Supporting Foster Care Youth as They Pursue Higher Education

Marilyn Beardslee

Advocacy Project

Social Work 471

The Issue

Youth who have aged out of the foster care system oftentimes lack the academic, financial, and

emotional support they need to enroll, succeed, and graduate from higher

education institutions

(Casey Family Programs, 2006)

Background of the Issue

Although youth who have been foster care for any length of time have a disadvantage regards to succeeding in higher education compared to their peers, those who have “aged-out” of the system have the most difficulty because they literally on their own (Shirk & Strangler, 2004).

Youth who have “aged out” of the foster care system are those who have not adopted or reunited with their families by age 18 (McCoy-Roth, DeVooght, Fletcher, 2011).

Once a foster youth turns 18-years-old, the government is no longer responsible for them, and are adults in the eyes of the law (Wolanin, 2005).

Scope of the Issue

In 2010, about 44,880 (11%) of the 408,000 children in foster care in the United Stated “aged out” of the system; leaving them without any support (McCoy-Roth, DeVooght, & Fletcher, 2011)

Less than 2% of those youth obtain a college degree (Pecora et al., 2005)

The Gaps

About 2% of those obtain a college degree

As compared to 20% of their peers

18 % drop out of college before they graduate

Around 20% of those actually attend post-secondary educationAs compared to 60% of their peers

About 50% graduate high school and are college readyAs compared to 70% of their peers

Of those who age out of the foster care system:

(Pecora et al., 2005 Wolanin, 2005)

Immediate Causes of Low College Graduation Rates

Lack of academic preparedness through K-12 leads youth to be less prepared for higher education. This is can be due to:

• Frequently changing placements• Lack of educational home support• Life traumas that interrupt the learning process

(Casey Family Programs, 2006)

Immediate Causes of Low College Graduation Rates

Lack of life skills and how to live on their own, including how to seek:

• Adequate housing • Health coverage• Further education• Employment

(Ferrell, 2004)

Immediate Causes of Low College Graduation Rates

(King, Vidourek, and McClellan, 2002)

Lack of a permanent support system leading to factors that make it difficult to complete higher education:

• Few positive role models• Low self-esteem• Substance abuse• Mental health issues

• Violence• Suicide• Teen Pregnancy• Homelessness

3 Main Underlying Causes

Foster youth are aged out at 18, this is before college age, therefore making it very difficult to support oneself after this time, let alone pursue higher education

Independent living programs for youth aging out of the system, are not required to college advise, so youth may never know how to access higher education

College campuses often lack of support for foster youth and their unique needs

(Wolanin, 2005)

A Proposed Solution: Become a Mentor!

• Having a mentor has been found to improve educational attainment for foster care youth(Osterling & Hines, 2006; Merdinger, Hines, Osterling, Wyatt, 2005)

• Mentors serve as someone to encourage, give advice, teach independent living skills, and guide foster youth through education after high school (Osterling & Hines, 2006)

• Note: Foster youth need a mentor well before the age of 18 in order to build a trusting relationship before they age out (Osterling & Hines, 2006)

Successful Mentoring Program:Michigan State University

Fostering Academics, Mentoring Excellence (FAME)

The FAME program is a perfect example of a college campus offering resources, support, and mentoring to foster youth attaining higher education.

Foster youth voluntarily sign up to be a mentee for at least one year, and are paired with a qualified mentor.

The program also provides ongoing support for youth during the school year and during holiday breaks.

To Become a Mentor:http://socialwork.msu.edu/outreach/foster_youth_alumni_svcs.php

(Michigan State University School of Social Work, 2013)

Other Proposed Solutions Include:

• The age of “aging out” should be increased to age 24 to promote college success

• Independent Living Programs should be required to college advise youth in their programs

• College campuses should be required to have foster care alumni services available

(Wolanin, 2005)

ReferencesCasey Family Programs. (2006). Its my life: Postsecondary education and training guide. Retrieved from:

http://www.casey.org/resources/publications/ItsMyLife/Education.htm

Ferrell, F. (2004). Life after foster care. State Legislatures, 30(9), 28-30. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/198452707?accountid=12598

King, K., Vidourek, R., Davis, B., & McClellan, W. (2002). Increasing self-esteem and school connectedness through a multidimensional mentoring program. Journal of School Health, 72(7), 294-299

McCoy-Roth, M., DeVooght, & Fletcher, M. (2011). Number of youth aging out of foster care drops below 28,000 in 2010. FosteringConnections.org, 5, 1-8

Merdinger, J. M., Hines, A. M., Kathy, L. O., & Wyatt, P. (2005). Pathways to college for former foster youth: Understanding factors that contribute to educational success. Child Welfare, 84(6), 867-96. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.msu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/213809252?accountid=12598

Michigan State University School of Social Work. (2013). Fostering Academics, Mentoring Excellence (FAME). Retrieved from: http://socialwork.msu.edu/outreach/foster_youth_alumni_svcs.php

Osterling, K. L. and Hines, A. M. (2006), Mentoring adolescent foster youth: Promoting resilience during developmental transitions. Child & Family Social Work, 11, 242–253. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2206.2006.00427.x

Pecora, P., Kessler, K., Williams, J., O’Brien, K., Downs,C., English, D., White, J., Hiripi, E., White, C., Wiggins, T., & Holmes, K. (2005). Improving foster family care: Findings from the northwest foster care alumni study. Casey Family Programs. Retrieved from: http://www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/NorthwestAlumniStudy.htm

Shirk, M. & Stangler, G. (2004). On their own: What happens to kids when they age out of the foster care system? Boulder, CO: Westview Press

Wolanin, T. R. (2005). Higher education opportunities for foster youth: A primer for policymakers. The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), December. www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/m-r/OpportunitiesFosterYouth.pdf