Creating Successful Transitions for Foster Youth

CSU Counselors’ Conference 2009

Presented by

CSU Foster Youth Campus Support Programs

National and State Data

• 547,000 children are in foster care in the U.S.

• 20,000 youth 16 or older age out of foster care each year.

• 100,000 children reside in California.

Barrier: AccessOnly 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.

College Completion Rates 6 Years Post Enrollment

Overall – all students 52%

Low socio-economic status 44%

Hispanic students 40%

First generation college students 43%

African American students 38%

GED completers 27%

‘Independent’ students 22%

From foster care 20%

Changes to the CSU Mentor ApplicationPage 3 Personal Information • Question: Are you a foster youth, orphan, or ward of the court or were you prior to age

18? Foster youth should mark yes to this question.• “Total Annual Family Income and Family Size”: Under federal regulations, you are

considered a dependent student if you are under 24 years old unless you are a graduate student, are married or have dependents other than a spouse, are an orphan/ward of the court, or are a veteran or active duty member of the U.S. armed services.

• If dependent, select parents’ 2009 total annual income (taxed and untaxed) and enter family size including your parents, yourself, and other dependents.

• If independent, select the total annual income (taxed and untaxed) for you (and your spouse if married) and enter your family size including yourself, spouse, and other dependents.

• Foster youth should complete under “independent” their income and family size. If they do not have any dependents, they should answer “1”.

Page 11 Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)• Please have foster youth mark yes when asked if they would like to apply to EOP• Question: Do you live with: Legal Guardian or Independently • A caregiver or other person with whom you are living is only considered a legal

guardian if a court in your state of legal residence has established guardianship. Foster youth should mark one of these choices if they have a copy of a court order indicating that legal guardianship or foster care placement was established.

Page 12 Application Fee Waiver• This section can only be completed once so please make sure to answer correctly.• Question: Are you a foster youth, orphan or ward of the court or were you prior to

age 18?• Foster Youth should mark yes to this question.

Changes to the CSU Mentor Application

Established Programs• CSU Dominguez Hills

• CSU East Bay, Renaissance Scholars

• CSU Fresno, Renaissance Scholars

• CSU Fullerton, Guardian Scholars

• CSU Los Angeles, Court Scholars

• CSU Pomona, Renaissance Scholars

• CSU Northridge, Resilient Scholars

• CSU Sacramento, Guardian Scholars

• CSU San Bernardino, EOP Foster Youth Program

• CSU San Marcos, ACE Scholars

• CSU Stanislaus, Promise Scholars

• San Diego State University, Guardian Scholars

• San Francisco State University, Guardian Scholars

• San Jose State University, Connect, Motivate, Educate (CME) Society

Support Services May Include:• Outreach and Recruitment• Admissions assistance• Financial assistance• Housing assistance• Orientation to college life

(e.g., EOP Summer Bridge) • Academic advising and

monitoring• Counseling and support

• Mentorship opportunities• Life skills workshops• Employment opportunities• Social and quarterly

celebrations• Post-graduation career

planning and assistance• Student Drop-In Center

CSU Foster Youth Support Contact List

Cal State BakersfieldKeith Powell, DirectorEducational Support Services9001 Stockdale HighwayBakersfield, CA 93311-1099(661) 654-2276kfpowell@csub.edu

Cal State ChicoJoshua Whittinghill, EOP AdvisorRenaissance Scholars400 West First StreetChico, CA 95329-0710(530) 898-6831jwhittinghill@csuchico.edu

Cal State Dominguez HillsMartha Clavelle, Student Support Services1000 E. Victoria StreetCarson, CA 90747 (310) 243-3646mclavelle@csudh.edu

Cal State East BayKevin Bristow, CoordinatorRenaissance Scholars Program25800 Carlos Bee BoulevardHayward, CA 94542-3056(510) 885-4426kevin.bristow@csueastbay.edu

Cal State Fresno Kizzy Lopez, CoordinatorRenaissance Scholars Program5150 N. Maple Ave., M/S/ JA 62Fresno, CA 93740-8026(559) 278-5055 kizzyl@csufresno.edu

Cal State FullertonGrace Johnson, DirectorGuardian Scholars ProgramP.O. Box 6828Fullerton, CA 92834(714) 278-4900gjohnson@fullerton.edu

Cal State Los AngelesMitch Eisen, ProfessorCourt ScholarsKH C3060Los Angeles, CA 90032(323)343-5006meisen@calstatela.edu

Cal State Long BeachAndy Espinoza, DirectorEducational Opportunity Program1250 Bellflower Blvd.Long Beach, CA 90840(562) 985-5637aespinoz@csulb.edu

