SUPPORTING POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS OF STUDENTS FROM FOSTER CARE

2014 IASFAA ConferenceTuesday October 7, 2014Anna Moreshead

Welcome

Anna Moreshead, LMSWImpact Scholars CoordinatorBoise 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 15-21), 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 13th

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 Program @ Boise State• Guardian Scholars @ Idaho State• CWI, NIC, LCSC, U of I all working on it.• Many other states have programs, more are on their way.

• Independent Living Programs – IDHW• Identify the IL Coordinator in your CW Region

• Casey Family Program’s Providing Effective Financial Aid Assistance to Students from Foster Care and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Ending Cycles of Poverty

Questions?

Thank you!

Anna MoresheadImpact Scholars Coordinator, Boise State Universityannamoreshead@boisestate.edu(208) 426-1527 / (801) 647-5842