Building Bridges Fostering Foster Kids Lynette Splinter Janet Matta Laura Cummings Katie Taylor Connie Brown

Roadmap Project overview Review individual interviews Overarching best practices Final conclusions

Project Overview Project Description Project Inspiration Why this audience –47% earning at or below poverty level wages (within 1 year emancipation) –50% unemployed after 4 years –Over 70% of former foster youth surveyed want to attend college but do not have resources or know of resources to attend –Overall former foster youth are twice as likely to have mental health problems than other college students Project components

Lynette Splinter- Seattle University Janet Matta- Western Washington University Laura Cummings- Pierce College Katie Taylor- Seattle Central Community College Connie Brown- Western Michigan University Program Interviews

Fostering Scholars - Seattle University Program began in academic year 2006 with 7 students (including some transfer students). – Currently have 19 students. Marta DellaGasparina founded the program to establish a pathway for foster children to attend SU. – Work with Treehouse to identify and inform students about the program. Program received a start up grant of $450,000 from the Stuart Foundation. – SU agreed to continue after the end of the 3 year grant. – Scholarship funding comes from private donors. Must apply and be admitted to Seattle University. – Complete a separate application. It is competitive but right now all students who have applied for the program have received funding.

Components of program Scholarship covers tuition, books, housing, board and personal expenses. – Using standard student budget. Students have year round housing in the dorms. Counseling services are offered and students can request long term counseling if they need and want it. Advising services is the same as for other students (with a little extra). – Colleen Montoya, Director, is the point person for the program and sees students many times during the year for advising issues along with other issues. Career Development – working to build a program. – Student do meet with the private donors to network and for mentorship. – Looking at ways to make it less formalized and for students to find mentors they want instead of being matched up.

Best Practices Need a dedicated staff person to build relations. – Students need to have trust in a person and reassurance of stability. Research other programs and manuals, such as the Stuart Foundation. Year round housing is critically important. – If a school cannot provide year-round housing, then must find other options for students. Peer mentorship. Use current students to help incoming students. Staff should be about 1 to 25 students. – Any more need additional staff to help provide necessary services. Ensure that there is buy-in from the top to continue funding. – Work with University to secure donors. May need to stretch policies (keep within fairness) to accommodate individual needs.

Western Washington University Student Outreach Services – includes Foster youth Students self-identify Small program: 3-5 students currently Most have scholarships and help through Governors’ Scholars, Passport to College program Program services relatively new

Western Washington University Student Outreach Services provides: –Quarterly advising –Early move-in –Activities through the SOS center –Special financial-aid counselor –Drop-in support –Peer mentoring Programs are offered in conjunction with many other state programs and scholarships for specific populations Web:

Pierce Community College Characteristics Specific services initiated due to state mandate Completely unfunded Based in the Outreach Office Began in Summer 2007 with two students - now students

Pierce Community College Best Practices “Serve as best as we can” Develop and maintain partnerships on and off campus Be able to refer students to appropriate services Provide sense of stability for students Be available and accessible for students

Program History & Funding Financial Aid workers explored opportunities to support foster kids, found roughly 245 that might qualify. Started in the fall quarter of Entire program is currently funded by a three- year Casey grant and $10,000 from Homestreet Bank. Future funding is yet to be determined.

Services & Structure Interim Director, Program Assistant, and two work study students pulled from the served population. 49 students currently enrolled. – Tuition and fee assistance – Books and supplies – Housing – Career counseling – Mental and physical health care – Child care – Tutoring – Bus passes – Mentoring

SCCC Best Practices Mission: “Help provide any support former foster care students need to be successful in higher education.” – Clarify goals. – Build a level of knowledge and confidence in higher education so they know how to navigate the system. – Cultivate independence. – Act in the stead of the parent, in loco parentis.

Western Michigan University

Program Summary The overall goal –Increase opportunities for young people who have “aged out” of foster care to pursue higher education –Provide supports that promote success and well- being throughout the undergraduate experience Initiated Summer 2007 –First students Fall Quarter 2008 –51 Students enrolled Why this initiative?

Best Practices Student Outreach and Recruitment Student Retention and Well-being –Tuition/Books/Room/Board (Seita Scholars) –Work-study opportunities on campus –Year-round campus living –Mentoring –Academic tutoring –Student networking –Counseling –Life skill workshops (e.g., banking, budgeting, time management), –Advocacy and assistance with navigating multiple bureaucracies and counseling needs related to family and foster care experiences. Student Career Transition and Graduation –Efforts toward career planning will begin early in their academic careers

Class Participation Now that you are experts. What do you think the common best practices are?

Overarching Best Practices Student Lounge/Space Scholarship Funding –Tuition & Books –Room & Board –Transportation & Personal Expenses –Student Insurances –Child Care Year Round Housing Availability “Point Person” –Counseling Services –Career Services Communications Personal life skills Mentors Admissions Process Program Cap & Expansion (1:25 ratio) Experienced Foster Kids- mentor program for incoming students Partner with outreach programs Quality vs. Equity Transitioning Services –Into college –Out of college

Final Conclusions Future direction Future resources Future research Student appreciation & testimonials