Student Support Network

TCAPS Student Support Network

The Student Support Network (SSN) is a program administered by Traverse City Area Public Schools that provides free supportive, education-related services and non-academic support to help overcome obstacles that may create barriers to learning for all students, ages 3-20.

What Services Are Available?

  • Clothing and shoes for school purposes
  • School supplies and/or backpacks
  • Personal hygiene products
  • General funds for extracurricular activities or interests
  • Referrals to community agencies for housing/transitional living, food, medical, dental, optical care, and mental health

Do You Have a Place to Sleep Tonight?

External LinkClick here to contact the coordinated entry call center for help

Who is Eligible for Services?

Any student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate overnight residence (at any time during the school year) may be eligible to receive 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
  • Displaced due to natural disaster or fire

Services Available

  • Assistance in maintaining school stability
  • Assistance with enrollment in school and transfer of student records
  • Assistance with full participation in school (extracurricular activities and sports)
  • Assistance with school transportation
  • College admissions support (registration, FAFSA, scholarships, etc.)
  • Clothing for school purposes
  • Free school breakfast and lunch
  • Liaison between family and school personnel
  • Personal hygiene products
  • Referrals to community agencies
  • School supplies and backpacks

Community Resources Quick Links 

Food Assistance

Housing Assistance

Emergency Shelter Assistance

Utility Assistance


School Rights You May Not Know You Have
School Rights you may not know you have...We slept in our car last night - i didn't have any dinner last night - we can't afford my school supplies - I miss school some days because I don't have a way to get there

If you live in any of the following situations, you may be eligible for rights and services provided by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act:

  • In a shelter or on the street
  • In a motel or campground
  • In a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station
  • Couch surfing/doubled up with other due to loss of housing, foreclosure, eviction or economic hardship
  • Inadequate living accommodations (i.e. overcrowding, lack of plumbing, heating, or electricity)
  • Youth living on their own, without parent or legal guardian

You also have the right to:

  • Enroll in and attend school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there
  • Continue attending the same school after experiencing loss of housing, or transfer to a new school
  • Receive transportation assistance, if possible
  • Receive school meal programs
  • Receive Title I services

School Rights Posters

Learn more about the Northwest Michigan Coalition to end youth  homelessness: 
External Linkwww.endhomelessnessnmi.org/youth


Staff Contact Information by Building

District

Katie Kubesh
Student Support Network (SSN) Coordinator
McKinney-Vento District Liaison
Regional Grant Coordinator
Foster Care Liaison 
KubeshCa@tcaps.net
Office: 231.933.1789

Traverse City High School

Amber Ochoa
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.1779
ochoaa@tcaps.net

Traverse City Central High School

Haley McDonald (M/W/F a.m.)
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.7589
mcdonaldha@tcaps.net

Traverse City West Senior High School

Haley McDonald (T/Th/F p.m.)
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.7589
mcdonaldha@tcaps.net

Traverse City East Middle School

Sara Sovis, LMSW
Liaison
231.933.7348
sovissa@tcaps.net

Traverse City West Middle School

Kathryn Baumann
7th Grade Counselor/Liaison
231.933.8288
baumannka@tcaps.net


TCAPS Elementary Schools

Blair: Amanda Smith, 231.933.5753, smitham@tcaps.net

Central Grade: Kristi Collins, 231.933.5960, collinskr@tcaps.net

Cherry Knoll: Mary Beth Peters, 231.933.8990, petersma@tcaps.net

Courtade: Jill Wicksall, 231.933.5833, wicksallji@tcaps.net

Eastern: Jackie Markey, 231.933.5688, markeyja@tcaps.net

Long Lake: Mike Graham, 231.933.7833, grahammi@tcaps.net

Montessori: Jill Wicksall, 231.933.6434, wicksallji@tcaps.net

Silver Lake: Emily Ulbrich, 231.933.3663, ulbrichem@tcaps.net

Traverse Heights: Gretchen Evenhouse, 231.933.3542, evenhousgr@tcaps.net

Westwoods: 231.933.7937

Willow Hill: Jacqueline Glikman, 231.933.8580, glikmanja@tcaps.net


Staff Contact Information by Building

District

Katie Kubesh
Student Support Network (SSN) Coordinator
McKinney-Vento District Liaison
Regional Grant Coordinator
Foster Care Liaison 
KubeshCa@tcaps.net
Office: 231.933.1789

Traverse City High School

Amber Ochoa
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.1779
ochoaa@tcaps.net

Traverse City Central High School

Haley McDonald (M/W/F a.m.)
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.7589
mcdonaldha@tcaps.net

Traverse City West Senior High School

Haley McDonald (T/Th/F p.m.)
Student Support Network Specialist
231.933.7589
mcdonaldha@tcaps.net

