FYSI Orientation

Cindy Garcia Statewide FYSI Liaison

History of FYSI

• The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office recognized a significant deficit regarding youth from foster care attending higher education.

• 2006 they sponsored the Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI), a statewide outreach and retention effort to improve the ability of these youth to access post secondary education and benefit from the support services that are available, but often unknown to them. • The FYSI was built through CCCCO leadership and a strong foundation of individuals representing a host of agencies and postsecondary educational institutions • We have formed a true collaborative effort that has evolved to become a statewide FYSI taskforce that is having collective impact on the challenges affecting foster youth attending community college.

FYSI Today

• Foster Youth Success Initiative Liaisons (FYSI) Advocate for and assist students in accessing student and academic support. Level the educational playing field • FYSI Liaisons at all 112 California Community Colleges. • 36 colleges have multiple FYSI contacts • 14,000-16,000 foster youth served • Located in Financial Aid, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Standalone programs

FYSI Goals

• Assist foster youth with access to academic support, student services and resources that will lead to better academic performance, retention and completion of units • To coach foster youth to pursue an education despite all the challenges they face • The end goal is completion of units, certificate, degree, or transfer to a 4 year university

Why we support foster youth in Community College

• Most foster youth must negotiate the transition out of foster care and into independent living and college on their own, often with no parental/ adult support • Due to this lack of support, foster youth are often disadvantaged as they approach this transition • Lack of educational attainment is detrimental to the long-term economic wellbeing of foster youth

Who is a former foster youth?

Children who were removed by the courts from their family of origin due to abuse and/or neglect, and placed into the care of extended family members, foster parents or non-relative caregivers until their 21st birthday.

Helpful Definitions

• Ward of the court- youth who are wards of the court fall under welfare and institutions code 300 • Welfare and Institutions Code Section 300(a) deals with physical abuse, requiring a showing that the child has suffered, or there is a substantial risk that the child will suffer, serious physical harm inflicted nonaccidentally by the child's parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must inflict the abuse here nonaccidentally, through a volitional act, even if the parent or guardian did not actually intend to harm the child • A youth is a ward if they have been removed from their parents and a legal guardian has been appointed by the court

Table 1: Foster youth definition summary Benefit type FAFSA Chafee ETV Vouchers ILP Priority registration Medi-Cal CCC apply Age in foster care

13 and up 16 and up 16 and up 18 and up 18 and up Any age

Current Age

Any Under 23 Under 21 Under 24 Under 26 Any Proposed SB1023 16 and up Under 25 [1 ] This is the requirement specified in statute however some campuses have chosen to adopt a broader definition as allowed by regulation .

Slide provided by California College Pathways

Barriers to Access

• Only 15% of youth in foster care are likely to be enrolled in college prep courses during high school compared to 32% of all students.

• Only about 20% of former foster youth go on to college compared to about 60% of all high school seniors.

• Only 3% will eventually graduate from college as compared to about 27% of the general adult population.

•

Over 70% of youth in foster care report that they desire to go to college.

Martin, J. (2003). Foster youth desire college, study show, but face roadblocks to learning

Common Barriers to College

• K-12 school and housing placement instability • Academic/learning gaps • Lack of educational advocacy • Low high school graduation rates • Records transfer and confidentiality issues • High rate of homelessness after emancipation • Long-term effects of abuse and neglect • Lack of preparedness for post secondary education

Impact of abuse and neglect

• Problems with trust, autonomy, initiative • Difficulty with independence, intimacy, self-care • Patterns of intense, unstable relationships and sometimes defensive interactions • Interferes with cognitive development • Difficulty interpreting and identifying emotional responses (Herman, J. 1997. Trauma and Recovery) Slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Sensitive Approaches to Communication

• Asking for help may be difficult for foster youth • Youth may be very conscious of how they are spoken to, looked at and treated • Be aware of your body language, tone of voice and the questions you are asking • Ask if their basic needs are being met, housing, food, health care, transportation • See training manual for a chart of what to say and what to avoid saying

By age 24 Foster Youth Comparison

Ever homeless Currently employed Women ever pregnant Median income 24% 48% 75% $8,000 NA 74% 40% $18,300 Men convicted of crime Women convicted of crime 59% 28% 10% 2% DESPITE THESE STATISTICES - 25% OF FOSTER YOUTH 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, 2011.

Good News! Foster Youth are Resilient

• Due to a history of abuse and neglect, foster youth are highly adaptable and they learn to survive!

• This is a highly resilient population • We want foster youth to go from surviving to thriving in life!

Why do foster youth experience poor academic outcomes?

Children and youth in foster care are four times more likely to change schools in a given school year than other students.

