BELL Project and System Breakdowns

BELL Project Addresses System Breakdowns to Support
​Working Parents in Shelter and Their Children ​

A shelter liaison reached out to a BELL Project Early Childhood Education Specialist. The staff person was concerned. She needed assistance with a family enrollment issue that had just been shared with her. The parent had the following concerns:  

• She had a job but may no longer be able to keep it due to childcare issues arising from unreceived subsidy payments. 
• She tried to go through both the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) and her worker at the welfare office, but neither were responding.  
• She didn’t know what else to do. ​ ​

This was a matter of urgency.  A working mom, with a child enrolled in childcare was about to lose childcare, and potentially her job, because there had been a breakdown within the system. The BELL Project Specialist determined barriers mom needed help navigating.  
 
“Mom had been receiving benefits but was in danger of having it cut off; she was awaiting a face-to-face interview to find out why; however, she hadn’t heard from anyone. Someone from subsidy had reached out, stating they would investigate, but there was no follow up. Mom shared she had been fully approved for subsidy, with no limited days. She gave her work start dates, proof of employment, etc., and, then there was silence. The childcare provider had been in constant communication with the mom, and was allowing her to stay, even though they had not received payment. The provider knew the mom was experiencing homelessness; however, the provider could not continue to serve the family without the subsidy payment, and had given her a window of when she would have to disenroll her child.” 
 
The BELL ECE Specialist and team working with the family, using several modes of communication available to them, were successful in connecting the parent with the ELRC representative assigned to work with families experiencing homelessness to resolve the barriers the parent was facing in the process.  Mom’s subsidy was secured and payment to the childcare center fulfilled.  
 
The ECE Specialist reached out to the parent afterwards to see how things were going.  Mom was resolute and unapologetic in her comments regarding the anxiety the process caused her.  Families experiencing homelessness have a great deal on their shoulders. She emphasized, “If a person indicates on the application that they are experiencing homelessness, it should not have been so difficult.” She commented that she is enduring a lot.  It had been two months with no answer, and a lot of stress.  
 
Since that time the ELRC graciously agreed to meet with the BELL Team. Our joint team meeting successfully established a contact system that has strengthened our working relationship with the ELRC. Moreover, families experiencing homelessness have seen their needs resolved in a timely manner and are better supported, and for that we are thankful!  

To learn more about The BELL Project, visit pec-cares.org/building-early-links-for-learning or contact Omari Baye at obaye@pec-cares.org.