Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Erin Russ The American Youth Policy Forum

“People think being in foster care is cut and dry, but that’s not really true. People watch these movies and think that being in foster care means one thing, and only one thing, but it can mean a lot of different things to different people. ” – Sherika, Youth Villages

Goals of this Session Understand and discuss the unique challenges faced by youth in foster care in postsecondary education. Identify opportunities to address these challenges through state, local, and institutional policies and programs. Connect with others in the field to share information and resources.

Introduction and Overview

About AYPF Research Practice Policy

Overview Over 26,000 youth turn18 and “age out” of foster care each year. Unique challenges: Less than 10% complete four year college education. 1 40% experience homelessness or “couch surfing”. 2 More vulnerable to financial fraud. Ongoing emotional turmoil Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act gave states added flexibility to address transitional youth. 1. Wolanin, Thomas.“HigherEducationOpportunitiesforFosterYouth:APrimerforPolicymakers.”The Institute for HigherEducationPolicy, ‐ r/OpportunitiesFosterYouth.pdf. 2. Courtney, Mark and Dworsky, Amy.“Assessing the Impact of Extending Care beyond Age18 on Homelessness: Emerging Findings from the Midwest Study”, Chicago: Chapin Hall,2010

Information Collection How are states implementing policies that support youth in transition from foster care? AYPF gathered information from: Outside reports Conversations with state- and local-level service providers Interviews with policymakers and researchers Site visits Discussions with youth Data synthesis Feedback from other events such as webinars and discussion groups

Policy Landscape

Federal Policy Several federal policies available to states: Title IV-E of the Social Security Act Chafee Foster Care Independence Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) McKinney-Vento 2008 Foster Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act Also known as the Fostering Connections Act. States can provide Title IV-E payments to youth up to age 19, 20, or 21. Title IV-E of the Social Security Act authorized Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs to provide federal matching funds to states for directly administering these programs. Youth must meet certain education, training, or work requirements to qualify for extended Title IV-E funds.

Fostering Connections: Requirements for Federal Extension (Title IV-E) up to Age Completing secondary education or a program leading to an equivalent credential. 2. Enrolled in an institution which provides post-secondary or vocational education. 3. Participating in a program or activity designed to promote, or remove barriers to, employment. 4. Employed for at least 80 hours per month. 5. Incapable of doing any of the afore mentioned due to a medical condition.

Image excerpted from AYPF’s Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care

Challenges and Opportunities

In Your Words… What challenges do youth who “age out” of foster care face in general? And when trying to access postsecondary opportunities like 2-year/4-year education, jobs, etc.?

Challenges, Needs, and Opportunities Three categories of need emerged: 1. Sustainable Social Capital 2. Permanency Supports 3. Postsecondary Opportunities AYPF documented policies and programs across states to meets these needs. Image excerpted from AYPF’s Creating Access to Opportunities for Youth in Transition from Foster Care

Sustainable Social Capital The skills, resources, and community needed to independently overcome barriers and navigate adulthood. Strategies and Examples: Youth Villages Transitional Living Mentors Southern California Foster Family & Adoption Agency Co- Mentoring

Permanency Supports Without basic needs like housing, transportation, healthcare, and financial support, it becomes difficult to pursue long-term education and employment goals. Strategies and Examples: Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative “Opportunity Passport” California Transitional Housing National Center for Housing and Child Welfare

Postsecondary Opportunities Youth from foster care have difficulty accessing, persisting, and completing postsecondary education, especially four- year college. Financial aid remains an obstacle – availability and strategic use. Strategies and Examples: MPowering My Success, University of Michigan-Flint Guardian Scholars, multi-state State tuition supplements/vouchers Foster Care to Success planning and counseling services

Recommendations

Recommendation Highlights In order to address these challenges, AYPF made the following recommendations: Highlight a range of postsecondary options Coordinate systems and services Develop professional capacity Engage youth in decision-making Change the Conversation: Transitioning to Opportunities

Increasing Postsecondary Access and Success Individual Connections Programmatic and Institutional Resources Policy Supports

Individual: -Michigan Education Planners -Youth Villages IL Specialists Policy: -State tuition waivers (Tennessee, Oregon) -Use of Chafee funds Program/Institution: -Next Step (MTSU) -MPowering My Success (U. M. – Flint) Increasing Postsecondary Access and Success for Youth in Foster Care

Think, Pair, Share In your professional capacity, what challenges exist for youth in foster care trying to go to and complete college? How are you addressing those challenges? Pair up with someone near you and discuss.

Closing Thoughts and Questions?

Contact Information Erin Russ Program