About

Our Mission

At 500 Moms, we are dedicated to solving childhood hunger in Flagler County. We believe every child deserves consistent access to nutritious food, which is fundamental for their health, learning, and future success.

Through innovated mobile school food pantries, developed in partnership with the Flagler school district, Families in Transition Program and local community organizations we bring essential meals and healthy snacks directly to children and their families. This direct approach ensures children have the nourishment they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Together we are building a stronger, healthier community one child at a time

What is Title IX, Part A McKinney-Vento Program?

The purpose of the McKinney‐Vento (MV) Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is to address the problems homeless children and youth face enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.

Under this program, the district ensures that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as other children, and youth.

The Flagler Schools’ program is known as Families In Transition (FIT).

Who Qualifies for Families In Transition?

Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including students:

Sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping grounds due to a lack of alternative, adequate accommodations;
Living in emergency & transitional shelters;
Abandoned in hospitals;
Living in public or private places not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodations for human beings;
Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, bus or train stations or similar situations; and
Migratory children living in the above situations.

42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2)

McKinney-Vento Definition of Homelessness

HCY are...

Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including students…

Fixed

Stationary, permanent, not subject to change.

Regular

Used on a predictable, routine, consistent basis; Consider the relative permanence.

Adequate

Lawfully and reasonably sufficient; Sufficient for meeting the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

The term unaccompanied youth includes a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6)

Two conditions must be present for a child or youth to be considered a UHY under the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA):

The child or youth living arrangement meets the the MVA definition of homelessness (refer to previous slide).
The child or youth is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Homeless

Unaccompanied

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Flagler FIT Program

2024-25 SY Enrollment: 394

34 Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

○ Elementary: 2
○ Middle School: 0
○ High School: 32

Barriers FIT Program Minimizes

Access to Basic Needs (Food, Hygiene, etc.)
School Supplies & School Appropriate Clothing
Breakfast and Lunch at School
Referral to Community Partners/ Agencies

FIT Program Grant: $54.5K

Submitted Application for 2024-27
Maximum Award: $54,450 (annually)
- Reduced to $51,300 (2025-26 SY)
- Covers:
  - 50% of Salary & Benefits of District FIT Liaison
  - After School Wraparound Services for VPK-5th (Tutoring, Mentoring, Supervision)