Placement changes disrupt their education High rates of disability Poor school quality

15 percent of children and youth in foster care attend the lowest performing 10 percent of schools in California, as compared to just 10 percent of the general population Barrat, V. X., & Berliner, B. (2013). The Invisible Achievement Gap, Part 1: Education Outcomes of Students in Foster Care in California’s Public Schools. San Francisco: WestEd.

slide provided by John Burton Foundation Nearly one in five youth in foster care has a disability, twice the rate of the general population

Together, these experiences result in serious academic delays

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 24% 11% 13% 28% 26% 35% 15% 17% 32% 23% 50% 23% 27% 30% 22% 12% General population Advanced Proficient Economically disadvantaged Basic Below basic 15% 4% Foster youth Far below basic % of students who scored at each of five proficiency levels at the California Standards Test in English Language Arts At Greater Risk: California Foster Youth and the Path from High School to College, March 2013. slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Percentage of students who completed high school by 2010

40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 79% 53% General population Comparison population At Greater Risk: California Foster Youth and the Path from High School to College, March 2013. 45% Foster youth • Foster youth have the highest rate of high school drop-out, higher than students who • • are: Low SES English learners Have disabilities slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Percentage of students who entered community college by 2010

70% 59% 60% 50% 40% 30% 46% 43% 20% 10% 0% General population Comparison population At Greater Risk: California Foster Youth and the Path from High School to College. (March 2013), Foster youth slide provided by John Burton Foundation

30% 20% 10% 0% 70%

Percentage of community college enrollees who persisted at least one year

62% 60% 50% 48% 41% 40% General population Comparison population Foster youth At Greater Risk: California Foster Youth and the Path from High School to College. (March 2013), slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Highest grade completed at age 26

No high school diploma or GED High school diploma only GED only One or more years of college, but no degree 2-year college degree 4-year college degree Former foster youth 20% 31% 9% 32% 4% 8% 3% Same age comparison group 6% 18% 4% 26% 10% 47% 24% One or more years of graduate school 1% 13% Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth: Outcomes at Age 26. (2011) slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Foster Youth and Education

• Last year in California over 4600 foster youth aged out of care • Of youth surveyed regarding AB12, 83% indicated a desire to go to college • Studies show that only 25% will complete one year of college and 5% will obtain a 2 or 4 year degree 21 Slide provided by California College Pathways

Why Higher Education Matters

• Significantly higher incomes and job stability • Lower incarceration rates • Improved health outcomes • lower smoking rates • more positive perceptions of personal health • Higher levels of civic participation, including volunteer work and voting • Improved academic achievement of offspring 22 Source: “The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society”, College Board, 2004

Education Pays

23

What challenges do foster youth currently face in higher education?

Inadequate housing Lack of financial resources Frequent changes in home and school leave youth unprepared Lack of adult role models Lack of information about higher education, financial aid, support resources etc. 24

Today, California has a large network of campus support programs Campus Support Programs

60

Total Campuses

50 40 CCC 112 30 CSU 23 20 UC 10 10 0 CCC CSU comprehensive UC light-touch Private slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Do campus support programs work for foster youth?

Average Persistence Rates

Foster Youth Nationwide 26% Students Nationwide 56% Students in campus support programs 72% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% slide provided by John Burton Foundation

A Bridge from Foster Care to College

• FYSI provides a bridge for foster youth entering community college

Foster youth arrive on campus with multiple challenges

• • • • • • • • Limited study skills No financial support from family Lack of independent living skills Lack of knowledge about academic processes Untreated trauma Academic delays Lack of emotional support Unstable housing

FYSI

slides provided by John Burton Foundation

How does a FYSI Liaison positively impact foster youth?

• You provide a Safe Place and a Warm Welcome for foster youth • You are sensitive to the needs and challenges unique to foster youth • You communicate to disarm defensiveness • Raise awareness of the FYSI program on campus • Connect Students with on/off campus resources

Believe in Foster Youth

“No one rises to low expectations” – Les Brown

• Danger of the self-fulfilling prophecy • Set higher expectations – regardless of past performance • Consistently reinforce expectation that the youth will graduate from college and go on to a successful career • Use such phrases as, “When you transfer to a four year university….” slide provided by John Burton Foundation

Directed Campus Success Factors

Students have a goal and know how to achieve it

Focused

Students stay on track – keeping their eyes on the prize

Nurtured

Students feel somebody wants them to succeed and helps them succeed

Student Support (Re)Defined: Using student voices to redefine support

, RP Group, January, 2013.

Campus Success Factors Engaged

Students actively participate in class and are involved in extracurricular activities

Connected Valued

Students feel they are part of the college community Students’ skills, talents, abilities and experience are recognized. The can contribute and are appreciated.

