EMBARK: COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS/FOSTER YOUTH David Meyers Lori Tiller November 3, 2013
Goals for today: Understand specific challenges that homeless/foster youth face in accessing and persisting in college Understanding of the national response What is Georgia EMBARK? Discussion
What is Social Capital?
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. 11434A(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.
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.
Federal grant programs DOE Services for At Risk Youth Populations Homeless Education Program (McKinney- Vento) Neglected and Delinquent Program Title 1 and Other Title Programs There is no specific federal grant program to support youth in foster care
Numbers for the state of Georgia Foster Youth in Georgia: 8,500+ children in foster care 2,229 youth between 13 and 17 (28% of total population) 75% of foster care students function below grade level. 15% of foster care students graduate with a high school diploma. Homeless Children In Georgia: FY11 grade 12 homeless youth = 1,603 (Unaccompanied Homeless Youth included in that total = 395 or 25 percent) Number of homeless and unaccompanied youth that graduated in FY11 = 1,046 (65 percent)
Foster Youth and Homeless/Unaccompanied statistics Foster Youth On average, youth in GA's foster care move 7-10 times. An average of 4-6 months of educational progress lost with every change of schools. 70% who attend college go to a technical or community college. 3-6% of foster care students earn a bachelor s degree (not a national figure). Homeless/Unaccompanied Youth In one year, 42% transferred schools at least once. Of these, 51% transferred twice or more, and 28% will attend three plus schools in one year. With each change in schools, it is estimated that a student is set back academically by an average of four to six months.
Strategies to prepare homeless/foster youth for transitioning to college Creation of a network of post-secondary institutions who communicate the specific needs of this population Creating on campus programming Increased opportunities for exposure to college environments such as pre-collegiate experiences Training, coaching, and mentoring Develop a section of GA College411 that is specifically designed for foster/homeless youth Bring Apply to College and FAFSA events to ILP groups and group homes
NATIONAL PROGRAM SCAN
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
Post secondary support Public Service Academic Department Foundation Financial Aid Youth Admission Student Affairs Advising Base Model Mid-Level Model High-End Model Campus Life Counseling/ Health Services Deluxe Model Food Services Disability Services Residence Life
California (2005) Goals of Guardian Scholars Program: Short-term outcomes include sustaining academic progress towards educational goals which includes youth obtaining college course credit for all units attempted each semester. Long-term goals include youth obtaining and graduating with bachelor s degree.
Michigan Statewide Network: Fostering Success Michigan Western Michigan University Seita Scholars Program Reside on-campus; Maintain full-time student status; Take a seminar course for Seita scholars; Maintain satisfactory academic progress; Participate in academic monitoring; Abide by university codes for campus living; Attend all classes; Attend scheduled program events; Pay bills on time; Meet regularly with a program advisor; Refrain from working off campus; Campus coaches to help navigate campus life.
Washington College Success Foundation Washington College Access Network College Bound Scholarship Specific Initiatives for Foster Youth Make it Happen Passport to College Regional Summits The Washington State Governors Scholarship for Foster Youth Passport to College Promise Scholarship Washington University Champions Program
Virginia Great Expectations Individualized tutoring Help applying for college admission and financial aid Career exploration and coaching Help applying for and keeping a job Life skills training, including managing finances Personalized counseling Student mentors
17 Reach states Texas Ohio Alabama North Carolina Missouri
UGA EMBARK Campus Support Plan Programmatic Mission: The University of Georgia will support former foster and homeless youth by increasing access to specific support systems on campus, in an effort to improve the recruitment and retention of this population. The effort will be led by the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. Goals for Year One: 1.Create campus advisory committee 2.Organize dedicated Points of Contact around campus 3.Identify students already on campus who identify with this population 4.Create opportunities for leadership development, learning and support throughout the campus and community
Additional Georgia Programs Kennesaw State University (Homeless Specific) Savannah State University Georgia Gwinnett College Georgia State University Southeastern Technical College (Swainsboro campus)
What Else?
What s Next?
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS: A Focus on Foster Care, Homeless & Other Disconnected Youth February 18 & 19 2014 Evergreen Conference Center Stone Mountain, GA
Contact Information David Meyers Youth and Family Initiatives UGA Fanning Institute (706) 542-5062 - Office dmeyers@fanning.uga.edu Lori Tiller Public Service Assistant UGA Fanning Institute (706) 583-5532 - Office lrl@fanning.uga.edu J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development University of Georgia 1240 S. Lumpkin Street Athens, GA 30604 collegeaccess@fanning.uga.edu