strategies for increasing college access among unaccompanied homeless students and students from...
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STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING COLLEGE ACCESS AMONG UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM FOSTER CARE
Michigan Pre-College Conference
November 2013
Who Are You?
Social Workers, Child Welfare System Experts?
Alumni of Foster Care? Educators?Advocates?
Meet NAEHCY
The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) is a national grassroots membership association that connects educators, parents, advocates, researchers, and service providers to ensure school enrollment, attendance and overall success for children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by the lack of safe, permanent, and adequate housing. Website: http://www.naehcy.org
Meet Fostering Success Michigan
Resourcing, supporting and networking partners to increase access and success in postsecondary education and professional careers for students from foster care ages 12-25 in Michigan. Website:
www.FosteringSuccessMichigan.com
Population Overview
Graphic courtesy of Foster Care Alumni of America. Fostercarealumni.org
How Many Youth Experience Homelessness?
1.6 to 1.7 million youth
Public schools 1,065,794 homeless children/youth in 2011-12– 13% increase over past two years– 44 states (83%) reported increases– 55,066 unaccompanied homeless youth
22% of homeless children are put into foster care
30% of children in foster care could return home if their parents had access to housing
Approximately 27% of homeless adults and 41% of homeless youth report a foster care history
25% of youth “aging out” of foster care experience homelessness
Alumni of Foster CareOutcomes: Living Arrangements
Alumni of Foster Care
vs.
National Sample
Living on own31% vs
.48%
Homeless1.3% vs
.0%
Incarcerated5% vs
.0.5%Source: Courtney et al, 2011
Alumni of Foster CareOutcomes: Economic Status
Alumni of Foster Care
vs.
National Sample
Currently employed46% vs
.80%
Mean income$13,989 vs
.$32,312
Economic hardship45% V
s.18%S
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e:
Court
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Alumni of Foster CareOutcomes: Education
Alumni of Foster Care
vs.
National Sample
No high school diploma or GED20% vs
.6%
2-year college degree4% vs
.10%
4-year college degree3% vs
.24%
Sourc
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Court
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Youth Ages 12 – 21 in Michigan Foster Care
Number of youth age 12 and older: 4,402 Number of youth age 18 and older: 1,201 Counties with highest number of youth age 12
and older in care: Wayne: 1,198 Kent: 281 Macomb: 260 Oakland: 254 Genesse: 249
* Source: Michigan DHS June 2013
Paths to Being “On Our Own” Family conflict: blended family issues,
pregnancy, sexual activity or orientation, school problems, substance abuse
Abuse and/or neglect within the home Parental incarceration, illness,
hospitalization, or death Lack of space in temporary situations or
shelter policies that prohibit adolescent boys
Paths Continued
Child welfare issues Running away from a placement Aging out of the system Significant correlation between involvement
with the child welfare system and experiencing homelessness as an adult
Resources for Disconnected Students
Graphic courtesy of Foster Care Alumni of America. Fostercarealumni.org
Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights & Services
Children or youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including: Sharing the housing of others due to loss of
housing, economic hardship, or similar reason Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, camping
grounds due to the lack of adequate alternative accommodations
Living in emergency or transitional shelters Awaiting foster care placement
Eligibility Continued
Living in a public or private place not designed for humans to live
Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or a similar setting
Migratory children living in the above circumstances
Unaccompanied youth living in the above circumstances
For more info, see NCHE’s Determining Eligibility brief at www.serve.org/nche/briefs.php
Fixed, Regular, Adequate
Fixed: Stationary, permanent, and not subject to change
Regular: Used on a predictable, routine, or consistent basis (e.g. nightly); consider the relative permanence
Adequate: Sufficient for meeting both the physical and psychological needs typically met in home environments
Can the student go to the SAME PLACE (fixed) EVERY NIGHT (regular) to sleep in a
SAFE AND SUFFICIENT SPACE (adequate)?
Pre-College Bound Homeless Youth Connect students with the McKinney-Vento Liaison
for their school district www.michigan.gov/homeless
McKinney-Vento eligible students have the right to Receive a free, appropriate public education Enroll immediately if lacking documentation Enroll in the local school, or continue attending their
school of origin Receive transportation to and from school of origin http://
center.serve.org/nche/downloads/youthposter_eng_color.pdf
Funding Available for Students from Foster Care
FAFSA Students must indicate that they are an “independent student” Makes students Pell Grant eligible, a requirement for many campus-support programs Requires DHS form 945 (can be obtained from case manager)
Educational and Trainings Voucher (ETV) Program The Chafee Educational and Training Voucher Program (ETV) provides resources specifically
to meet the education and training needs of youth aging out of foster care. This program makes vouchers of up to $5,000 per fiscal year available to eligible youth attending post secondary educational and vocational programs. For more information contact: http://mietv.lssm.org/ or Tanya Maki, Lutheran Social Services of
Michigan, Phone: (877)660-6388 or email at [email protected]
Youth in Transition Funds (YIT) YIT can be used to help with the costs of books, uniforms, transportation (monthly bus pass),
equipment, supplies, and other expenses related to their educational goals that are not covered by any other funding source. For information contact: Ann Rossi by phone at (517) 373-2851 or via email at [email protected]
http://www.michigan.gov/fyit/0,1607,7-240-44524-161180--,00.html
Tuition Incentive Program (TIP) Student must have or had Medicaid for 24 months within 36 month consecutive month
period. Must apply before high school graduation and must present TIP letter to financial aid at their postsecondary institution. Phase 1 covers tuition and fees at community college. Phase 2 provides up to $2,000 starting in a student’s junior year at a 4-year Michigan college.
