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Lessons Learned From Supporting Former Foster Youth In Post-Secondary Education

Lessons Learned From Supporting Former Foster Youth In Post-Secondary Education. What do we know about youth aging out of foster care making the transition to adulthood?. Former foster youth face many barriers as they age out of foster care Housing Employment Emotional/Mental Health

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Lessons Learned From Supporting Former Foster Youth In Post-Secondary Education

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  1. Lessons Learned From Supporting Former Foster Youth In Post-Secondary Education

  2. What do we know about youth aging out of foster care making the transition to adulthood? • Former foster youth face many barriers as they age out of foster care • Housing • Employment • Emotional/Mental Health • Education • Key factor: lack of Stability

  3. Housing • Many youth experience homelessness at least once • 12/2006 study found ¼ of homeless adults surveyed were former foster youth…more than those who were suffering from substance and alcohol abuse • Financial barriers • Returning ‘home’ not an option • Employment • Only 38% are employed 12-18 months after leaving the foster care system • Not allowed in many placements • Only 11.9% of foster youth surveyed in 2003, had their drivers license • Emotional/Mental Health • more than 1/3 suffer emotional disturbances and accompanying behavior problems • foster youth are twice as likely than war veterans to experience PTSD

  4. Education • ½+ have not graduated from high school • Are encouraged to pursue a GED, which limits postsecondary options • Lack of post-secondary promotion and preparation • WHY? • Multiple placements=Multiple schools • every move puts them on average 3 months behind academically • Lack of credits OR repeating class=longer time to graduate

  5. What do we know? • Nationally: • only 40-50% of foster youth will graduate high school • only 1-2% of those will graduate from college • First 8-10 weeks of 1st semester foster youth drop out of college • Indiana Youth • ~825 foster youth age out of foster care per year • >50% graduate high school • 70% of foster youth desire to attend college

  6. Indiana Teenage Foster Youth • Lack of Stability • Average stay in foster care ~6 years • Average number of placements ~5 • Average number of case managers ~3 • Educational Services needed: • 83.1% identified post high school education • 73.3% identified tuition assistance

  7. Why Guardian Scholars? • Former foster youth have many special needs because of their challenging life experiences and their lack of a supportive family structure. • Guardian Scholars provides a unique opportunity for a partnership of resources that can provide personal mentoring and coaching to assist our young adults in achieving academic and life success.

  8. The overall goal was to pilot a collaborative two year project between BSU and Ivy Tech Community College of IN (East Central Region) • To coordinate post-secondary recruitment, target already existing support services, and establish new support services aimed at recruitment and retention • To create youth empowerment and leadership development opportunities • Partnering goals • A collaboration of key staff members from BSU and Ivy Tech working together to improve retention and graduation rates for former foster youth enrolled on their campuses

  9. Guardian Scholars History • Program started January of 2004 • Coordinator hired March of 2004 • First students Spring of 2004 • 7 • Summer of 2004 • additional 6

  10. Enrollment 2004-2005=24 2005-2006=35 2006-2007=29 2007-current=30 Additional 21 students informally Ineligible or never officially enrolled Ages=17-42 6 students graduated since program inception Maintain contact with graduates Via phone calls and e-mails Student Data

  11. Current Program • Currently in 4th year • Staff: • One full-time staff, two part-time staff and allocated hours from other SSRC staff members • Variety of backgrounds; counseling, clinical psychology, adult education, social work, sociology • Stakeholders Board: • Key people in departments on both campuses • Serve as resources/mentors for students

  12. Project Outcomes • Outcome 1: • Students will complete or make satisfactory progress toward their individualized education goals. • Students will maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 2.0/4.0. • Average cumulative GPA at end of each year: • 2004-2005=2.43 • 2005-2006=2.32 • 2006-2007=2.36

  13. Project Outcomes • Outcome 2: • Students who initially agree to participate in the Guardian Scholars project will continue as long as they are enrolled at Ball State University or at one of the EC regional Ivy Tech campuses • 13 left program in past 3 years • Only 1 left program without also leaving school

  14. Outcome 3: Students enrolled in the project will actively participate in tutoring, mentoring, and/or other support services (1/07) Needs Addressed • Housing • Community/campus • Financial • ETV, FAFSA • Academic success • Tutoring, advising • Life skills • Budgeting, banking • Social • providing socializing events, guidance for social situations • Emotional • Mentoring/guidance • Health • Mental and physical • Emergency loans • Career Services • Resume/cover letter • Mock interviews • Campus assistance • Orientation/tour • Leadership • Opportunities • Biological Family • Rejection/support • Community Education

  15. Project Outcomes • Outcome 4: • Students will participate in at least one youth empowerment or leadership development opportunity -Medicaid extension @ state house -Alternative Spring Break -speaking events: foster parent training/conferences -tuition waiver project -local and national conferences

  16. Identification of Stakeholders availability, interest, influence Space Drop-in vs. Planned Meetings Open Door Policy Emergencies (funding) Consistency Post Graduation Plan Essential Links Student Focused vs. Academic Focused Year in school Campus Initial Meeting vs. Application Process Need Lessons Learned

  17. Sustainability • Originally funded through Breaking the Cycle grant from Lumina Foundation for Education • Additional support from Anne E. Casey Foundation • Private donors • Sustainability Task Force • Sustainability Advisory Board

  18. Future Directions • Partnering more with community • Foundations for financial assistance • local food bank • Local foster care agencies for referrals • National Model • Best practice manual • Sustainability

  19. Contact Information Alishea Hawkins, M.A. Program Coordinator Social Science Research Center Ball State University Muncie, IN 47306 765-285-5538 gscholars@bsu.edu

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