Cal State Monterey BayBerj Amir, Retention AdvisorEducational Opportunity Program100 Campus Center, Bldg. 47Seaside, CA 93955-8001(831) 582-5148Berj_amir@csumb.edu

Cal State NorthridgeJose Luis Vargas, DirectorEOP Resilient Scholars1811 Nordoff St.Northridge, CA 91330(818) 677-4151Jose.luis.vargas@csun.edu

Cal State SacramentoDr. Joy Salvetti, DirectorGuardian Scholars Program6000 J. Street, Sacramento Hall 3014Sacramento, CA 95819(916) 278-3643jsalvetti@csus.edu

Cal State San BernardinoTristan Garcia, CoordinatorEOP Foster Youth Program5500 University ParkwaySan Bernardino, CA 92407(909) 537-3051tgarcia@csusb.edu

Cal State San MarcosJim Mickelson, DirectorACE Scholars333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.San Marcos, CA 92096(760) 750-4869jsm@csusm.edu

Cal State Stanislaus Wanda Bonnell, CoordinatorPromise Scholars801 West Monte Vista Ave.Turlock, CA 95382(209) 667-3108wbonnell@csustan.edu

Cal Poly PomonaSara Gamez, CoordinatorRenaissance Scholars3801 West Temple Ave.Pomona, CA 91768(909) 869-3169sigamez@csupomona.edu

Humboldt State UniversityAdrienne Colegrove-RaymondAcademic Support Programs1 Harpst StreetArcata, CA 95521(707) 826-4791abc1@humboldt.edu

San Diego State UniversityWendy Craig, Assistant DirectorGuardian Scholars Program5500 Campanile DriveSan Diego, CA 92182-4735(619) 594-4276wcraig@mail.sdsu.edu

San Francisco State UniversityXochitl Sanchez-Zarama, DirectorGuardian Scholars Program1600 Holloway Ave.San Francisco, CA 94132-4028(415)405-0546xvsz@sfsu.edu

San Jose State UniversityConnie Hernandez-Robbins, DirectorCME (Connect, Motivate, Educate) SocietyOne Washington SquareSan Jose, CA 95192-0031(408) 924-1089connie.hernandez-robbins@sjsu.edu

CSU Office of the ChancellorJenny Vinopal, Assistant DirectorFoster Youth Programs401 Golden Shore, 6th FloorLong Beach, CA 90802(562) 951-4734jvinopal@calstate.edu

• This is a federally funded program administered through the California Student Aid Commission.

• Gives up to $5000 to eligible former foster youth to use for career and technical training or college courses at California Community Colleges, Cal State Universities and University of California campuses, etc.

California Student Aid Commission California Chafee Grant Program

www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

Foster Youth Scholarship Programs

• Foster A Dream (Bay Area)• Fostering Futures (Bay Area)• Larkin Street (Bay Area)• Orphan Foundation of America (National)• Orangewood Children’s Foundation (Orange

County)• Silicon Valley Children’s Fund – YES Scholars• United Friends of the Children (Los Angeles

County)• Promise 4 Kids (San Diego County)• Board of Governors Fee Waiver- BOG

(Community Colleges)

Foster Youth Services (FYS)• Foster Youth Services (FYS) was established to support the education needs of foster

youth in K-12. FYS provide support services to help youth transition through their educational journey while in care.

• FYS programs are located in 57 of 58 counties and provide local higher education agencies a natural bridge to partners who address the K-12 challenges facing foster youth. 

 

• Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) was developed by the CA Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) to provide a system-wide framework to support former foster youth by designating a FYSI Liaison at all 110 California Community Colleges. The FYSI produced a manual and resource guide to educate the Liaisons on how to work with students from foster care.

Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI)

Foster Youth Educational Planning Guide

What’s Inside?• This planning guide contains checklists, tips and

information to support foster youth from 7th grade through 12th grade who have a dream of a college education.

Who should have one? • Foster youth, caregivers, social workers, educators and

advocates.

Why should I need it?• To monitor and track the educational progress of foster

youth to career and college preparation.

How can I get more?• If you would like additional printed copies of the Planning

Guide, please contact me at Jenny Vinopal jvinopal@calstate.edu or (562)951-4734.

•Connect with the Foster Youth Services (FYS) liaison in your school district or the Foster Youth Success Initiative at the community colleges.

•Identify foster youth at your school and advocate for school stability (for foster youth to remain in the same school K-12).

•Prepare and encourage your students to pursue higher education and track their progress closely.

•Advise students to complete the a-g requirements and get them on the college track early.

•Find out more information about the county independent living program and the resources they offer.

What You Can Do

Visit www.calstate.edu/fosteryouth for specific programs available to foster youth at the

23 California State University campuses.

This presentation will be available on the web!

Questions & Answers