1. Raising Awareness @ CSU
Foster Youth
Raising CSU S

2. Who are current & former foster youth?
Children and youth who have been removed from their birth parents or other custodial adults by state authority because of abuse or neglect. S

3. Who are current & former foster youth?
500, 000+/- on any given day are in state foster care
59% are children of color
39% in care less than one year
28% in care for three years or more
46% live with foster licensed parents
20,000+ age out (emancipate) from foster care annually. R

4. Education status of foster youth
High School Graduation =< 46%
Receive special education services =30%
7 or more school changes =65%
College enrollment rate=10% (70% want to attend)
4 year degree completion rate=2% R

5. Common Educational Barriers
K-12 Experience
Academic/learning gaps
Emotional/mental health issues
Multiple schools
Records transfer and confidentiality issues
Few engaged in college prep courses
Long term effects of abuse and neglect – trust issues.
Lack of educational and career advocacy
Individual Educational Program (IEP)
Low high school graduation rates R

6. Common Educational Barriers
Academic Support & Challenges
Inadequate college aspirations and preparations
Long term impacts of abuse & neglect
Career
Educational
Lack of Support
Lack of role models, college advocates, mentors/coaches
On their own at a young age
Survival mode dominates
Lack knowledge of college
“I just needed to hear somebody tell me I could do it. I had never heard that before.” B R

7. Challenges as a college student
Finances
Responsible for all personal costs
Food
Shelter
Health costs
Medical Care
Insurance
Cell phone B

8. Challenges as a college student
Housing
40%-50% of emancipated foster youth are homeless within 18months of emancipation.
Few college programs are aware of their support needs
Seattle University
California Community Colleges
San Jose State University
Texas Community Colleges
“I think that for me feeling secure about where I’m going to live is always in the back of my head… I don’t know if I’ll have a roof over my head. And that is very scary to think about.”
“ I was afraid I wouldn’t have a place to stay and I wouldn’t be able to do as good in college as I did in high school.” S

9. Supporting foster youth @ CSU
Encourage students:
serve as a mentor
Set aside extra time to help students:
select a major, select classes, & develop an educational plan
Have a strong referral network for:
housing, mental health, food, health care, employment & other barriers students will encounter
Refer students to CSU’s Academic Advancement Center A

10. Academic Advancement Center
TRiO Student Support Services program serving students from the following backgrounds:
low-income
first-generation college students
students with disabilities
foster youth
Program purpose
help students be successful in college
retain students in college until they earn their baccalaureate degrees A

11. Academic Advancement Center
Services
Academic guidance
Tutoring
Mentoring
Study and life skills workshops
Intensive help for students on academic probation
Graduate school information
Academic major and career planning
Social and cultural events A

12. Academic Advancement Center
TRiO Student Support Services
117 Gibbons Building
(East side of the Oval)
Fort Collins, CO 80523

13. Financial & Social Resources
Educational Training Voucher
Provides funding for
Books
Food
Housing
Childcare B

14. Financial & Social Resources
Foster Club
Internships
Networking and support B

15. Financial & Social Resources
Foster Care Alumni of America
Colorado chapter
Community focus
Advocates for political change B

16. Financial & Social Resources
Orphan Foundation of America
Scholarships
Mentoring
Internships B

17. Resources for Faculty & Staff
Ball State University
Overview of Post-Secondary Support Programs for Former Foster Care Youth
Chapin Hall
An independent policy research center
Dedicated to children & families S

18. Resources for Faculty & Staff
Casey Family Program:
Supporting Success: Improving higher education outcomes for students from foster care A framework for program enhancement
overview of foster youth in higher education
program development tools
core elements for support programs
program models & examples
resources
Request this free Casey S

19. Thank You
An overview of post-secondary support programs for former foster youth (2007). Ball State University, Muncie, IN A road map for learning: Improving educational Outcomes in foster Care (2007). Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA Community Colleges Step up to Support Foster Care Students (2008). Community College Journal Helping Former Foster Youth Graduate from College, Campus Support Programs in California and Washington State (2009) Chapin Hall, University of Chicago, IL Helping Foster Children Feel at Home in College, (2005), Chronicle of Higher Education Supporting Success: Improving Higher Education outcomes for Students from Foster Care-A Framework for Program Enhancement (2008). Casey Family Programs, Seattle, WA

20. Help today in our community!

21. Contact Information
Andrea Fortney
Career/Retention Specialist
Academic Advancement Center
Brittany Janes
Graduate Student in Student Affairs in Higher Education
Colorado State University
Ruben Guerrero
Foster Care Recruitment Coordinator
Larimer County
Siri Newman
Collegiate Success Coordinator
CASA