Schooling in Place: True North Adapts to Pandemic School Year
Amberlyn helps her daughters with virtual school work. Her family is part of our Aurora North Bridge Housing Program for families.
It hasn’t been an easy year for the students in True North Housing Alliance’s Aurora North Bridge Housing Program for families, nor their parents, who have all had to adapt to online schooling while they shelter in place.
Thankfully, however, they haven’t been alone.
Team True North and its dedicated partners have ensured that the children in the Aurora North program have continued to learn, have fun and stay safe during this pandemic.
Jay shows off his study cubby.
There are currently seven families, a total of 26 people, in the program.
Joaquin, Aurora North’s site manager, said True North has created a safe, nurturing environment.
The children have studied together in the mornings, creating a collaborative, educational experience similar to a classroom.
Students even created personalized, decorated study cubbies.
While all of the students have now returned to in-person schooling at least part-time, True North’s efforts continue to be a valuable resource for families.
Staff will continue to provide tutoring and homework assistance and host physical and recreational activities.
“Students still have the opportunity to socialize—they’re learning how to get along, how to pay attention and be responsive to the needs of others,” Joaquin said. “All those things that normally are in play in a communal learning setting in school are still happening in our programs.”
Parents have continued to feel supported and have been able to access the resources they need to move forward and secure permanent housing.
Amberlyn and her three girls—ages 14, 8 and 6—have been part of the Aurora North program since mid-May.
While virtual schooling has been challenging, Amberlyn said she has been grateful to have access to the resources her children need.
In general, Aurora North has given her the time and support she’s needed to work on her sobriety and securing a home for her family. They’ve felt safe and supported.
“It’s beneficial being here because I’m able to actually experience raising my kids instead of a foster parent doing it,” she said. “True North is providing Internet, providing a roof over our heads, and the ability to reunite with my kids and get that family bond back.”
Advocacy and Important Partnerships
True North couldn’t do this alone. The organization works closely with its community partners to provide wraparound support to families and students experiencing homelessness.
The Butte County Office of Education provides a variety of material resources—such as backpacks and school supplies—as well as services like tutoring and case management.
BCOE works collaboratively with the case managers at True North in its efforts, providing assistance with school enrollment and special education plans and programs like CalWORKs and CalFresh.
All of these services have continued during the pandemic, just in a virtual or telephone setting.
“It’s been such an excellent experience working with True North,” said Tiffany Danger, BCOE’s Homeless Education Case Manager. “It’s been invaluable, actually, the amount of advocacy True North’s team does in reaching out to our program so we are able to identify these kiddos and these families that are out there in need.”
Through True North’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley, the organizations work closely together to get students experiencing homelessness enrolled in enriching and educational activities.
Similarly to BCOE, the Boys and Girls Clubs works with True North to provide wraparound support for children and parents experiencing homelessness, taking note of how students are doing academically and emotionally, communicating with one another and working to secure the right resources and referrals.
Children experiencing homelessness often benefit from programs that focus on social-emotional well-being, said Jessica Starkey, Area Director of Elementary Services for the Boys & Girls Clubs. They enroll students in programs focused on team work and perseverance to help students “see their worth and value” and build self-esteem.
The Boys & Girls Clubs also offer non-contact sports, science and engineering programs, art and music therapy and tutoring.
These programs have continued during the pandemic, with modifications for safety.
Erin Kennedy, Boys and Girls Clubs Case Manager, said she has appreciated True North’s comprehensive approach.
“You give all this incredible care there but there’s also these freedoms to become your own person,” she said. “I think that’s what advocacy is. It’s really hearing out and respecting the other person and going, ‘OK, I’m going to walk alongside you and advocate for you when things get really hard.’”
True North wants to recognize its many other partners that help our organization make each school year a successful one. They include:
Chico Community Church makes a generous donation for the children at Aurora North.
• Butte County Behavioral Health
• Butte County Children’s Services Division
• Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services
• Butte County Public Health – Women, Infants, and Children
• Chico Unified School District
• Connections Counseling
• Community Action Agency of Butte County: Esplanade House
• Far Northern Regional Center
• E Center: Head Start Programs
• Northern Valley Catholic Social Service
• U.S. Social Security Administration
• Valley Oak Children’s Services
Help Our Students
“Having a safe, stable living environment, with a place to sleep consistently and a table to work at really facilitates better educational outcomes,” said Joaquin, True North’s site manager for Aurora North.
Please consider making a contribution today. Your support helps True North continue to provide housing and vital educational resources for the children in our Aurora North Bridge Housing Program for families.