has worked with homeless families for the past 20 years. She initially was the Casework Supervisor for families living in emergency housing and then went on to become the Casework Supervisor in a large Family Shelter. Maria is a NYS Education Department-approved provider in Child Abuse training, and has provided numerous throughout Westchester County further information, please contact Maria McGinty, HSP Coordinator

Phone: (914) 345-8500, ext. 3116
E-mail: mmcginty@swboces.org