Empowering Foster Youth Through Higher Education Access: Best Practices and Support Systems

1. Access to Higher Education for Foster Youth: Best Practices to Ensure Higher Education Options for Foster Youth NACC 34th National Child Welfare Juvenile, and Family Law Conference August 31, 2011 Presented by Michelle Lustig, MSW/ Ed.D Deborah Lowe Martinez, JD Jenny Vinopal, MSW

2. Considerations for Preparing Students for Success in Higher Ed: A K-12 Perspective Michelle Lustig, MSW, Ed.D San Diego County Office of Education Student Services & Programs, Student Support Services, Foster Youth and Homeless Education Program

3. The Foundation for the Future: K-12 Education Creating a collaborative environment between child welfare the courts and public education • Becoming multi-lingual • Understanding unique mandates and regulations • Finding common ground/Areas of mutual concern: • Academic Achievement • School Attendance • Response to Discipline Concerns • Continuity of Special Education Services • Communication • Emotional/Behavioral Needs • Confidentiality

4. Foster Youth Services (FYS) • Provide support services to foster children who suffer the traumatic effects of displacement from family and schools and multiple placements in foster care. • Services are designed to improve the children’s educational performance and personal achievement, directly benefiting them as well as providing long-range cost savings to the state. • Core Programs and Countywide Programs • Collaboration models • Population served • Staffing • Services offered • Funding

5. Foster Youth Services (FYS) • Legislative Mandate Compliance • Enrollment delays • Records transfer • Credit accumulation • School of Origin issues • Service Provision • Tutoring • Mentoring • Educational Case Management • Training • Transition Services • Emancipation Services • Collaboration support

6. Educational Rights Holder • Role of Attorneys in helping to identify an appropriate person to be the educational decision maker • Responsibilities • Obligations • Special Education • General Education

7. Educational Stability & Support Constant placement and school changes have a detrimental impact on the ability of foster youth to succeed: Records Transfer Lost records and credits Missed school/inappropriate class placement Disenrollment issues Missing IEP’s/Incomplete assessments Academic deficits requiring tutoring or academic counseling Impediments towards completing graduation/A-G requirements

8. HR 6893: The Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoption Assistance Act of 2008 • Education Provisions: (Effective January 1, 2010 ) Case plans shall ensure the educational stability of the child while in foster care by providing the following assurances: • The placement takes into account the appropriateness of the current educational setting and the proximity to the school in which the child is enrolled a the time of placement. • The placement agency has coordinated with appropriate LEA’s to ensure that the child remains in the school they were attending at he time of placement, unless remaining in the original school is contrary to child’s best interests.

9. HR 6893: The Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoption Assistance Act of 2008 • Education Provisions: Cont’d • If it is in child’s best interests to change schools, the placing agency will coordinate with LEA to ensure immediate and appropriate enrollment and to provide all of the child's educational records to the new school. • Permits states to claim cost of transportation to original school as part of foster care maintenance payment* • Increases the amount of federal funding that may be used by states to cover education-related transportation costs for children in foster care. • Encourages State Child Welfare and Departments of Education to work together to determine other measures of educational stability.

10. HR 6893: The Fostering Connections and Increasing Adoption Assistance Act of 2008 • Education Provisions cont’d • States are required to ensure all children receiving Title IV-E foster care, kinship guardianship or adoption assistance payments be full-time students or have completed a secondary school • Makes children 16 and older who are adopted from foster care, or who enter into legal guardianship with a relative, eligible for Chafee independent living services and education and training vouchers • Previous legislation enabled youth 13 years and older who enter adoption or guardianship to be considered independent on the FAFSA

11. Ed Outcome Measures for Court, How they can connect with their local AOC in their • National Center For the State Courts • Performance measures for Juvenile Court relating to Educational Outcomes • Recommendations • Vetting Process

12. Early outreach methods (tips on how to reach youth) • Early exposure to: • Information • Campuses • Academics • Expectations • Supports • Early Academic Outreach Programs • Federal TRIO • Talent Search • Upward Bound • Student Support Services Programs • GEAR up Programs

