Schools treat homeless children and their families just as fairly and with just as much respect as other, more fortunate, families, and they will try to ensure that all adults and children in the school community do that also. It is part of a school's job to provide non-education services like meal programs and social service referrals, and accepting them isn't a sign of inferiority and shouldn't be a reason for shame. Schools try to provide information and support in a parent's native language, and they work to help all parents understand what they need to know. Schools take safety issues very seriously and do everything they can to protect children while they are at school. Schools also keep student information confidential as much as possible, and they respect custodial parents' instructions about family members who should or should not have access to their children or their records.
Schools offer adult education, job training, and social service programs that can benefit parents.
There are a variety of ways for school personnel and parent educators to help make parents a partner in their children's education, including inviting them to participate in group activities or suggesting ways for them to work directly with their own children. Explain why discussing their children's educational progress with teachers is important, and help arrange transportation and child care so that parents can attend parent-teacher conferences. Invite parents to participate in discussion groups and PTA projects, and help with arrangements here, also. Plan interesting programs at school, in shelters, or at local meeting places on parenting, job readiness and training, availability of services, overcoming substance abuse, etc. Include time for simply sharing experiences and socializing, and offer refreshments.