hemi getting them to college

Presented By:

Monica Benton, Hamilton County Job and Family Services Ongoing Caseworker & Educational Liaison

Annie Dick, HEMI Program Coordinator Sarah Mangan, Hamilton County Job and Family Services

Ongoing Caseworker & Educational Liaison

Our Mission

The Higher Education Mentoring Initiative (HEMI) provides Hamilton County youth a long term academic mentoring relationship that begins in high school and is focused on awareness of, and preparation for post-secondary education and training.

The Partnership

The Need

According to a 2004 Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care report:

• 25 percent are incarcerated within the first two years of emancipation

• 20 percent become homeless• 58 percent complete high school; compared

to 87 percent of the general population• 3 percent earn college degrees; compared to

28 percent of the general population

Barriers to Education

Lack of Family SupportStruggles to Achieve basic survivalAwareness Lack of Preparation

Who?

Mentors are volunteers and serve as educational consultants Recruitment Selection Process

Mentees are high school students under the care of Hamilton County

Matching Process

The Focus

Exploring post-secondary education options

ACT/SAT preparation (p. 55*)College toursCollege applications (p.73*)FAFSA (p.93*)Scholarship opportunities (p. 105*)TutoringSupport*For further information, please reference: “It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training: A resource

for child welfare professionals,” Casey Family Programs, 2006, pages 55-116.

Relationships

Kids in School RuleCincinnati StateGreat OaksUniversity of Cincinnati

Participants

41 Students:3 sophomores (7%)18 juniors (45%)13 seniors (33%)7 college freshman

(18%)Ages 15-20

41 Mentors:31 women10 menAges 25-7257% Masters Degree30% Bachelors

Degree

Successes

GraduatesService LearningMaintaining VolunteersRelationships within EducationRelationships with CaseworkersRelationships with Youth

What is to Come?

Transitioning into higher edAssimilating into campus lifeEmancipation/ IndependenceOhio REACH liaisons

What we Need

SupportAwarenessIdentifiable contacts at all schools

Questions? Comments?

Contact Us:Monica Benton

(513) 946-1520 bentom@jfs.hamilton-co.orgAnnie Dick

(513) 556-4368 annie.dick@uc.eduSarah Mangan

(513) 946-1955 mangas01@jfs.hamilton-co.org