Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of students facing homelessness, generational poverty, and the challenges of recent immigration? If so, our workshop is designed with you in mind. Join us for a transformative experience that equips you with the knowledge and strategies to support these resilient individuals on their educational journey.

This workshop on students in survival environments, which focuses on homelessness, generational poverty, and recent immigrants, addresses a comprehensive agenda aimed at understanding and supporting individuals facing these challenges. Beginning with an exploration of the McKinney–Vento Act’s definition of homelessness and the characteristics of survival environments, the workshop examines the impact on students’ resources, including the issues of mobility, digital access, and paperwork.

The workshop further examines the neurobiological effects of survival environments and explore their impact on learning, emotional state, and identity formation. Strategies for calming students and reducing social isolation are discussed. The workshop also examines the knowledge bases and processes used in survival environments and contrasts them with those needed for school, and it provides strategies to address related challenges.

Additional topics include discipline and student engagement strategies, the role of bonding and attachment in discipline, and the influence of the autonomic nervous system on social engagement. Working with parents, accessing support networks, and addressing immigration-related issues are crucial components of the workshop, which emphasizes community infrastructure through programs like Bright Futures, Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World, and Bridges Out of Poverty.