1. Maddy Day and Debbie Raucher
A Collective Impact for Increasing College Access and Success for Students from Foster Care
Maddy Day and Debbie Raucher

2. Child Welfare and Higher Education

3. Child Welfare and Higher Education
79% female alumnae of foster care reported EVER being pregnant by the age of 26 and 32% reported having been pregnant BEFORE age 18.*
42% of female and 74% of males were incarcerated for some time by age 26. Compared to 6% of females and 23% of males in the general population.*
51% reported being unemployed.**
25-36% report having been or currently being homeless.**
26-30% report receiving public assistance.**
*Courtney, M., Dworsky, A., Brown, A., Cary, C., Love, K., & Vorhies, V. (2011). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 26. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
**Facts About Foster Care.

4. Child Welfare and Higher Education

5. Child Welfare and Higher Education
The child welfare system is focused on heath, safety and permanence. NOT on education.
Children in foster care have frequent moves, which lead to high education mobility. This leads to:
Falling academically behind
Loss of credits
Delayed graduation
Untested for learning disabilities
Residual effects of trauma and experiencing time in foster care
Unseen population
No uniform way to identify students in foster care
Our traditional postsecondary system is not set up to meet the needs of students from foster care.
Often lack supportive adults to help them navigate college access

6. Child Welfare and Higher Education

7. Child Welfare and Higher Education

8. 5 Conditions of Collective Impact
Common Agenda
Backbone Support
Mutually Reinforcing Activities
Shared Measurement
Continuous Communication

9. FSM Collective Impact Framework

10. Fostering Success Michigan
Maddy Day, LLMSW
Center for Fostering Success, Western Michigan University

11. The Development of the Michigan Movement
History
2008: Movement began with the Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program
2011: WMU received a grant from The Kresge Foundation to launch a statewide initiative
2012: Michigan Department of Health and Human Services awards 7 grants to establish Life Skills Coach Programs on postsecondary campuses
Has since awarded 10 grants to postsecondary campuses
2013: Michigan Fostering Futures Scholarship established, a state-funded scholarship with no upper age limit
2015: FSM partners with Michigan Student Aid to identify Foster Care Financial Aid Champions
2016: FSM receives continued funding grant from The Kresge Foundation
Today
16 campus support programs serving 17 postsecondary institutions
10 programs funded through MDHHS grants, 3 supported by MDHHS staff
65+ Financial Aid Champions identified
7 FSM Designated campus champions

12. Fostering Success Michigan
The backbone organization supporting Michigan’s collective impact to increase access and success in postsecondary education and professional careers for students from foster care ages in Michigan
A statewide partner in Michigan’s college access network to increase postsecondary credential attainment to 60% by 2020
A hub for Michigan’s network of experts known as the FSM Network

13. Backbone Organization
Resourcing
Activities that provide partners with information that lead to greater knowledge or awareness about the culture of foster care and the supports available to students who have experienced foster care.
Purpose: to build the knowledge capacity of FSM partners
Supporting
Activities that provide partners with technical assistance and training that lead to increased skills on how best to work with both youth who have experienced foster care and other professionals.
Purpose: to build the skill capacity of FSM partners
Networking
Activities that provide spaces where partners can relate, receive information and increase their social capital through meaningful connections.
Purpose: to build the social capacity of FSM partners
Figure 2: Defining Resourcing, Supporting, and Networking

14. Creating a Network
Large-scale social change can only be achieved through the alignment of a diverse group of participants who are connected to each other and share their expertise and experience. Fostering Success Michigan has defined this group as the FSM Network. The FSM Network is made up of students with experience in foster care and the professionals and supportive adults who serve them. Each participant plays a vital role in insulating the education to career pipeline for students with experience in foster care. Fostering Success Michigan utilizes the 7 Life Domains Framework* to align the activities and resources of the participants in the FSM Network. This alignment allows participants to do what they do best.