Student Support (Re)Defined: Using student voices to redefine support

, RP Group, January, 2013.

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Services Provided to Foster Youth

Assistance filling out all financial aid forms, applications, scholarships, verification of foster youth status • Assistance with accessing cc resources, community resources such as transportation, housing, food, child care, work study, tutoring, counseling, health services, public benefits, textbook and supplies assistance, meal tickets, transportation • Board Of Governor’s Fee Waiver, Priority Registration • Chafee Grant, annual maximum $5000.00

• Student Support Success Programs - Orientation, Assessment, Educational Planning, Academic Interventions • Transfer Information, 4 yr. campus tours, graduation support • ILP Workshops, financial literacy, career and job skills • EOPS, Disabled Student Programs and Services, CALWORKS/CARE, Career Counseling/Advising • Summer Bridge Program, letters of recommendation

Foster Youth

Food Ed Planning Academic Counseling Counseling ILP Advocacy Financial Aid FAFSA, Chafee, Pell Grant, Cal Grant Applications/Deadlines EOP&S Social Support

You-FYSI

Registrar/ Admissions Foster Youth Verification What to do?

Where to go?

Medi-cal Mentor Housing Community Partners BOG Fee Waiver Life Skills Career Center Transportation Tutoring Scholarships Priority Registration Health Center

Resources and Services

Resources Available for Foster Youth

Financial Aid Early alert for support and retention of students Priority Enrollment BOG Fee Waiver Scholarship opportunities for foster youth Campus Support EOPS ILP Cal Works Program/CARE Disabled Student Programs and Services Academic Support Tutoring Career Counseling/Advising Transportation Bus vouchers Housing AB12 Extended Foster Care THP-Plus Summer bridge programs Work/Career Work/Study Job placement assistance Letters of recommendation Health/Mental Health Medi-cal Counseling Parenting Childcare centers Parenting Support Graduation Letters of recommendation Transfer services Awards ceremony for foster youth completing certificates or degrees Graduation Cap and Gown

Creating a FYSI Campus Support Program

• Create a FYSI webpage and post resources for foster youth • Make connections with other programs on the campus that can support foster youth • Make connections with organizations in the community that support foster youth • Hang Poster “Yes, You Can !”, door hanger, fliers, decals See: Supporting Campus Foster Youth Programs on FYSI website

Checklist for Former Foster Youth

 Apply to College  Assessment, Ed Planning, Orientation  Apply for Financial Aid-FAFSA, Chafee, BOG Fee Waiver  Obtain Foster Youth Verification  Register for classes- Utilize Priority Enrollment  Apply to EOPS Early- fills up fast  Connect youth to additional support services

Support Resources for Foster Youth

FYSI

Disabled Student Programs and Services

EOPS

Campus Support Programs

Cal Works

Academic Interventions

Financial Aid

What else does your campus offer?

Resources Available for FYSI Liaisons to assist Foster Youth

• FYSI Listserv- instructions on website below • FYSI Webpage: http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/StudentService s/FosterYouthSuccessInitiatives.aspx

• FYSI Training Manual- on the web page above • THP-Plus housing list-on web page above • ILP list-on web page above • California College Pathways: http://www.cacollegepathways.org

/ • John Burton Foundation http://www.johnburtonfoundation.org

I Can Afford College http://icanaffordcollege.com/ www.Ifoster.org free & low cost resources for foster youth and caretakers www.Fosterclub.com peer network for foster youth After18 http://www.cafosteringconnections.org/pdfs/After18%20Fact%20Sheet.PDF

AB12 http://www.cafosteringconnections.org/pdfs/AB12%20Benefit%20Flyer.pdf

Chafee https://www.chafee.csac.ca.gov/default.aspx

Foster Youth Campus Support Programs: A leadership guide http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/13-7-25_fostercampus_final.pdf

It’s My Life: Post Secondary Education-Financial Aid http://www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/ItsMyLife/Education.htm

List of ILP County Coordinators http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/2-ilp-county-coordinators.doc

Community College Resource Guide for youth enrolling in CC http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/resource_guide_cc_.pdf

AB194 Priority Enrollment Fact Sheet http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/ab_194_fact_sheet_final.pdf

Mentor Workbook http://www.cacollegepathways.org/sites/default/files/1-mentor-workbook.pdf

Great website for foster youth in college http://fosteringsuccessmichigan.com/ Covered til 26- Medi-Cal http://coveredtil26.childrennow.org/spread-the-word California Ombudsman for Foster Care http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov/ombprog.html

