EMBARK: IMPROVING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR FOSTER AND HOMELESS YOUTH IN GEORGIA. Lori Tiller March 21, 2015

Transcription

1 EMBARK: IMPROVING COLLEGE ACCESS FOR FOSTER AND HOMELESS YOUTH IN GEORGIA Lori Tiller March 21, 2015

2 What is Embark? Local: Campus Based Program at UGA - Embark UGA Embark UGA will increase the opportunities for UGA students who have experienced foster care or homelessness by providing referrals and linkages to supports that promote success and well-being beyond an education. Statewide: Embark Georgia Network The Embark Georgia statewide network serves post-secondary professionals and institutions to ensure connectivity, share best practices, and provide information exchange among youth, community based stakeholders, and K-12 educators in support of youth who have experienced foster care and homelessness. National: Initiative by Casey Family Programs and Stuart Foundation

3 Funding Sources to Date College Access Challenge Grant 3 years of funding; 1 year planning grant, 2 years implementation funds Casey Family Programs Funds to travel to Texas REACH Conference Fanning (3) and DFCS (2) participants Funds for facilitated strategic planning session in Savannah in May 2014 Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta Small sponsorship for PR materials

4 Definition of foster youth Foster care means 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions, and preadoptive homes.

5 Definition of Homeless/Unaccompanied youth Individuals whose nighttime residence is NOT: Fixed: stationary, permanent, and not subject to change Regular: used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis Adequate: sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in the home (42 U.S.C A(2)(B)(i)) Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (UHY): Homeless and not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian; in practical terms, this means the youth does not live with the parent or guardian.

6 Georgia by the Numbers 10, ,138 2,066 1,696 ~200 Children in foster care right now Number of homeless children in FY14 (according to GADoE) High school age children in foster care (according to AFCARS) High school seniors who are homeless (according to GADoE) Former foster youth currently receiving ETV funds in GA (only 1 currently enrolled at UGA)

7 Statewide Comparisons Student Population Crisp Fulton Clarke DFCS Region 5 State Total Children in Foster Care on March 31, 2014 Youth in Foster Care on March 31, , ,991 Total Homeless Youth (FY14) ,138 Homeless Youth Grades 9-12 (FY14) ,491

8 By age 24 Foster Comparison Youth 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 Mark Courtney, et al, Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 23 and 24, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Comparison group for this study: National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent Health

9 Educational Attainment Foster Youth (n=593) Comparison (n=890) Enrolled in College % % 2/4 Year Degree Attained % % Mark Courtney, et al, Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 23 and 24, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, Comparison group for this study: National Longitudinal Study Of Adolescent Health

10 Barriers to Accessing Higher Education Lack of: Access to parental financial information and support Financial means to live independently and safely Financial self-sufficiency once enrolled in college Housing options, especially in small towns or rural areas Balance between school and other responsibilities Adult guidance and support Information about available support systems Presentation by Cyekeia Lee, NAEHCY post-secondary coordinator

11 Barriers to Retention Uncertain how to ask for help Study skills and other basic know-how not well developed Difficulty navigating college system Most are first-generation, low-income students Housing instability California College Pathways: Higher Education training Foster Youth: Supporting Educational Success Foster youth are three times more likely to persist in college if they participate in a campus support program for foster youth

12 Casey Family Programs - Supporting Success NAEHCY - College Access and Success Program Development Highlights: Designated Leader (DL)/Special Points of Contact (SPOC) Internal and External Champions Collaborations with Community Agencies Data Driven Decision Making Staff Peer Support and Professional Development Sustainability Planning Direct Support Highlights Housing Financial Aid Academic Advising, Career Counseling and Supplemental Support

13 National Movement to Increase Supports: Promising Practices in Other States Campus Based Programs Based on Casey Family Programs: Supporting Success Financial Support Academic Support Social/Emotional Support Designated Points of Contact on Campuses Statewide Networks of Support Promote connectivity and sharing of ideas among Technical and University campuses Regional meetings and Statewide conferences Web based communication and social networking Technical assistance for program development and enhancement

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15 Existing Campus Programming in GA Institutions with existing programs of support or interest in developing programs: Kennesaw State University: CARE (Homeless Specific) Savannah State University: STAR Albany State University: F2C Bainbridge College Albany Technical College Southeastern Technical College (Swainsboro campus) Georgia Institute of Technology The University of Georgia: Embark Others??

