Skip to main content Skip to footer

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act

McKinney-Vento Homeless Project

The CFBISD McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is committed to ensuring that all CFBISD children and youth in homeless situations have the opportunity to attend, enroll in, and succeed in school.

What is the Stewart B. McKinney Act?

The Stewart B. McKinney Assistance Act of 1994 is the primary federal legislation that directly addresses the education of homeless children and youth.  The McKinney Act is important in educating homeless children for the following reasons:

  • It defines homelessness;
  • It requires that all homeless youth have access to a free and appropriate education;
  • It requires every state to review and revise all laws, regulation, practices or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children;
  • It stipulates that homelessness alone should not be sufficient reason to separate students from the mainstream school environment;
  • It requires that homeless children and youth have access to the education and services they need to ensure them an opportunity to meet the same challenging state standard to which all students are held;
  • It requires state education agencies to appoint a Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth;
  • It requires each state to adopt a plan to provide for the education of each homeless child or homeless youth within the state; and
  • It allocates money for the states to distribute in competitive, discretionary grants for programs that are created to meet the needs of homeless children.

Teens and Kids Counseling Services

Centro de Mi Salud • 214-941-0798 • map
A behavioral health agency that provides outpatient services, individual and family counseling designed especially to fit the needs of the Latino client and/or family. Accepts Medicaid, CHIP, and NorthStar along with private insurance and cash payments.

Child and Family Guidance Center • 214-351-3490 (24 Hour Crisis Line)
Offers a full range of psychological testing and assessment, and special programs for children who have experienced neglect, sexual abuse, and/or physical abuse. The Center has five satellite locations for client convenience. Accepts insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Sliding fee scale available.

Christian Works for Children • 972-960-9981
Provides family counseling, including grief counseling for children. Sliding fee scale available.

Counseling Center of Denton (Lewisville) • 800-897-7068

Counseling and Family Development Center, TWU •  940-898-2600 or 940-898-2708
Provides counseling for families, couples, groups, and individuals for both adults and children. Sliding fee scale available.

Counseling and Human Development Center- UNT • 940-565-2970
Offers counseling for North Texas individuals and couples including marriage, family, and play therapy for children. Counseling by appointment Monday through Friday. Sliding fee scale available.

Pastoral Counseling Center • 214-526-4525 (24 Hour Line)
Provides family/individual counseling and parenting classes. Multilingual counseling available. Offers evening and Saturday appointments and has 31 satellite locations for client convenience. Sliding fee scale available.

Providence of Texas (Funded by ValueOptions and MHMR) • 214-631-7002
Assists low income families in getting their child/teen qualified for ValueOptions to obtain behavioral health care. Will provide intense treatment and counseling 1-2 times per week in the home or at school. Offers 24-hour availability of licensed staff and psychiatric backup. Serves children 4-17 years of age.

Salesmanship Club • 214-915-4700
Provides outpatient therapy for families. Also, has a Pre-K-5th-grade school for students who qualify. Accepts medical insurance. Sliding fee scale available.

Youth Advocates (free to qualifying families through NorthStar) • 214-821-6505
Provides intensive in-home therapy to assist in keeping the child out of residential care. Initial two-hour psychological evaluation in the home or in the therapist’s office is then submitted to NorthStar for authorization. If approved, a therapist is assigned to see the child at school or at home. Psychiatrist is available for medication prescription and management.

Youth and Family Counseling, Lewisville • 972-724-2005
Offers individual, group, and family counseling. Sliding fee scale available.

For Psychological Testing, Assessment, Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment in a Hospital Setting

Green Oaks Hospital Adolescent Services • 972-991-9504 or 800-866-6554 (24 Hour Line)
Provides a therapeutic center for treatment of youth 12-17 years of age who are in crisis or experiencing substance abuse problems. Offers testing and assessment, in-patient care, substance abuse treatment, behavior management, in home contracts, support groups, and educational services.

Millwood Hospital • 817-261-3121 (rapid referral)
Provides assessment, inpatient, crisis stabilization, outpatient treatment and referral, psychiatric treatment, substance abuse programs, trauma treatment, and aftercare. Accepts Medicaid/Medicare, insurance, Crime Victims’ Compensation, and has MHMR contracts.

Timberlawn Mental Health System • 214-381-7181
Offers a full range of treatment programs. Call for more information and payment plans.