13. Policy and Legislation for FY in Higher Education AB 12 Fostering Connections to Success- Extension of foster care until age 21 Year Round Housing Priority Registration Jenny Vinopal, MSW Director, Outreach and Community Development California Youth Connection

14. Campus Support Programs on College Campuses EOP/EOPS TRIO Programs (SSS, McNair) Why they work.

15. Digital Stories What is a digital story? How this was developed? Tony’s Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoU6QN_-Dfw

16. Accessing Resources forFoster Youth in Higher Education Deborah Lowe Martinez, J.D. Cal Independent Scholars Network University of California, Berkeley August 31, 2011

17. NationalFoster Youth Statistics • Children in care 424,000 • Number emancipating from care 20,000 • < 50% foster youth complete high school; peers complete at 84% • 70% report wanting to go to college • <10% enroll in college; peers attend at 60+% • 1-3% graduate from college

18. Barriers to College • Disruption in education due to multiple placements • Little encouragement and lack of expectation in attending college by caretakers • Lack of knowledge of college admission requirements and academic preparedness • Lack of role models, college advocates, mentors • Unaware of campus support programs for foster youth • Perception that cost of education makes it more out of reach than it is • Separation from siblings, parents, extended family members and friends • Homelessness

19. WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID? Money distributed from schools to assist students in paying for their education GIFT AID (scholarships + grants) SELF HELP AID (loans + work) Student Need = Cost of attendance – Expected Family/Student Contribution A financial aid package is put together according to student need and may consist of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.

20. 1ST STEP TO FINANCING COLLEGE: FAFSA • FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid • THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT FOR STUDENTS TO FILE FOR MONEY TO ATTEND COLLEGE • Federal deadline for academic year June 30 of the award year covered by the FAFSA • State deadlines for initial awards vary from state to state • IMPORTANT for students to self-identify as foster youth in order to obtain independent status

21. INDEPENDENT STUDENTCLASSIFICATION • Married • Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. • Currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or, National Guard or Reserves enlistee who is on active duty for purposes other than training. • Has dependent children or dependents (other than children or spouse) who live with student, and for whom student provides more than half of their support

22. INDEPENDENT STUDENT CLASSIFICATION • When student was age 13 or older, both parents were deceased, student was in foster care, or was a dependent/ward of the court. • In a legal guardianship or emancipated minor as determined by a court in legal state of residence. • Determined to be an unaccompanied homeless youth • Determined to be independent by Office of Financial Aid based on extenuating circumstances

23. CERTIFICATION OF INDEPENDENCE • Once classified as an independent student, documentation required to verify status • Cal. W & I Code Section 391 requires following documents be provided to children when case closes: • Social Security Card • Health History • Certified Copy of Birth Certificate • Identification Card/ Drivers License • Wardship/County Letter • Proof of Citizenship

24. CHAFEE/ EDUCATIONAL TRAINING VOUCHER(ETV) PROGRAM • Federally funded and state-administered program provides grants up to $5,000 annually to students in foster care • Available in all 50 states • Grants can be used for career and technical training or college courses at 2 or 4 year colleges • Who is eligible? • Children in foster care between the ages of 16-18 or children who exited foster care for kinship guardianship or were adopted after age 16 • To qualify, students must be a current or former foster youth and not have reached their 22nd birthday as of July 1 of the award year.

25. CHAFEE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS • Student must be enrolled at least half-time at eligible school • Program of study must be at least one academic year long • Complete FAFSA • Make sure campus Financial Aid Office completes the Need Analysis Review (NAR) • Student must make satisfactory academic progress as defined by the school attending

26. FEDERAL PELL GRANTS • What is a Pell Grant? It is a federal grant that is provided to students who demonstrate a significant financial need for funding to attend college. It is a grant, and therefore does not have to be paid back • Awards up to $5,550 per year • Students limited to receiving award to 18 semesters or equivalent • Amount awarded depends on need, cost to attend school, status as full or part-time student, and plans to attend school for a full academic year or less • Application process done through FAFSA

27. NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FOSTER YOUTH • ORPHANS OF AMERICA SCHOLARSHIP http://fc2success.org/?id=30 • CASEY FAMILY SCHOLARSHIPS http://fc2success.org/what-we-do/scholarships-and-grants/apply-for-an-ofacasey-scholarship/ • DARKO RAPOTEZ COLLEGE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org/aboutus_programs.php • HORATIO ALGER SCHOLARSHIP https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/index.cfm • FOSTERING A FUTURE SCHOLARSHIP– children adopted from foster care http://www.childrensactionnetwork.org/scholarship.htm • NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION http://www.nfpainc.org/content/?page=YOUTHSCHOLARSHIP

28. STATE TUITION WAIVERS FOR FOSTER YOUTH

29. POST SECONDARY EDUCATION OPTIONS • Trade/Vocational School • 2 year Community College • 4 year College Transition Issues in Transferring to 4 year college: - Navigating new campus - Adjusting to new academic pace - Learning New Course Enrollment, College Policiesand Procedures - Finding resources/people student will trust in supporting transition to new campus

30. POST SECONDARY EDUCATION OPTIONS • Four Year College Transition Issues to 4 year college from high school: - Navigating new campus - Adjusting to new academic pace - Feelings of loneliness, isolation and shame - Learning to manage finances & time - Learning to trust campus foster youth support program personnel and campus liaisons - Learning it is okay to ask for help

31. COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR FOSTER YOUTH • Summer Bridge Programs Orientation to college designed to to improve the preparation and ease the transition into college in the fall. IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF FOSTER YOUTH SUCCESS IN COLLEGE • Campus Support Programs For Foster Youth: Comprehensive programs with dedicated staff that supports foster youth seeking higher education at a university, community college or vocational school. CA Cal Independent Scholars Network + 7 other UC campuses State Universities – 16 campuses Community Colleges - 20+ campuses Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) Board of Governor Fee Waiver Grant

32. COLLEGE SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR FOSTER YOUTH • Number of college support programs for foster youth increasing nationally: • Guardian Scholars (45+ in CA, NY,CO,GA,FL & IN) • Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College • Miami University Regionals • Middle Tennessee State University • Northern Arizona University • Ohio University • Sam Houston State University • Seattle University • University of Washington • Western Michigan University

33. COLLEGE SUPPORT SERVICES FOR FOSTER YOUTH • Programs vary at each college and each may offer different support services • SERVICES OFFERED • Academic Advising, Planning & Monitoring • Academic & Enrichment Workshops • Housing – year round, housing options • Financial Aid – full packages, advising • Supplemental financial aid - books and supplies, dorm room & off campus housing furnishings, food, emergency funds, computers and repair services • Mentorship & Career Counseling • Community Building Social Events • Referral for confidential personal matters

34. IMPORTANT CAMPUS CONTACTS • Determine if campus client is attending has a foster youth support program • If so, contact Program Director • If not, contact campus Educational Opportunity Program and/or Financial Aid Office to find out what services, if any, exist for foster youth • Connect client with campus support personnel

35. CONCLUSION • Encourage, encourage, encourage clients to seek higher education!!!! • Collaborate and share resources with clients, foster parents, guardians, CASAs, social workers, ILSP workers & client mentors • Connect clients with resources to help them reach their goal of graduating from college • You can make a difference!

36. CAL INDEPENDENT SCHOLARS NETWORKClass of 2011

37. Contact Information Michelle Lustig, MSW, Ed.D San Diego County Office of Education Foster Youth and Homeless Education Services Tel: (858) 503-2628 mlustig@sdcoe.nethttp://www.sdcoe.net/ssp/support/?loc=fys&m=9 Deborah Lowe Martinez, J.D. Cal Independent Scholars Network Tel:   (510) 642-6151   dlowemartinez@berkeley.eduhttp://trsp.berkeley.edu/cisn.htm Jenny Vinopal, MSW California Youth Connection Tel: (949) 784-9522