Gift Cards

Gift cards are for students experiencing home instability and need support with attendance.  The gift cards are issued to parents/caregiver /youth on an as-needed basis. The homeless liaison/district counselor conducts intake before issuing the gift card to identify areas of need and informs the families of the following:

• Each card contains 50 dollars

• Review authorized items that can be purchased with gift cards

• Breach of contract will affect future participation in the program

• Gift cards are intended for the students specifically

• Gift cards will not be replaced if lost, stolen, or unable to process

• Parents/Guardian must sign a Card Agreement every time they receive a gift card

• Gift cards must be logged in for accounting purposes

In addition, all gift cards must be labeled: "Cannot be used to purchase Alcohol or Tobacco Products."

Documentation and Gift Card Disbursement Log Instructions

1. Cards will be physically signed out on Gift Card Agreement by the counselor and person being issued card(s). The counselor will record the following in the log:

• Date of issuance

• Name of the student

• Card value

• Merchant/Card type

• Serial number of cards

• School

• Whether the student is McKinney-Vento or Special Circumstance

2. Cardholder will then sign the log in the appropriate box.

3.  A copy of the back of the card with the serial number will be attached to the Gift Card Agreement. 

4.  Receipts will be attached to the Gift Card Agreement after the parents/caregiver /youth turn it in (usually within a week).

Security of Gift Cards

Gift cards will be kept under lock and key (in a lockbox housed in a locked office) at all times to ensure proper physical security and to protect them from theft and loss. Access to the cards and keys to the locked area will be maintained by the homeless liaison/district counselor and will be limited to the individual(s) responsible for the safekeeping of the gift cards. The homeless liaison/district counselor will be responsible for ensuring that all procedures for the gift card’s security, dispensing, and tracking are followed.

Routine Reconciliation

It is suggested that a reconciliation of cards will be conducted whenever gift cards are purchased or at least quarterly. This reconciliation will consist of verifying that the number of cards purchased minus the number of cards disbursed agrees with the number of cards on hand.