Preparing Youth from Foster Care for College Success

1. July 21, 2017 Tinley Park, IL Preparing Youth from Foster Care for College Success Kate Danielson, Executive Director Ashley Keme, Board of Directors Alison Myers, Student ISU

2. College Road Trips

3. College Mentoring & Scholarships

4. Workshops & Advocacy

5. Illinois DCFS Overview Who is the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)?Mission Statement Protect children who are reported to be abused or neglected and to increase their families' capacity to safely care for them Provide for the well-being of children in our care Provide appropriate, permanent families as quickly as possible for those children who cannot safely return home Support early intervention and child abuse prevention activities Work in partnerships with communities to fulfill this mission

6. There are approximately 17,000 children in foster care in Illinois. 32.3% of them, or 5,491 youth, are teens and young adults.

7. Aging Out 28,000 youth “age-out” of foster care each year in the US between the ages of 18-21. In 2011, Illinois had the third highest rate in the country of youth aging out. In 2011, around 50% of youth in Illinois exited foster care via emancipation.

8. Outcomes for youth aging out Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Care Youth at age 26, 2011 31% experience homelessness 50% had been unemployed 57% had been incarcerated

9. Degree Attainment Why the gap? 86% 3%

10. Piecing Together Financial Aid School-based Grants $2,709 on average Map Grant $4,720 Pell Grant $5,920 $18,349 Community College Repayment Program Youth in College* $511/month, for living expenses Education & Training Voucher $5,000

11. More Pieces of the Financial Aid Puzzle Foster Progress up to $5,000 DCFS Youth in Scholarship $ full tuition Other Scholar- ships Family Contri- butions Work Study Jobs Student Loans

12. Housing Issues Before moving into college dorms, youth are living in one of three places: With foster parents ILO - Independent Living Options TLP - Transitional Living Program There’s no going back. What can higher education do? • Keep dorms open during breaks! • (Foster Progress is working on a host program.)

13. Childcare Issues 71% women aging out became pregnant before age 21 DCFS resources do help young women pay for childcare, but it is just another logistical matter to figure out.

14. Logistics and beyond We can solve logistics. Money √ Housing √ Child Care √ But what about… Underprepared academically Inspire them early “Second chance” programs Train foster parents and case workers Trauma

15. Trauma 101 “Individual trauma results from an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being.” SAMHSA - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Trauma can be categorized as: Acute trauma- single incident, ie. car accident Complex trauma- repeated event, ie. ongoing physical or sexual abuse

16. The 3 E’s of Trauma Event(s) Experience of event(s) Effect

17. Effects of Trauma on Youth In Care Attachment Biology Affect regulation Dissociation Behavioral control Cognition Self concept

18. Impact on the Brain

19. Trauma Informed Care - “The 4 Rs” Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices and seeks to actively Resist Re-traumatization

20. 6 Key Principles of a Trauma-informed Approach 1. Safety 2. Trustworthiness and Transparency 3. Peer Support 4. Collaboration and Mutuality 5. Empowerment, Voice and Choice 6. Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues

21. Practices We Recommend Logistical Practices Scholarship money Keeping a dorm open during breaks Provide childcare

22. Practices We Recommend Making Connections “Mother hen” - assigning staff to be in charge of these youth Navigating disability in college - getting accommodations Connecting youth to mental health and medical services Allocating for peer meetings and study sessions Create ways for youth from foster care to find each other before school starts - break out sessions, resource tables, etc

23. Practices We Recommend Messaging and Attitudes Trauma Informed Care Optimism - knowing and believing that these youth can succeed Growth mindset

24. Examples Illinois State University - Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies Loyola University - First Star Scholars Northern Illinois University - Educational Access Project CHANCE Program Eastern Illinois University

25. Student’s Perspective Alison Myers Junior at Illinois State University

26. Thank you! www.foster-progress.org Kate Danielson Ashley Lepse Keme 773-793-0951 773-369-6334 kate@foster-progress.orgashleylepse@gmail.com

27. References Midwest Evaluation of Adult Functioning in Former Foster Youth, Outcomes at Age 26. Chapin Hall, 2011. SAMHSA, July 2014. SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma informed approach.