For More Information:David Glisczinski, publicist, 608-262-5258, [email protected] Waldinger, executive producer, 608-890-2840, [email protected] Connection Talks with Former Homeless Youth and Looks at Efforts to End Homelessness in WisconsinThe next Teen Connection will shed light on the prevalence of homelessness among children in Wisconsin and will take a look at statewide efforts to aid youth who experience homelessness.Teen Connection "Homeless Children" airs statewide 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17 on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) and on MPTV Channel 10 in Milwaukee.This episode of Teen Connection will provide a support network for children and young adults affected by homelessness. A report released last month by the National Center on Family Homelessness found 32,304 homeless children in Wisconsin in 2012-2013. Guests on the live, call-in program will include former homeless individuals who will describe how they became homeless and where they turned to for help. Advocates for the homeless will inform viewers of community and government resources available to the homeless.The predominant causes of child homelessness in the U.S. are the high poverty rate and a lack of affordable housing. The National Center on Family Homelessness report, which also found that 1 in 30 children in the U.S. experienced homelessness in 2013, noted that while progress has been made in reducing homelessness among veterans and chronically homeless individuals, no special attention has been directed toward homeless children.The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program designates a homeless liaison in each school district to ensure homeless youth are enrolled in public school educational programs and services. Teen Connection will talk with two McKinney-Vento homeless liaisons about the program: Ashwaubenon School District's Andrea Pasqualucci and Green Bay Area School District's Elizabeth Webb.Additional guests on Teen Connection "Homeless Children" include: Freedom House Ministries president Robyn Davis; former Freedom House Ministries resident Antionette Wright; University of Southern California Master of Social Work candidate and former foster Elizabeth Steffel; Brown County Human Services juvenile justice supervisor Scott Shackelford and homeless advocate Karina O'Malley.Teen Connection is a production of Educational TV Productions of Northeast Wisconsin (ETP-NEW) and WPT. Host Kathryn Bracho appears courtesy of WBAY-Channel 2 in Green Bay.The live program features a call-in option at 877-988-2888. It is a toll-free call. The service will be provided courtesy of Nsight Teleservices. For more resources, including streaming video of this and previous broadcasts, check wpt.org/TeenConnection.Viewers can text in their questions to 920-288-2574. Standard text message rates apply. Viewers can also submit questions on Teen Connection's Facebook page before or during the program at facebook.com/WisconsinTeenConnection.Joel Waldinger of WPT is the executive producer of Teen Connection. Dean Leisgang of Educational Television Productions of Northeastern Wisconsin and Eileen Littig, NEWIST/CESA #7, are co-producers.WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire. -END-