Rise & Brew Webinar Series: Start With CONNECTIONS

The start of the school year is one of the best times to build relationships with families, identify students experiencing homelessness, and remove barriers before they affect attendance, engagement, and academic success. Sometimes the most important support begins with a simple question: how can we help?

This month’s Rise & Brew supports McKinney-Vento liaisons as the new year launches, with practical strategies, communication tools, and resources you can adapt to your district. You will receive an overview of the Start With CONNECTIONS Back-to-School Playbook, built around four steps:

PREPARE

Equip school staff and inform system planning to recognize and respond to student needs.

CONNECT

Build trust through welcoming conversations and meaningful relationships.

SUPPORT

Remove barriers and connect students and families with resources and opportunities in schools and the community.

SUSTAIN

Strengthen follow-ups, collaboration, and systems that keep students connected throughout the year.

Whether you are new to the role or an experienced McKinney-Vento liaison, you will leave with practical tools you can customize and implement right away to strengthen relationships, support families, and build systems that promote educational stability.