In this episode of “I Will Be Your Voice: Stories of Homelessness and Hope,” Executive Director for SchoolHouse Connection Barbara Duffield shares about their work across the United States to overcome homelessness through education. Please read the transcript.
Resources:
Meet Our Guest:
Barbara Duffield is the executive director of SchoolHouse Connection. For more than 20 years, she has bridged policy and practice in early care, education, housing, and homelessness. In 1990, Barbara began her career as a tutor for children experiencing homelessness in Washington D.C. She was director of education for the National Coalition for the Homeless from 1994-2003, where she collaborated with service providers, educators, federal agencies, and congressional offices to address children’s issues. She served as the director of policy and programs at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) in Washington D.C. from 2003-2016, leading national efforts to strengthen federal protections and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood through higher education. Barbara helped to establish and develop the NAEHCY scholarship program for youth who have experienced homelessness and wish to pursue higher education. She has conducted technical assistance training, authored policy reports, appeared on television and radio shows, and has been quoted by various media outlets such as The New York Times and Education Week. Her academic work can be found in Educational Studies, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, and Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services. Barbara has served on numerous commissions and advisory groups, including Sesame Street Workshop’s Trauma Initiative and the National Commission on Children and Disasters education group. She received her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in political science from the University of Michigan.