Fostering Success Michigan Resource Website
Creating a College-Going Culture
Graphic courtesy of Foster Care Alumni of America. Fostercarealumni.org
Barriers to Higher Education for Unaccompanied Homeless/Foster Care Youth
Lack of access to parental financial information and support
Lack of financial means to live independently and safely
Inability to be financially self-sufficient once enrolled in college
Limited housing options, especially in small towns or rural areas
Struggling to balance school and other responsibilities
Lack of adult guidance and support Lack of information about available support
systems
How do you overcome the barriers and increase success?
Pre-College Support: Bring the college conversation TO youth
in care Work WITH youth in care to find their
spark ENGAGE youth in care in pre-college
preparation support Set the expectation of SUCCESS KNOW your resources! Be a SUPPORTIVE ADULT
Unaccompanied Students Under MV
2-step process to determine eligibility1)Does the student’s living arrangement meet
the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homeless?
2)Once homelessness is determined, is the student unaccompanied?
Unaccompanied “not in the physical custody of a parent or
guardian”
Financial Aid and FAFSA Basics
Expected family contribution (EFC): Families are expected to contribute to higher education costs to the extent they are able
FAFSA Cannot be filed before January 1 prior to the
academic year in which student seeks to enroll For dependent students, income and asset
information required for both the student and a parent; parental signature required
For independent students, no parental signature nor income and asset information is needed
101
UHY and the FAFSA
2012-13 ONLINE FAFSA
College Cost Reduction And Act (CCRAA)
Independent student status for unaccompanied homeless youth and self-supporting youth at risk of homelessness Can apply for financial aid without
parental signature or consideration of parental income
Must be determined by: Local liaison RHYA-funded shelter director or designee HUD-funded shelter director or designee College financial aid administrator
Verification of Status Form
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA Can be used by any of the four verifiers Copy should be on file with the school, one
with student, and one sent to college/university
Valid for one academic year
Uninterrupted Scholars ActLegislation SummaryUnintentionally, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) hinder child welfare agencies in their efforts to meet the educational needs of students in foster care.
The Uninterrupted Scholars Act remedies this by:
Adding child welfare agencies to the list of approved entities with direct access to a student’s educational records, as long as the child welfare agency has legal responsibility for the foster youth’s placement and care
Protecting and preserving the educational privacy rights of students and parents that FERPA is designed to safeguard.
Best Practices in High Schools
• Focus on FASFSA completion!• FAFSA Week – see www.naehcy.org • Inform unaccompanied youth of college options as soon as
they are identified as homeless or from foster care• Make sure high school counselors know about the FAFSA
policies for UHY and students from foster care• Arrange for students to visit local colleges and universities• Use a template for verification – www.naehcy.org • Connect UHY and students from foster care to Gear-Up,
Upward Bound, other TRIO programs
Best Practices in Postsecondary Institutions
• Establish coordination between financial aid offices, student support services, and campus housing
• Open a food and clothing bank on campus• Consider housing options for homeless students
when dorms close:Leaving one residence hall openAllow UHY and students from foster care to stay in housing for international studentsProvide a list of “host homes” in the community
• Has established Single Points of Contact (SPOCS)/Life Skills Coaches in colleges/universities to help eliminate barriers to higher education access
Resources for Student Support
Connect students with federal and community resources that they may be eligible for Medicaid Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funded Shelters
(RHYA) Administration for Children and Families
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/grants/fysb-grantees
Michigan Statewide Network
Pam Kies-Lowe, State Coordinator for Homeless Children and Youth [email protected]
Mark Delorey, Director of Financial Aid, Western Michigan University [email protected]
Creating SPOC’s at (15) 4-year public colleges/universities Move to creating SPOC’s at Community Colleges
Partnerships with Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), Fostering Success Michigan (FSM), Michigan’s Children and many other youth serving organizations
Michigan Campus Based Support Programs
Graphic courtesy of Foster Care Alumni of America. Fostercarealumni.org
YOU Can Make the Difference
Avoiding Stigma
When steps are taken to avoid stigma students will want to engage with the services provided, not feel as if they have to engage with services provided
Tips for reducing stigma: Language Let student take lead in identifying foster
care history Peer equality Giving back
Why are supportive adults key to student success?
In his 2008 report, James Vacca states that foster youth “are of the most educationally vulnerable populations in our schools.”
Supportive adults are key to students developing skills of interdependence and perseverance.
This is where YOU come in! SO…who are you in the life of a student?
Graphic courtesy of Foster Care Alumni of America. Fostercarealumni.org
For more information:
Cyekeia Lee: [email protected] , (734)258-8175
Maddy Day: [email protected], (269) 568-9142
www.FosteringSuccessMichigan.com
http://groups.google.com/group/fostering-success-michigan