SUPPORTING POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS OF STUDENTS FROM FOSTER CARE 2014 IASFAA Conference Tuesday October 7, 2014 Anna Moreshead

Welcome Anna Moreshead, LMSW Impact Scholars Coordinator Boise State University

Agenda Introductions Foster Care Overview Understanding Students from Foster Care Financial Aid and Foster Youth Additional Resources Questions

Introductions Mental Health  Grad School  Program Development  Build a Program/Job

Foster Care Overview Over 426,000 children and youth in foster care 29,500 youth emancipate/age out of foster care every year 80% want to go to college, only 7-13% will enroll, less than 3% will graduate with a degree

Foster Care Overview In Idaho, annually there are over 600 youth IL eligible (ages ), and 200 will age out Of these, less than 50 are accessing post-secondary education

Foster Care Overview Reasons for entering into foster care Type of placements Role of trauma

Foster Care Overview Chaffee Act – 1999 Establishes federal funding for Independent Living Programs Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Fostering Connections Act – 2008 Option for states to extend foster care to age 21 Broadens access to ETVs College Cost Reduction Act – 2008 “independent student” includes orphan, in foster care, or ward of the court at any time after 13 th birthday Reauthorized Higher Education Opportunity Act – 2008 Eligible for federally funded programs (TRIO) Allows use of Student Support funds for securing temporary housing for homeless or aging out students

Understanding Students from Foster Care Additional challenges students from foster care may face when entering college: Lack of stable housing Lack of supportive adults Lack of reliable transportation Lack of financial readiness/support No family or home to return to during school breaks and holidays Stigma, fear of asking for help Trauma history

Understanding Students from Foster Care Additional strengths students from foster care may possess when entering college: Motivation Independence Case manager/social worker support Involvement with advocacy groups, finding their voice

Financial Aid and Foster Youth Determining “Independent” student status Most students need guidance, need to trace back to DHW IL caseworker Understanding the ETV Understanding other grants/scholarships Most likely… knowledge is limited, support is limited. No one else is talking to these students about paying for school.

Additional Resources Campus support programs! Impact Scholars Boise State Impact Scholars Program Guardian Idaho State CWI, NIC, LCSC, U of I all working on it. Many other states have programs, more are on their way. Many other states Independent Living Programs – IDHW Identify the IL Coordinator in your CW RegionIL Coordinator Casey Family Program’s Providing Effective Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless YouthProviding Effective Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Ending Cycles of Poverty

Questions?

Thank you! Anna Moreshead Impact Scholars Coordinator, Boise State University (208) / (801)