foster youth: supporting educational success. acknowledgements thank you to the following for their...
TRANSCRIPT
Foster Youth:Supporting Educational Success
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following for their contribution to this training…
John Burton FoundationCareer Ladders ProjectStuart FoundationWalter S. Johnson FoundationKizzy Lopez, CSU FresnoAna Homonnay PhotographyFoster Club
CA College Pathways Statewide initiative
Includes CCC, CSU, UCs and Private Campuses
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 www.cacollegepathways.org
A Glimpse at Child Welfare
Overview of Child Welfare Children 0-17 typically enter foster care due
to abuse and/or neglect in the home.
Approx. 50,000 children and youth are currently in foster care in California.
Although the goal is to move children out of the system into permanent homes, in 2011 approximately 4,000 foster youth in care turned 18 in California.
Closer to Home: County Specific Data
{Add information to this slide specific to the county in which the training is taking place if available.}
Where do Foster Youth Come From?
Factors associated with increased likelihood to enter foster care
Common experiences prior to entering foster care
PovertyAdolescent parenthoo
d
Drug and Alcohol abuse
Inadequate
health care
Exposure to
violence
Myths and FactsMyth: All youth in foster care are
juvenile delinquentsReality: Contrary to this common
misconception, the vast majority of children and youth in foster care were placed in foster care because they experienced abuse or neglect, not because of their own behavior
Experiences Foster Youth Face
Removal from home
Separation from siblings
Instability - multiple placements
Frequent changes in school
By age 24…Foster Youth
Comparison
Ever homeless 24% NA
Currently employed 48% 74%
Women ever pregnant
75% 40%
Median income $8,000 $18,300
Men convicted of crime
59% 10%
Women convicted of crime
28% 2%DESPITE THESE STATISTICS – MANY FOSTER YOUTH
DO ENROLL IN COLLEGE
Recent ChangesAB12 (2011) – Extended Foster CareYouth can now stay in foster care until 21Eligibility requirements can include
going to college or vocational school2.5 times greater likelihood of attending
college and 3 times more likely to obtain BA
Can live with foster parents, relatives or independent housing
AB194 (2012) – Priority Enrollment
Trauma and Brain Development
Importance of early
development
Quality of architecture
Changes in adolescence -
Prefrontal Cortex
The Gap
Limbic System
EmotionalityMood StateReward/Pleasure seekingProcessing social information
Prefrontal Cortex
Impulse controlSetting PrioritiesDecision makingSelf-control; self-regulationInitiating appropriate behavior
Trauma and Toxic Stress
Complex trauma
Ambiguous loss
Brain Development Disruption
Hypersensitivity to Stressors
Increase risk for psychopathology & physical illness
Summary of ImpactProblems with trust, autonomy,
initiativeDifficulty with independence,
intimacy, self-carePatterns of intense, unstable
relationships and interactionsInterference with cognitive
developmentDifficulty interpreting and
identifying emotional responses
Mental Health Warning Signs
Changes in academic performance
Inability to cope with daily problems/activities
Excessive worrying and anxiety
Withdrawal, loss of interest, anger
Drug/alcohol use
Early intervention is key to long term recovery
The Good News – Resiliency!Support protective factors
◦ Promote social capital◦ Set high expectations◦ Provide opportunities for meaningful
participationTrauma-informed interventions and
practices◦ Avoid re-traumatization
What is wrong with
you?
What has happened
to you?
Putting it into perspective
“Aging Out and the Brain”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVOX1dZ1J6s&feature=youtu.be
Foster Youth and College
About 83% of foster youth say they want to go to college
Approx. 15,000 enrolled in community colleges and 3-4,000 more in CSUs and UCs.
In California 43% enroll in college as compared to 59% of the general population
High rates of
disability
Poor school quality
Placement changes
disrupt their
education
Children and youth in foster care are four times more
likely to change
schools in a given school
year than other
students.
Nearly one in five youth in
foster care has a disability,
twice the rate of the general
population
15 percent of children and youth in foster care attend the lowest
performing 10 percent of schools in California, as compared to just 10 percent of the general population
Why do foster youth experience poor academic outcomes?
Together, these experiences result in serious academic delays
Gener
al p
opul
atio
n
Econ
omica
lly d
isadv
anta
ged
Fost
er y
outh
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
22%12%
4%
26%
23%
15%
28%
32%
30%
13%17%
27%
11% 15%23%
Far below basicBelow basicBasicProficientAdvanced
24%
35%
50%% of students who scored at each of five proficiency
levels at the California
Standards Test in English
Language Arts
Barriers to RetentionLack financial and emotional support from
a caring adultUncertain how to ask for helpStudy skills and other basic know-how not
well developedDifficulty navigating college system Most are first-generation, low-income
students Housing instability
Foster youth are three times more likely to persist in college if they participate in a campus support program for foster
youth
Percentage of community college enrollees who persisted at least one year
General population Comparison population Foster youth0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
62%
48%
41%
Overview of Campus Support Options
Comprehensive Foster Youth Campus Support Program
Light-touch support
Community College FYSI Liaisons
EOP/EOPS Programs
Disability Support Programs
Support on Your Campus{Describe support on your
campus}
{how to refer}
{provide contact information}
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-IFJew3Hys&feature=youtu.be
How You Can Help
Campus Success FactorsDirected Students have a goal and know
how to achieve it
Focused Students stay on track – keeping their eyes on the prize
Nurtured Students feel somebody wants them to succeed and helps them succeed
Student Support (Re)Defined: Using student voices to redefine support, RP Group, January, 2013.
Campus Success Factors
Engaged Students actively participate in class and are involved in extracurricular activities
Connected
Students feel they are part of the college community
Valued Students’ skills, talents, abilities and experience are recognized. The can contribute and are appreciated.
Student Support (Re)Defined: Using student voices to redefine support, RP Group, January, 2013.
How Faculty Can Support Foster Youth
Identify who the foster youth are in your classes
Provide career exploration, discipline specific advising and mentoring to foster youth
Connect students with the foster youth campus support program or FYSI liaison ◦ Include information on syllabus◦ Post flyers in classroom
Let foster youth campus support program know you are willing to be a resource
How Faculty Can Support Foster Youth (cont.)
Provide regular feedback on these students’ performance and progress
Offer direct and tangible academic support – ensure foster youth understand course material
Communicate and demonstrate to foster youth that you care about their success
Respect foster youths’ privacy
Counselors and Support Staff
Connect foster youth to support programs and academic assistance
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of mental distress and refer to resources
Communicate and demonstrate to foster youth that you care about their success
Ensure that all eligible foster youth receive priority registration
Assist students to obtain needed documentation of foster youth status
Counselors and Support Staff (cont.)
Make sure foster youth are accessing all available financial aid
Prioritize access to student success services and academic supports for foster youth
Create mechanisms for accountability to incentivize student performance
Identify a point person in each department (financial aid, admissions, disabled students services, etc.) for foster youth.
Believe in Foster Youth
Danger of the self-fulfilling prophecySet high expectations – regardless of past
performanceConsistently express expectation that the
youth will graduate from college and go on to a successful career
Use such phrases as, “When you transfer to a four year university….”
“No one rises to low expectations” – Les Brown
