Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education (CRS Report for Congress)
| Release Date |
Aug. 12, 2016 |
| Report Number |
IF10450 |
| Report Type |
In Focus |
| Authors |
Adrienne L. Fernandes-Alcantara; Sarah W. Caldwell |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Research indicates that current and former foster youth
(hereinafter, “foster youth”) face barriers in enrolling and
completing post-secondary education. Along with specific
federal programs, states are increasingly playing a role in
providing support to foster youth attending institutions of
higher education. Education-focused programs targeted to
foster youth have generally not been rigorously evaluated to
determine if they help this population in college.
Casey Family Programs, a foundation that supports child
welfare program research and development, has proposed a
framework that addresses both how to create and sustain a
program of post-secondary educational support for foster
youth and what the program should include. The framework
envisions educational support programs that give foster
youth access to a caring and trusted program staff person
who has primary responsibility for helping the youth
navigate higher education. Table 1 shows key features of
program development and student support.