15. Creating a Network
Postsecondary Education Institutions’ staff and campus champions
Youth and Alumni of Foster Care
Middle and High School Educators and Staff
Community Organizations and Other Service Providers
Caregivers and Mentors
The Department of Human Services
Local College Access Networks,
The Department of Education
Courts, Law Enforcement and Juvenile Justice System
Career and Work Forces Services
Housing champions

16. Creating a Network

17. Creating a Network Resourcing: Supporting: Networking:
Create awareness of the issue of students with experience in foster care
Provide knowledge on resources and support
Supporting:
Utilize best practices in college readiness and persistence
Increase institutional capacity to support students with experience in foster care
Networking:
Facilitate opportunities to bring diverse groups of participants together
Invite new participants into the work to expand resources and support

18. Michigan Campus Based Support

19. Michigan Child Welfare Support
16 DHHS Education Planners covering 50 counties to help support the education progress of students in foster care aged 14-21
Designated Foster Care Transitional Medicaid Specialist
32 Michigan Youth Opportunities Initiative site covering 64 counties
10 Life Skills Coach grants supporting campus support programs at higher education institutions

20. Michigan Campus Based Support

21. Check Out More Resources Here

22. California College Pathways
Debbie Raucher, John Burton Advocates for Youth

23. California College Pathways
Statewide initiative managed by the John Burton Advocates for Youth
Includes community colleges and 4-year universities
Goal is to increase college access, retention & graduation for foster youth
Provides Technical Assistance, Training, Advocacy and Support for Foster Youth Campus Support Programs
More information at

24. The Development of the California Movement
History
Movement began with a single college-based program in 1998
Initial financial support from Stuart Foundation
Cal State University systems office funded to manage initiative in – expanded number of programs within university system
Project management transitioned to JBAY in 2012
Connected with Community College Foster Youth Success Initiative
Today
Over 70 colleges and universities with programs across the state
Permanent source of state funding for 26 community college programs
Funders alliance includes 12 philanthropic partners

25. Success Factors
Engagement with multiple systems – three post- secondary systems, K-12, child welfare, CBOs, legal advocates, philanthropy, public officials (advisory committee)
Ability to serve as “translator” between child welfare and post-secondary worlds
Development of champions at various levels
Use of data to make case
Combination of direct on-campus work and policy advocacy

26. Data and Research Key is creating a foster youth identifier
College application
FAFSA question #53
Chafee ETV
When this can be linked to existing data systems a gold mine of information is available

27. Policy Advocacy Find your foster youth advocates in state legislature
Link with child welfare advocates in your state
Foster care is an issue that crosses party lines
Start with low-cost items
Priority registration
Priority access to on-campus housing and housing that is open during breaks
Exceptions to rules related to loss of benefits (fee waivers, etc.)
Deferral of enrollment and housing deposits until financial aid is available
Designation of point of contact in financial aid or other department at all state-funded institutions
Flagging foster youth in college data systems

28. Bigger Ticket Items Tuition waivers
State funding for campus-based support programs
Expansion of State Chafee ETV funds
Subsidized summer housing
Extended Foster Care

29. Creating a “Buzz” Present at conferences
Deliver webinars (see conferences/webinars/ for ideas)
Advocating for policy changes (even if not successful)
Create online resources about your effort (see
Publish a newsletter
Develop publications
Campus Support Program Leadership Guide
No Time to Lose: A Policy Agenda to Support College Success for Foster Youth 
Charting the Course: Using Data to Support Foster Youth College Success

30. For More Information www.cacollegepathways.org Debbie Raucher
John Burton Advocates for Youth
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31. Michigan and California are part of a MOVEMENT!WA NH ME MT ND VT MN OR ID NY \ WI MA SD WY MI RI IA PA CT NE OH NJ NV UT IL IN DE WV MD CA CO KS MO VA KY NC DC TN OK AR SC AZ NM GA MS AL AK TX LA HI FL
Top 10 states for youth in FC
CA, TX, MI, FL, OH,
IL, IN, NY, PA, AZ
CA, TX, OH, WA, MI, GA, AL = 34% of all FCY in USA
Sincerely, Becca Seul
State Higher Education/Child Welfare Collaborations (10)
Potential for systems collaboration (6)
State Tuition Waiver Legislation (23)
Passport to College Promise (WA)
Nothing Known (14-including DC)
Some college based support program(s) (11)
Statewide Gear Up Program (1)
Last updated: 12/2014

32. State Higher Education and Child Welfare Coordinating Organizations
California – California College Pathways
Florida – Florida Reach
Georgia – Georgia Embark
Kansas - Kansas Gear Up
Michigan – Fostering Success Michigan
North Carolina – North Carolina Reach
Ohio – Ohio Reach
Oklahoma – R is for Thursday
Texas – Education Reach for Texans
Virginia – Great Expectations
Washington –Passport to College Promise Scholarship

33. Questions? Maddy Day Debbie Raucher Maddy.Day@wmich.edu
FosteringSuccessMichigan.com
Debbie Raucher
CACollegePathways.org