Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP)
(updatd 3/10/11)
“STEP is always there when the world feels like it is collapsing on my shoulders. I was ready to give up on high school…it was just too much to be an adult and a child while maintaining a social life. Then STEP came and now school is a breeze.”
--Student Testimonial
Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) is a free program administered by Traverse City Area Public Schools that ensures the educational rights of families and youth, who lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing as required by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The STEP program works with eligible students who have lost permanent housing due to foreclosure, eviction, or reasons related to economic hardship to locate and coordinate available services based on each student's individual needs. The goal of the program is to ensure school stability, remove barriers to full participation in their education, and support academic achievement while children are in residential transition.
TCAPS' Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) serves students ages 3 - 20 in all schools throughout the school district. The STEP Program works behind the scenes helping students to remain in their current school, maintaining school stability, as often as possible and when it is in the best interest of the child.
Any student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate overnight residence (at anytime during the school year) is eligible to receive STEP services. Students may be found living in the following situations:
- In a shelter, motel, vehicle, camper, or campground
- Temporarily sharing the housing of friends or family (“doubled-up”) due to economic hardship
- Unaccompanied youth living on their own, without a parent or guardian
- Inadequate accommodations (lack of electricity, heat, plumbing, or overcrowding)
- Abandoned buildings, or on the street
- Students who are couch surfing, staying with friends
- Foster care, less than six months in same placement
- Displaced due to natural disaster or fire
Please contact the STEP Coordinator at 933-8991 or 933-8976 for assistance in determining your child’s eligibility for STEP services.
Thank You to Our Local Businesses for Yur Support!
TCAPS' Students in Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) hosted an Appreciation Breakfast on Wednesday, June 8th, for the many individuals, businesses, and organizations that supported STEP during the 2010-2011 school year. Each and every contribution made the difference in the lives of students throughout the district who are experiencing homelessness. We are deeply grateful to the following donors for supporting the TCAPS STEP program goal of ensuring school stability and academic success by removing barriers to education for students who have lost their permanent housing.
Advanced Auto Parts-Traverse City
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Hendrix Family
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Schmuckal Oil Company |
| Advanced Driving Academy |
Hitchen Family |
Siebenthaler Foundation |
| Aeropostale |
The Larkin Group |
Trattoria Stella |
| Michael Brabant |
Melodie Linebaugh-Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency |
TCAPS Transportation Department |
| Catholic Human Services-Host Homes for Homeless Youth |
MEMS Secretarial Staff |
Third Level Crisis Center |
| Cherryland Cares |
Meijer |
Traverse City Optimist Club |
| Cone Drive Local 21 Retiree Chapter |
Dr. Jayne Mohr |
Traverse City Record-Eagle Advertising Department |
| Cook Family |
Morgan Family |
Tri-County Medical Society |
| Diane Coors |
Cheryl Naperala- GT Continuum of Care |
United Way of NW Michigan |
| The Cracked Pots |
The Oopsers Group |
Dr. Leona Mae Weist-Barnhart Memorial Fund |
| GAP Outlet |
RJG Associates |
Williams Auto Group |
| George Fund |
Robert Frost Shoes |
Youth Health and Wellness |
| Glenn Loomis Girl Scout Troop 10039 |
Rosi and Gardner P.C. |
Sue Zell |
| Goodwill Industries |
Rotary Charities |
Zonta Club of Traverse City |
| Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians |
Rotary Club of Traverse Bay Sunrise |
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