THP-Plus Housing- If not eligible for AB12 http://thpplus.org/

Supportive Infrastructure Available to FYSI Liaisons

• Listserv • Comprehensive Training Manual • Web based Orientation and Training Modules • Webinars on important topics- Some with CCP • Statewide and County resources • Outreach and College Orientation Toolkits • FYSI Promotional Materials- logos, door hangers, pins, decals • FYSI Annual Training • Quarterly Regional Representatives Advisory Meetings with Stakeholders

Statewide Liaison Role

• Overall program coordination, project management, technical support, disseminate information, improve data collection • Revising training manual, developing multiple training modules • Convene Quarterly Regional Representative Advisory Meetings • Participate in various statewide foster youth focused work groups and task forces • Work in cooperation with various state agencies (CDE, CDSS, CSAC) to identify opportunities to collaborate and increase stakeholder participation

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Legislation impacting foster youth

AB12 (2011) – Extended Foster Care Youth can now stay in foster care until 21 • If youth are not eligible for AB12, the next option is THP-Plus •

Eligibility requirements can include going to college or vocational school

• 2.5 times greater likelihood of attending college and 3 times more likely to obtain BA • Can live with foster parents, relatives or independent housing

Legislation Continued…

FYSI’s receive training to strengthen their ability to implement new legislation and policies and connect foster youth with available resources • AB 194 Priority Enrollment • SB 1456 Student Success and Support Act of 2012 colleges provide orientation, assessment, and educational planning for all students, including foster youth

Data Sharing

• Each CC district uploads data into the central CCCCO MIS system and the CCCCO in turn uploads the data to CalPASS Plus. • CalPASS Plus obtains data from k-12 school districts, 4 year universities, offering robust tracking and analysis tly • You can go to the foster youth data dash board and download a report related to foster youth for your college • If your institution is not a member of Cal-PASS Plus, please contact Emily Lawrence, Director of College and University Outreach, at [email protected].

Foster Youth Dashboard

• 2012 a flag was added to MIS system to track foster youth. Colleges are required to report FY status in MIS.

http://datamart.cccco.edu/Services/Special_Pop_Count.aspx

• It is important to mark the check box and flag foster youth and use as many lists as possible to ensure accuracy • We need actionable data that can be used to make informed decisions related to program development

Foster Youth Dashboard Academic Year

2012-2013 2012-2013

Foster Youth

Yes No

Unduplicated Students

15,307 1,193,966

Unduplicated First Math/English/ESL Remedial

7,329 520,577

% First Math/English/ESL Remedial

47.9% 43.6%

Unduplicated First Math College/Transfer

3,074 395,872

% First Math College/Transfer

20.1% 33.2%

Unduplicated First English College/Transfer

2,325 335,725

%First English College/Transfer

15.2% 28.1%

Academic Year

2012-2013 2012-2013

Foster Youth

Yes No

Unduplicated Students

15,307 1,193,966

Unduplicated Financial Aid Current Year

12,722 788,994

%Financial Aid Current Year

83.1% 66.1%

Unduplicated Financial Aid Consecutive

3,113 228,315

%Financial Aid Consecutive Years

20.3% 19.1%

SAP

10,515 933,377

%SAP

68.7% 78.2% all of the data-related resources being developed in California are available at http://www.cacollegepathways.org/data resources

Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success – Independent Living Program (YESS-ILP)

• Partners with California Department of Social Services (CDSS) • College YESS-ILP programs provide daily living, education and advocacy skills to current and former foster youth ages 16 to 21 • Programs at 18 community colleges throughout the state

• • • • •

ILP-Transitioned Age Foster Youth (TAFY) Health and Wellness Project

Partners with California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) Programs at 22 community colleges throughout the state Developed Healthy Transitions, a curriculum designed to provide mental health and wellness awareness to current and former foster youth aged 16 to 24.

http://www.foundationccc.org/WhatWeDo/Healthy Transitions/tabid/944/Default.aspxwww.

http://www.cccstudentmentalhealth.org/docs/CCCS MHP_TransitionAgedFosterYouthFactSheet.pdf

ILP-CCC Foundation Mini Grants

Annually, the CCC Foundation offers up to $1000.00 in mini grants that are available through Youth Empowerment Strategies for Success/ILP. Funded by the California Department of Social Services as a sub grant to colleges to do ILP activities, provide professional advocacy services. This is a direct service project that serves 2000 foster youth each year.

Senate Bill 1023 ( LIU ) Proposed Legislation 2013-2014

• Would provide foster youth at California's community colleges with specialized academic and social support, as part of the existing Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) • Passed State Senate and moving on to State Assembly Thank you to Walter S. Johnson Foundation for supporting our FYSI Initiative