As we strive for social impact, data integration can be a powerful ally. Let’s look at how Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) collaborated to better identify children experiencing homelessness.
🔍 The Challenge: Connecting the Dots Children experiencing housing instability are less likely to do well in school than those that are not. The systems tracking students, and those tracking homeless individuals, are different. While analyzing individual datasets is valuable, understanding the interconnections across systems is crucial. By integrating CMS and HMIS data, schools and social workers could automatically identify all students eligible for support and connect them to resources more efficiently.
📊 The Solution: Data Linkage In the 2014/2015 school year, HMIS data for households—specifically those sheltered in emergency shelters or transitional housing —were linked with CMS data. The Institute for Social Capital facilitated this integration, creating a holistic view of student experiences.
🏠 Defining Homelessness Here’s the twist: HMIS identifies children literally homeless in emergency shelters or transitional housing, while CMS serves those facing housing instability. Not all eligible students were identified for federally funded support services they are entitled to due to differing definitions. These services help overcome the barriers these children face in continuing their education and being successful and confident at school.
📚 The Impact Of the 711 students in emergency shelters or transitional housing, only 62% (444) were identified for McKinney-Vento services. Bridging this gap matters: 267 students missed out on services, including 90 in transitional housing and 188 in emergency shelters.
This example highlights the transformative power of integrated data to identify and support vulnerable children more effectively.
https://mecklenburghousingdata.org/blog/child-youth-homelessness-integrated-data-report-part-1/