16 Embark Georgia: Statewide Network The Embark Georgia statewide network serves post-secondary professionals and institutions to ensure connectivity, share best practices, and provide information exchange among youth, community based stakeholders, and K- 12 educators in support of former foster and homeless youth.

17 Embark Georgia Partners Casey Family Programs National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) Community Based Organizations: Multi Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative (GYOI) Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODB) University System of Georgia (USG): College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS): Independent Living Program Department of Education (DOE): Homeless Education Program

18 Embark 18 month plan snapshot Student Pipeline Data Resource Connections Training and Awareness Goals Student Identification Identify existing data sources Information Clearinghouse Technical Assistance Objectives 1. Designated Points of Contact (DPOC) 2. How to verify status of Foster/Homeless 3. Common Application 1. ETV data 2. FAFSA 3. Homeless Seniors 4. DPOC information 1. Students 2. DPOC/Higher Education professionals 3. Providers 4. Community 1. DPOC 2. ILS/CASA/etc. 3. Presentations throughout USG/TCSG and other national/statewide groups as requested Activities 1. If not a common application, identify common information on all applications 2. Connect students to DPOC 3. How to guide on status verification 1. Schedule meetings with appropriate offices to establish baseline data from ETV/FC/ Homeless 2. How to gain FERPA access 3. DPOC reporting monthly on technical assistance requested 4. FAFSA data by school 1. Map of the state with all USG/TCSG DPOC s listed 2. Toolkit for students, community, providers and DPOC s 3. Promotional materials for campuses 1. Template for a DPOC/campus based train the trainer 2. DPOC training and regional meetings 3. College Connections Conference strand Outcomes 1. By Fall 2015: 83.5% of current students will connect to their DPOC 2. By Spring 2016: a self identification tool will be placed on Embark website to connect students to resources 1. By Fall 2015: all existing data sets will be reported 2. Report of year one DPOC data 3. Creation of a common FAFSA query 1. By Fall 2015: centralization of currently available statewide resources 2. By Spring 2015: Website hosting map and toolkit 1. By Fall 2014: all DPOC s will have attended one training 2. By Spring 2015: all DPOC s will attend a regional meeting 3. By Fall 2015: all relevant statewide groups will be aware of Embark DPOC s in their area

19 Embark UGA Partners Undergraduate Admissions Office of Student Financial Aid School of Social Work Health Center/Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) Student Affairs (DPOC Alan Campbell) Office of Institutional Diversity Family and Consumer Sciences University Housing Advising/Franklin College Office of Vice President for Research Vice President for Public Service and Outreach Office Vice President for Instruction Office of Student Financial Aid Division of Academic Enhancement Others

20 This Work Has Led to Other Work: Near Peer Together Georgia Professional Development Series GYOI Self Evaluation Home in 5 (Region 5) DFCS ILP ETV Proposal

21 What s Next? Website with interactive map Promotional materials for other campuses Continued Training and Technical Assistance Evaluation Increasing number of campus support programs

22 Contact Information J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development University of Georgia 1240 S. Lumpkin Street Athens, GA Lori Tiller Public Service Faculty (706) Office lrl@fanning.uga.edu Embark UGA will increase the opportunities for UGA students who have experienced foster care or homelessness by providing supports that promote success and well-being beyond an education. Financial support has been provided through USG/CACG, Casey Family Programs and Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Sources: Georgia College Access Toolkit (Fanning website) NAEHCY Toolkit Supporting Success Fostering Success in Education: National Factsheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care