The 2025-2026 Pennsylvania ECYEH Learning Series: Guidance for Successful Educational Journeys offers a comprehensive professional development opportunity for homeless liaisons and educators committed to supporting students experiencing homelessness. This series provides critical skills, strategies, and resources to enhance the educational experience for these students and equip educators with the tools to navigate challenges effectively. Through a blend of interactive webinars, real-world case studies, and expert insights, this series will deepen your understanding and enhance your efforts to ensure positive educational outcomes.
There is no fee to attend. Act 48 credits are available.
Disclaimer: Learning series sessions are created by individual providers. The opinions presented herein do not necessarily represent the official stance or policies of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and no official endorsement by the PDE should be inferred.
Understanding the Impact: A Data Walk through ECYEH Program Trends and Insights
November 6, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Step into the world of education data and discover how the ECYEH Program is making a difference for students experiencing homelessness across Pennsylvania. Explore data visualizations from the newly released 2023–24 ECYEH Evaluation Report, including identification trends, access, barriers, and outcomes.
In honor of ECYEH Awareness Week (November 17-21) we’ll identify patterns, implications and engage in reflective discussion about how data can inform practice and policy. The session will also highlight state ECYEH infographics and offer space to share successes, challenges, and ideas for strengthening services in your region.
Meet Our Presenters
Sheila Bell, M.A., is the Program Director for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Evaluation, Grants and Data Department and is responsible for managing local and state program evaluations including PA’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Migrant Education Program, and Educating Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program. Prior to this role, Sheila served as the Assistant Executive Deputy Director for Integrated Program Services at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh. She has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Political Science and a master’s degree in public policy from Duquesne University.
Jim Ross, a Senior Evaluation Coordinator at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s (AIU) Evaluation, Grants and Data (EGD) Department, holds an MA in Applied Statistics and a BS in Statistics. In this capacity, Jim creates and maintains the data file for Pennsylvania’s Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) program. He also develops data files and conducts data analysis for several additional state and local EGD projects including Pennsylvania’s Migrant Education Program and the Pennsylvania 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Jim spent the early part of his career in the CPG industry conducting market research and producing revenue forecasts for entire product lines. After nine years in that role, he transitioned to a consulting role at the AIU which led to his current position.
Supporting Youth at the Intersection of Homelessness, Foster Care, and Juvenile Justice: Leveraging Federal Education Programs
November 12, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
This webinar is designed for Homeless Liaisons, Foster Care Points of Contact, and Title I, Part D staff in LEAs across Pennsylvania. It provides an overview of the unique challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness, involvement in child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and highlights the federal education programs that serve these intersecting populations. Hosted by Center for Schools and Communities, the session features representatives from the National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth (NDTAC), SchoolHouse Connection, and Center for Schools and Communities. Presenters will share insights, key resources, and action strategies to foster collaboration across federal programs and strengthen supports for these vulnerable youth. Participants will engage in interactive discussions to brainstorm and share approaches to address the needs of students who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk (Title I, Part D), experiencing homelessness (McKinney-Vento), or in foster care (Title I, Part A).
In this session you will be able to:
- Describe the overlapping challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness, involvement in child welfare, and juvenile justice systems.
- Explore key resources and strategies for fostering collaboration across federal programs to better serve vulnerable youth.
- Engage in discussions to share promising practices and actionable strategies to improve educational outcomes for students who are neglected, delinquent, at-risk, homeless, or in foster care.
Presenters
- Obioma Okogbue, Co-Director/Co-TA Lead, NDTAC
- Kristine Chan, Research Lead, NDTAC
- Karen Rice, Senior Manager, Education Initiatives, SchoolHouse Connection
- Matthew Butensky, Youth Development Project Manager, Center for Schools and Communities
Purposeful Healing: Addressing and Preventing Vicarious Trauma
December 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Educators and youth service professionals often experience secondary trauma, particularly when working to support students and families experiencing trauma. Discover strategies for recognizing and preventing vicarious trauma and prioritizing well-being.
Poverty, Homelessness, and Endurance: Recognizing and Avoiding Burnout
January 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Address the unique challenges of working with low-income students and families, including students experiencing homelessness. Learn how to recognize signs of burnout and explore methods to build personal and professional endurance to support sustained and equitable engagement with diverse students, families, and communities.
Refuel: Addressing and Preventing Compassion Fatigue
February 11, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Dive into the causes of compassion fatigue, a common challenge for those working in youth services. Gain practical tips for self-care, boundary setting, and finding support networks to help prevent burnout and maintain compassion in their work.
Meet Our Presenter
Rajni Shankar-Brown, Ph.D., MBA, M-MA, M.A., Professor, Stetson University
Dr. Rajni Shankar-Brown is a distinguished Professor and Chair of Social Justice Education at Stetson University, where she advocates for intersectional equity and housing justice. As the founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Catalyzing Equity, Justice, and Social Change, she has earned numerous accolades, including Stetsonʼs Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award, McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, and Hand Award for Distinguished Faculty Achievement. A prolific author and community-engaged scholar, Dr. Shankar-Brown specializes in transformative systems change and sustainable educational practices that advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
With over three decades of advocacy, Dr. Shankar-Brown has held leadership roles across nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and educational institutions. She has partnered with the United Nations, served as equity co-lead for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and was the first woman of color to serve as president of the National Coalition for the Homeless Board. Her work has impacted communities globally, with a focus on ending poverty, homelessness, and creating a more inclusive world. She has published extensively, presented worldwide, and is known for her commitment to trauma-informed social change and community healing.
Recorded 2025-2026 Learning Series Webinars
Educator Essentials: Screening and Responding to Youth Human Trafficking with CSC’s New Toolkit
Zozan Küçükaydın, Anti-Human Trafficking Services Coordinator, PCAR
[Recorded Sept. 24, 2025] This recorded webinar equips educators and school-based professionals with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to youth at risk of human trafficking. Participants will explore the Center for Schools and Communities’ Youth Human Trafficking Screening Toolkit, a trauma-informed resource designed for school-based mental health professionals, nurses, McKinney-Vento liaisons, social workers, and counselors. Learn how to identify red flags, assess risk factors, and implement school-based response protocols that prioritize student safety and well-being—empowering your team to move from awareness to action in supporting potential survivors.
Communicating with Communicators: Learn How to Reach More People More Often to Raise Awareness and Understanding of Your Students and Your Work
Karen Black, Senior Director of Communications, Charles R. Drew Charter School
[Recorded Oct. 8, 2025] It can be challenging to get your message noticed among the many communications a district manages. This recorded webinar helps McKinney-Vento homeless liaisons, foster care points of contact, and advocates strengthen collaboration with communications professionals to amplify their outreach during ECYEH Awareness Week and beyond. Participants will learn how to craft clear, consistent messages; write effective copy; take impactful photos; build a content calendar; and use outcomes data to demonstrate results—all while building relationships that help your stories and students be seen and heard.
Meet the ERA: Navigating the New ECYEH Reporting App with Confidence
Sheila Bell, M.A., Program Director, and Jim Ross, Senior Evaluation Coordinator
Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU); Evaluation, Grants, and Data Department
[Recorded Oct. 28, 2025] Join us on a tour of the new ECYEH Reporting App (ERA)—an upgraded version of the former ECYEH dashboard—designed to streamline reporting and tracking of children and youth experiencing homelessness. Walk through the system’s core features—including log in, data entry, event/record updates, and reporting tools—while highlighting how ERA improves data accuracy and simplifies compliance. Whether you’re a liaison, data entry staff, or program administrator, you’ll leave with practical knowledge and tips to confidently navigate ERA and leverage its functionality for greater program impact.