Seay Behavioral Health Center at Plano Presbyterian • 972-981-8305
Offers crisis stabilization, behavior management, substance abuse treatment, and family services available for ages 12-17. Provides support for parents, family therapy, and group therapy for adolescents.

University Behavioral Health Care Center • 888-320-8100
Provides assessment, inpatient, crisis stabilization, outpatient treatment and referral, psychiatric treatment, substance abuse programs, trauma treatment, and aftercare. The North Pointe Center in Carrollton has special programs for adolescents (972-394-4357). Accepts Medicaid/Medicare, insurance, and has MHMR contracts.

UT Southwestern Medical Center Child and Adolescent Psychiatry • 214-456-5900
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sliding fee scale available.

Programs for Kids and Teens that Focus on Specific Behaviors

Alcohol Education Programs for Minors
Offers 6-hour classes through Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (866-378-8440) and through Dallas Symposium (972-732-1917) in Carrollton area, and McCary Counseling in Denton (940-591-0224).

Conduct Management from Concerned Citizens of Dallas • 214-951-9331
Meets four weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Offers structured classes on accountability, responsibility, self-discipline, cooperation, and goals achievement for kids/teens who have problems with truancy, curfew violations, alcohol, gangs, drugs, and/or conflict resolution.

Conquering Conflict • 972-566-4680 (through Dallas Challenge)
Offers evening classes on anger management and interpersonal skills.

Drug Offender Education Program
Offers 15-hour classes through Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Available in Carrollton area through Garland Treatment Center (972-203-1141) and Dallas Symposium (972-732-1917). Call 866-378-8440 for additional locations.

Youth Shelters and Short-Term Residential Treatment

C.I.T.Y. House • 972-424-4626
Provides residential care for children/teens in crisis.

Letot Center (Dallas County Only) • 214-352-8134
Offers residential care/emergency shelter and a highly structured program with critical risk assessments. Education provided with on-campus facility for classes. Aftercare available through non-residential program which has follow-up with counseling for clients and their families. Includes anger management, communication skills, relationship skills, truancy and stress reduction.

Casa Shelter – YMCA Shelter • 214-358-4504
This is an emergency residential care shelter for children in crisis who need alternative living arrangements. Family Counseling available.

Promise House • 214-941-8578
This is an emergency youth shelter with a maximum 30 day stay for runaways or youth in crisis. Family and aftercare counseling are available. Offers transitional living program for youth ages 16-19 and residential services for homeless parenting teens ages 14-20 and their children in a group home setting. Some foster care and subsidized apartments available.

Programs for Kids and Teens that Focus on Specific Behaviors

Alcohol Education Programs for Minors
Offers 6-hour classes through Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (866-378-8440) and through Dallas Symposium (972-732-1917) in Carrollton area, and McCary Counseling in Denton (940-591-0224).

Conduct Management from Concerned Citizens of Dallas • 214-951-9331
Meets four weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Offers structured classes on accountability, responsibility, self-discipline, cooperation, and goals achievement for kids/teens who have problems with truancy, curfew violations, alcohol, gangs, drugs, and/or conflict resolution.

Conquering Conflict • 972-566-4680 (through Dallas Challenge)
Offers evening classes on anger management and interpersonal skills.

Drug Offender Education Program
Offers 15-hour classes through Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Available in Carrollton area through Garland Treatment Center (972-203-1141) and Dallas Symposium (972-732-1917). Call 866-378-8440 for additional locations.

Juvenile Aggression Management – Life Issues for Teens • 940-243-2200 (Metro Line)
Teaches skills for dealing with anger and aggression in children as young as 8. A six-week program that meets with the child and their parent(s), this is not a substitute for therapy. Whole family can attend for $20 per meeting per referred juvenile.

Juvenile Impact Program (Denton County)
Offers four-hour classes taught through Denton County Sheriff’s Office, (940-898-5623. Demonstrates impact of delinquent and criminal behavior for kids and teens ages 10-17, and one parent must attend with juvenile.

Juvenile Law Class (Dallas County) • 214-698-4459
Meets twice a month. Works with at-risk youth

Helpful Links

City of Carrollton – Resources for Families
Texas Homeless Education Office
Dallas Homeless Coalition
Free Dental Care
Homeless Shelters in Texas