Traverse City East Middle School

Sara Sovis, LMSW
Liaison
231.933.7348
sovissa@tcaps.net

Traverse City West Middle School

Kathryn Baumann
7th Grade Counselor/Liaison
231.933.8288
baumannka@tcaps.net

Courtney Haroney
School Social Worker
231.933.8267
haroneyco@tcaps.net

TCAPS Elementary Schools

Blair: Amanda Smith, 231.933.5753, smitham@tcaps.net

Central Grade: Kristi Collins, 231.933.5960, collinskr@tcaps.net

Cherry Knoll: Mary Beth Peters, 231.933.8990, petersma@tcaps.net

Courtade: Jill Wicksall, 231.933.5833, wicksallji@tcaps.net

Eastern: Jackie Markey, 231.933.5688, markeyja@tcaps.net

Long Lake: Mike Graham, 231.933.7833, grahammi@tcaps.net

Montessori: Jill Wicksall, 231.933.6434, wicksallji@tcaps.net

Silver Lake: Emily Ulbrich, 231.933.3663, ulbrichem@tcaps.net

Traverse Heights: Gretchen Evenhouse, 231.933.3542, evenhousgr@tcaps.net

Westwoods: 231.933.7937

Willow Hill: Jacqueline Glikman, 231.933.8580, glikmanja@tcaps.net

The Northwest Michigan Student Support Network (NWMSSN)

The Northwest Michigan Student Support Network (NWMSSN), a consortium of 24 public school districts within the five-county Grand Traverse area, will address the complex needs of students who have been identified as “homeless.” District liaisons improve accountability of eligible students and provide specialized support and advocacy to ensure academic success and a successful transition to adulthood. Contact your local district liaison if you should lose your housing due to foreclosure, eviction, economic hardship, or similar reason or if you know someone who may need assistance.

Liaison Resources

External LinkNational Center for Homeless Education
External LinkMcKinney-Vento
External LinkNational Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth (NAEHCY)

Working together to reduce poverty and end homelessness through education.

Go to www.tcaps.net/donate to make a financial donation. If you have goods or services that you wish to share please contact the SSN office at 231.933.1789.

Students Share What They Need

  • “Thank you for all the help you have given me. My life is finally getting back on track slowly but surely. I will still probably need help with bathroom supplies.”

  • “In my current situation, I need help with financial education, as well as help with college applications. Thank you for checking in with me.”

  • “I need support. I need someone who won’t give up on me. I need extra help with classes and solid transportation to school.”

  • “I just need to make money and get my stuff done. I want to say thank you for letting me know where I can go when I need assistance.”

  • “What I need to be successful is what you do best—helping people out with personal situations.”
     

Common Signs of Homelessness

Some possible signs that a student may be experiencing homelessness are:

  • Irregular attendance and frequent tardiness
  • History of attending many different schools
  • Consistent lack of preparation for class
  • Sleeping in class
  • Hostility and anger or extremes in behavior
  • (e.g., shyness, withdrawal, nervousness, depression)
  • Needy behavior (seeking attention or withdrawn behavior)
  • Poor health/nutrition
  • Inadequate seasonal clothing
  • Poor hygiene and grooming
  • Resistance to parting with personal possessions
  • (e.g., leaving a favorite toy/item unattended or putting a coat in a locker)
  • Multiple families at the same address
  • Difficulty in reaching a parent by phone

In Michigan, adults and children in families account for 52% of the total homeless population. This number may be under reported and not include families who are doubled up or living with friends and relatives due to economic hardship.

What is the Student Support Network (SSN)?

The Student Support Network (SSN) is a program administered by Traverse City Area Public Schools that provides free supportive, education-related services and non academic supports to help overcome obstacles that may create barriers to learning for all students, ages 3-20.

Why is SSN necessary?

  • Over 40% of area families qualify for free and reduced meals.
  • Students whose basic needs have not been met may not be ready to learn when they enter the classroom.

How does the SSN help?

  • Offers immediate resolution to a barrier to learning
  • Improves student achievement
  • Relieves stress on staff

How does the SSN work?

  • A school social worker, teacher or administrator identifies a student's need and completes a form to describe the need and urgency level.
  • The district SSN Coordinator monitors and works to fulfill requests via a human service agency, community business, independent donor or directly from funds raised specifically to support the SSN.

What would my donation support?

  • Each school year donated funds support students in need.
  • Needs fulfilled included: school supplies, winter wear, shoes, clothing, extracurricular fees, school photos, water bottles, snacks, personal hygiene items, and more.

How do I make a monetary donation?

  • Visit www.tcaps.net/donate or click on the red donate button on the home page of any TCAPS school's website.
  • Complete the form. In the program description section, designate "SSN" or any other program of your choosing.
  • To make an online donation by credit card, you will be taken to PayPal once you hit submit on your donation form. Follow the PayPal instructions.
  • To donate by check, make payable to TCAPS, write "SSN donation" in the memo line on your check, and mail to: TCAPS, Attn: Katie Kubesh, PO Box 232., Traverse City, MI 49685.

PDF DocumentDownload the SSN information flier to share with your friends.

Pub Fosterhjem: A child has nothing to eat at school video graphic

Watch the Video DocumentYouTube video (above) titled "Pub Fostehjem: A child has nothing to eat at school." The goal of the Student Support Network is to remove these types of barriers for students to be able to fully engage in their education and be successful in school and in life.