Imagine a journey through education, a path brimming with possibilities. Now, consider the stark reality for homeless children and youth – a journey often filled with disruptions, instability, and uncertainty. Yet, amidst these challenges, beacons of hope shine through – individuals dedicated to bridging the educational gap for this vulnerable population. Today, we celebrate two such champions: Carie Bires and Shirley Fan Chan.
Bires is the Managing Director for Illinois Policy at StartEarly.org, and Fan Chan is the homeless education state coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Both have been active in NAEHCY for well over a decade and continue to lead their respective committees: Carie, the Early Childhood Education Committee, and Shirley, the Higher Education (Postsecondary) Committee.
We recently sat down with them to discuss their careers, unwavering dedication to homeless education, and the ongoing efforts to ensure a seamless educational journey for every child, from early childhood to higher education.
The Challenges of Early Childhood Homelessness
One of the most pressing challenges in homeless education is the impact of early childhood homelessness. As Carie Bires points out, “One of the biggest misconceptions about young children is that there are very few, or that young children don’t experience homelessness.” In reality, the younger a child is, the more likely they are to experience homelessness.
According to the Princeton Eviction Lab, infants and toddlers are the most likely age group to experience eviction. This can have devastating consequences for their development, as early childhood is a critical period for brain development. As Shirley Fan Chan notes, “For example physical development, which I learned so much about while working in nonprofit organizations… seeing in early care programs how behind they [homeless children] were developmentally. When you think about simply walking, living in a shelter environment brings limitations. Often, parents didn’t want their young child freely roaming around the environment because they just didn’t feel safe or they didn’t feel the facility was clean enough.”
To address these challenges, early childhood programs must provide a stable, nurturing environment where children can learn and grow. These programs should offer high-quality early learning experiences, as well as support services for families, such as parenting education and mental health counseling.
The Importance of Postsecondary Education for Homeless Youth
For homeless youth who are able to enroll in college, the challenges don’t end there. As Shirley Fan Chan explains, “The misconception about homeless college students is always, ‘well, they went to college, they should be okay now because they have housing.’ That they are ‘okay’ now because they’re getting education. If they were struggling, they wouldn’t be able to go to college, so… they’re no longer struggling.”
In reality, many homeless college students face significant barriers to success, including food insecurity, housing instability, and lack of transportation. To overcome these challenges, colleges and universities must provide a range of support services, such as emergency housing, food pantries, and academic advising.
The Role of NAEHCY
NAEHCY has been a vital organization in advocating for the needs of homeless students. Through advocacy, policy development, and capacity building, NAEHCY has worked to improve the lives of homeless students across the country.
Both Carie and Shirley have been active members of NAEHCY, serving on committees and the board of directors. They have used their expertise to advocate for policies that support homeless students and to raise awareness about the challenges they face.
As Carie Bires notes, “It’s really important that we continue to come together more than ever over the next few years to keep NAEHCY strong and keep each other strong.”
The Future of Homeless Education
The future of homeless education is lined with hope, but there is much work to be done to bring together disparate policies and scale up best practices. By continuing our efforts to ensure a seamless educational journey for every child, from the earliest learning experiences to attaining postsecondary goals, we can realize a future where all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“That’s the reason I keep asking people to get involved with NAEHCY – volunteer, join a committee, come to the conference.” Says Fan Chan. “I think that’s the key.”
About Carie Bires
Carie Bires’ dedication to education runs deep. With a background in early childhood policy and advocacy, Carie’s career has been a testament to ensuring all children have access to quality educational experiences. At StartEarly.org, Carie champions policies that support the needs of homeless children in Illinois, with a particular focus on early childhood education (ECE).
She recognizes the unique challenges faced by homeless children in their critical early years. Recognizing the brain’s rapid development during these formative stages, Carie advocates for ECE programs that provide a stable, enriching environment.
About Shirley Fan Chan
Shirley Fan Chan’s passion for education extends to ensuring homeless youth have the opportunity to pursue higher education. As the homeless education state coordinator for Massachusetts, Shirley works tirelessly to remove barriers and provide crucial support for this often-overlooked population.
Shirley understands the transformative power of education. She champions programs and resources that help homeless youth navigate the complex world of college admissions, financial aid, and securing basic needs while pursuing their academic goals.