Majoring in Success:
Supporting TAY in Higher
Education
Presented by:
Tracy Schiro, Assistant Director, San Luis Obispo County DSS
Marie Hughes, Education Services Manager, Family Care
Network, Inc.
Presenters
Tracy Schiro currently serves as the Social Services Assistant
Director of San Luis Obispo County.
 She oversees the Child Welfare Services, Adult Services,
Participants Services (CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, Food Assistance,
General Assistance, and Foster Care) and the Workforce
Investment (WIA) Program
 Committees she has served on include: First 5 Commission,
California Welfare Directors’ Children’s Committee, CSEC Action
Team, Child Death Review Board, Workforce Investment Board
Leadership, Cuesta College Advisory Panel , Children’s Services
Network Truancy and Dropout Taskforce, Independent Living
Program Advisory Board
Tracy’s leadership goals are to eliminate poverty, ensure accessible
health care, and secure permanency and well-being for children.
Presenters
Marie Hughes is the Education Service Manager for
Family Care Network, Inc. & Supervisor for the San Luis
Obispo County Independent Living Program.
 Served as coordinator for the Transitional Age Youth
Financial Assistance Program for nearly four years.
 Has worked in a variety of mental health, social
service, and foster care positions for nearly 15 years.
 Awarded the 2014 Champion of Youth award from
the San Luis Obispo Community Foundation for her
work with the TAY population.
.
Learning Objectives
 Participants will learn the causes & barriers to
foster youth succeeding in higher education
 Participants will learn the Best-Practices & solutions
for promoting foster youth success in college
 Participants will learn about a model program in
California and how to replicate it
 Participants will learn about other successful
models
Multiple Barriers to Participation in
Higher Education
Educational
disruption
Effects of
past
trauma
Financial
resources
Personal
support
8% of foster
youth attain
a post
secondary
degree by
age 26
compared to
47% of same
age peers
M. Courtney. “Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth:
Outcomes at age 26.” 2011
Factors that impact foster youth
success
Little to no support
Limited role models with college
education
Choosing between working to meet basic
needs and education
Limited knowledge on educational and
career pathways
Best Practices-Interventions that work
Pre-enrollment/attendance strategies
Providing housing and other basic needs
Campus-based services & supports
Social integration and leadership opportunities
Financial assistance
Transitional Age Youth
Financial Assistance
Program (TAY-FAP)
Why TAY-FAP?
 Increased awareness that local foster youth face
financial barriers to attending post-secondary
education, and often times lack personal
connections and support systems as well.
 Most youth continue receiving assistance from
parents until the age of 26 years, we felt a
responsibility to the youth in our care to support
them in pursuing their education.
Purpose of TAY-FAP
To provide financial support to ILP
eligible TAY with needs related to
enrolling in or maintaining
enrollment in school or
employment that enhances their
ability to achieve independence
and self-sufficiency.
Transitional Age Youth Financial
Assistance Program (TAY-FAP) ELIGIBILITY
Core Requirements for Eligibility
 Eligible for ILP** in San Luis Obispo County (this includes
THPP, THP+ and THP+FC youth in SLO county) and:
 Attending or enrolled in a California University (CSU or
UC), California Community College or Vocational
Program
 Has exhausted all other financing options covered by
Financial Aid, Chafee Grants, etc.
 Funds will enhance TAY’s ability to achieve
independence and self-sufficiency
**Exception: If a youth is currently receiving TAY-FAP funds
and enrolled in school beyond the age of 21, they may
receive funds continuing support until they graduate (not to
exceed 24 years of age)
Who is involved?
Key Collaborators
County
DSS
Family Care
Network
ILP
College
Counselor
Provides
funding
through
WRAP
reserve
funds
Implements
program,
tracks data,
provides case
management
Refers
eligible
youth &
help them
apply
Provides
1:1
support to
foster
youth
TAY-FAP Results
TAY-FAP has
served 170 youth
since July 2010
70 youth
currently
enrolled
1 attended
graduate
school
21
Confirmed
graduates
119 attended
community college
and 20 attended a 4
year university
What Does TAY-FAP Provide?
Housing in a dormitory or apartment
Transportation
School supplies, textbooks, lab fees
Urgent or essential needs
Savings match <$100 a month
Mentorship
Case management past age 21
Budgeting Form and Teaching Tool
Non-financial Support
Case management support
Regular check-in (phone, email, inperson)
Notes of encouragement and
acknowledgement
Linking to campus and community
resources
Monthly email reminders that include
empowering quotes and thought
provoking questions (see sample
email)
Non-financial Support
Tutoring & Mentoring
Support youth in obtaining tutoring
through their school or one of our
screened agency tutors
Discuss study habits and strategies for
success
Link youth with a mentor through our
agency or support them in connecting
with a mentor in their area
Demographic and Outcome Data
Tracking
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Phone Number
Email
Mailing address/school address
Dependency status (300, 302, NMD)
Type of school (Vocational, 2 yr, 4 yr)
Local/out of area
Estimated graduation date
Enrollment status
Completion status
FY participation
Extended FC eligibility
TAY-FAP status (active, inactive,
ineligible)
• Transfer status
• Degree goal
• ILP eligibility
• TAY-FAP case management
support
• Mentor/tutor
request/assignment
• Start date for TAY-FAP support
• Savings Match participation
• Alumni follow up
• Employment status
• Housing status after graduation
• Marital status of current
participants
• Parenting
• End date for participation
Financial Tracking
Education
Housing
Transportation
Groceries
Others
• Books, materials,
fees
• Rent/deposits,
utilities
• Gas, bus passes,
car repairs and
purchases
• Medical needs
(glasses, contacts)
Lessons Learned
Partnering with the community
Collaboration and role
clarification
Finding the teachable momentslooking for solutions
Empowering & coaching youth to
take responsibility and the lead on
their lives
Other Programs Improving Foster Youth Higher
Education Success
 California’s Foster Youth Success Initiative
http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/StudentServices/FosterYout
hSuccessInitiatives.aspx
 Guardians Scholars Program
http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov/pdfs/guardianscholars.pdf
 College Foster Youth Liaisons
References
Day, A., Dworsky, A., Fogarty, K., & Damashek, A. (2011). An examination of
post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth
enrolled in a four- year university. Children and Youth Services Review, 33,
2335-2341. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.004
Family Care Network (2012). Lifebook: For transitional age youth.
http://www.amazon.com/Lifebook-transitional-age-youth1/dp/0988524805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437763540&sr=81&keywords=family+care+network+Life+book
Freundlich, M., Greenblatt, S., Walters, D., Tiede, L., Toth, B., Berkley, K….&
Stangler, G.
(2011). The adolescent brain: New research and its
implications for young people transitioning from foster care. (Research
Report).Retrieved from http://www.jimcaseyyouth.org
Rassen, E., Cooper, D.M., & Mery, P. (2010). Serving special populations: A study of
former foster youth at California community colleges. Journal of Applied
Research in the Community College, 17(2), 24-34.
Unrau, Y.A., Font, S.A, & Rawls, G. (2012). Readiness for college engagement
among students who have aged out of foster care. Children and Youth
Services Review, 34, 76-83. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.09.002
Contact Information
San Luis Obispo County
Department of Social
Services
www.slocounty.ca.gov/dss
Family Care Network, Inc.
www.fcni.org
(805) 781-1600
(805)781-3535
1255 Kendall Rd.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
“We partner with the
community to enhance selfsufficiency while ensuring
that safety and basic human
needs are met for the
people of San Luis Obispo
County.”
“To enhance the wellbeing
of children and families, in
partnership with our
community.”