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1 1 (August 12, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/govcdzz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 01; F ie sea.rch & August 12, 2016 Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education Research indicates that current and former foster youth (hereinafter, foster youth) face barriers in enrolling and completing post-secondary education. Along with specific federal programs, states are increasingly playing a role in providing support to foster youth attending institutions of higher education. Education-focused programs targeted to foster youth have generally not been rigorously evaluated to determine if they help this population in college. Casey Family Programs, a foundation that supports child welfare program research and development, has proposed a framework that addresses both how to create and sustain a program of post-secondary educational support for foster youth and what the program should include. The framework envisions educational support programs that give foster youth access to a caring and trusted program staff person who has primary responsibility for helping the youth navigate higher education. Table 1 shows key features of program development and student support. Table I. Casey Framework for Postsecondary Educational Programs Targeted to Foster Youth * Designated leadership * Internal and external champions . Collaboration with social service and other organizations * Data-driven decisionmaking Program * Staff peer support and professional Development development e Sustainability planning * Year-round housing and other basic needs * Financial aid * Academic advising, career counseling, and supplemental support * Personal guidance, counseling, and supplemental support Direct Studet e Opportunities for student community Services engagement and leadership e Planned transitions to college, between colleges, and from college to employment Source: Casey Family Programs, 2010. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) review of state supports for foster youth attending institutions of higher education found that some states do offer the kinds of direct student services described in the Casey framework, although they may not always be available on a statewide basis. In conducting its review, CRS looked at statutes for all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (states); websites for state educational and human resources agencies; and an online database for higher education resources maintained by Western Michigan University's Center for Fostering Success. (The review did not include assistance for high school students preparing to attend college.) CRS found that state higher education resources for foster youth generally fall into four categories: (1) student support services once they are on campus; (2) scholarships and grants; (3) tuition waivers; and (4) assistance for housing. Some of these supports are available at public colleges and universities statewide and others are available at specific campuses. A state or campus may have a comprehensive program that provides multiple resources such as tuition assistance and social supports. The CRS review likely does not capture all of the possible state-funded higher education resources available to foster youth, and is not exhaustive of all the possible information on each identified educational resource. It also does not identify how some private universities and organizations, such as philanthropic groups, support foster youth in attending college. Nonetheless, a small number of private colleges were captured in the search. In addition, the review found that some state or public university resources are funded in whole or part by private dollars. skudvn ~&Si.sort' As described in Table 1, postsecondary educational programs for foster youth include people and services that can help them succeed as students. University leaders, mentors, academic advisors, tutors, and peer advocates are the individuals often involved in these programs. Student support services can include helping foster youth find housing, connect to services on campus, and advocate for their own needs, in addition to providing community building activities and care packages. The CRS review identified over 80 such support programs at colleges and universities in approximately 20 states. For example, the Horns Helping Horns program at the University of Texas at Austin seeks to foster academic success and a sense of community for foster youth. The program provides a faculty or staff mentor and a small peer group that offer guidance to help students navigate campus life. A small number of programs (e.g., California College Pathways, Florida Reach, Washington State Passport to College Promise Scholarship Program) support institutions of higher education (and sometimes other entities) in assisting foster youth. The Passport to College program is state funded and provides scholarships for students who were in foster care. It also gives incentive funding for state college campuses to provide recruitment and retention services for these students, and has a partnership with the College Success Foundation to provide both student services to foster youth and training for campus staff. K~:> gognpq 'popmm- , goo g , q 'S a X 11L1\L\N,\1kJ\W, .ov 0010, \\0

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