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An Invisible Population : College Students Coming From the Foster Care System

An Invisible Population : College Students Coming From the Foster Care System. Christina Bluck Northern Arizona University Christina.bluck@nau.edu. Overview of Presentation. Why this topic Quiz Overview of the Foster Care System Getting Ready for College Starting College

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An Invisible Population : College Students Coming From the Foster Care System

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  1. An Invisible Population: College Students Coming From the Foster Care System Christina Bluck Northern Arizona University Christina.bluck@nau.edu

  2. Overview of Presentation • Why this topic • Quiz • Overview of the Foster Care System • Getting Ready for College • Starting College • Challenges Once at College • The Importance of Mentors • Model Programs • What Academic Advisors Can Do

  3. Why this topic? Background Information

  4. How much do you know??? • Quiz Time!

  5. Quiz Answers 1. What is the approximate number of youth who emancipate from the foster care system each year? Answer choice C: 24,000

  6. Quiz Answers 2. Percentage of children in foster care who complete high school. Answer Choice A: 50%

  7. Quiz Answers 3. Percentage of former foster youth who enroll in college Answer Choice A: 10%

  8. Quiz Answers 4. Approximate number of children and youth in foster care on any given day. Answer Choice D: 513,000 Of these, 95,000 were between the ages of 16-18

  9. Quiz Answers 5. Percentage of former foster youth who graduate from a 4 year college. Answer choice A: 2-4%

  10. General Overview of the Foster Care System • Children are placed in foster care because of • Physical Abuse • Emotional Abuse • Sexual Abuse • Neglect • Death of Parent

  11. General Overview of the Foster Care System (Continued) • Support for former foster youth often ends on their 18th birthday. • Negative perceptions of youth in foster care

  12. Video Clip

  13. Common Backgrounds of Foster Care Children/Youth Quotes

  14. Movie Clip

  15. Preparation For College • Very Limited • Financial aid is available for this population, but not easy to find or access.

  16. Movie Clip

  17. Video Clip

  18. Emancipation • The process which a foster youth goes through to no longer be a ward of the state. • Age depends on state and preference of the youth. • Usually between 18-21 • Quotes

  19. Video Clip

  20. Starting College • Residence Hall = A New Home • Most foster kids never thought they’d make it to college.

  21. Starting College (Continued) • No Home to Go Back to • Fear and uncertainty

  22. Video Clip

  23. College Struggles • Like Risa, many former foster children struggle their first semester of college • Often not identified by student affairs professionals • Lack of mentoring on campus • Many lack basic knowledge about college • Many do not have a strong academic background • Financial struggles are common

  24. Video Clip

  25. Mental Health Concerns • Long term effects of abuse and neglect • Trust Issues

  26. Video Clip

  27. Adult Role Models and Mentors • Very important for college success • Some have never had a positive role model or person who they can connect with prior to college

  28. The Difference a Mentor Can Make Academic Advisors Can Serve as Mentors to Former Foster Youth

  29. Model Programs • California State University Fullerton Guardian Scholars Program • Pays all tuition and fees • Special orientation program • Year round on-campus Housing • Guaranteed on-campus employment • Individual Counseling • Required bi-monthly meetings with program director • Peer mentoring • Faculty mentoring • Post graduation career planning and assistance

  30. Model Programs (Continued) • There are other specialized programs across the nation as well • San Francisco State University • Austin Community College • Cal State East Bay • Sam Houston State University • University of California, Davis, • Western Michigan University • Sacramento State University • More programs and services are needed for these students

  31. What We Can Do To Support These Students • Don’t make assumptions • Many students from foster care will not self identify • Know that “at risk” services often don’t meet all the needs of these students • Be there for these students; serve as a mentor and role model • Connect students to campus resources • Educate others on campus that students from foster care are on our campuses

  32. What we can do to Support these Students • Parents weekend • Not assuming that all students have parents • Some “common sense” questions for most people are very pressing for this population of students.

  33. Hopeful Comments About this Population of students • Quotes • More and more states are providing educational assistance (Sheehy, et al., 2000). • 33 states help youth pursue post-secondary education • 21 states provide tuition aid or scholarships • 20 states help students pay for other educational expenses (books, room & board, etc.)

  34. References • See handout

  35. Questions???

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