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
Table 1: Foster youth definition summary
Benefit type
Age in foster care
Current Age
FAFSA
13 and up
Any
Chafee ETV Vouchers
16 and up
Under 23
ILP
16 and up
Under 21
Priority registration
18 and up
Under 24
Medi-Cal
18 and up
Under 26
CCC apply
Any age
Any
Proposed SB1023
[1]
16 and up
Under 25
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
24%
NA
Currently employed
48%
74%
Women ever pregnant
75%
40%
Median income
$8,000
$18,300
Men convicted of crime
59%
10%
Women convicted of crime
28%
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%
11%
90%
24%
80%
15%
13%
35%
17%
50%
70%
60%
23%
27%
28%
32%
50%
40%
26%
30%
30%
23%
20%
10%
15%
22%
12%
0%
General population
Advanced
Economically disadvantaged
Proficient
Basic
Below basic
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
90%
80%
79%
70%
60%
53%
50%
45%
40%
30%
20%
Foster youth
have the highest
rate of high
school drop-out,
higher than
students who
are:
• Low SES
• English
learners
• Have
disabilities
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
Percentage of students who entered
community college by 2010
70%
60%
59%
50%
46%
43%
40%
30%
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
Percentage of community college enrollees
who persisted at least one year
70%
62%
60%
48%
50%
41%
40%
30%
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
Highest grade completed at age 26
Former
foster youth
Same age
comparison group
No high school diploma or GED
20%
6%
High school diploma only
31%
18%
GED only
9%
4%
One or more years of college, but no
degree
32%
26%
2-year college degree
4%
10%
4-year college degree
8% 3%
47% 24%
1%
13%
One or more years of graduate school
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
CCC
112
50
40
30
CSU
23
UC
10
20
10
0
CCC
CSU
comprehensive
UC
light-touch
slide provided by John Burton Foundation
Private
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%
slide provided by John Burton Foundation
70%
80%
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
FYSI
academic processes
•
Untreated trauma
•
Academic delays
•
Lack of emotional support
•
Unstable housing
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
Campus Success Factors
Directed
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
Students feel they are part of the college
community
Valued
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.
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
Foster Youth
Food
Academic
Counseling
Advocacy
ILP
Ed Planning
Counseling
You-FYSI
Financial Aid
FAFSA, Chafee, Pell Grant, Cal Grant
Applications/Deadlines
Social Support
EOP&S
Registrar/
Admissions
Medi-cal
Foster Youth
Verification
What to do?
Housing
Where to go?
Mentor
BOG
Fee Waiver
Community Partners
Life Skills
Career Center
Tutoring
Transportation
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
Academic Support
Tutoring
Career Counseling/Advising
Campus Support
EOPS
ILP
Cal Works
Program/CARE
Disabled Student
Programs and
Services
Housing
AB12 Extended Foster Care
THP-Plus
Summer bridge programs
Health/Mental Health
Medi-cal
Counseling
Parenting
Childcare centers
Parenting Support
Transportation
Bus vouchers
Work/Career
Work/Study
Job placement assistance
Letters of recommendation
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
EOPS
Disabled Student
Programs and Services
Campus Support
Programs
Cal Works
Financial Aid
Academic
Interventions
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.p
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 Stakeholder
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
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 2012colleges 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, 4year 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 Emily@calpass.org.
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
Foster
Youth
Unduplicated
Students
Unduplicated First
Math/English/ESL
Remedial
% First
Math/English/ESL
Remedial
Unduplicated First
Math
College/Transfer
% First Math
College/Transfer
Unduplicated First
English
College/Transfer
%First English
College/Transfer
2012-2013
Yes
15,307
7,329
47.9%
3,074
20.1%
2,325
15.2%
2012-2013
No
1,193,966
520,577
43.6%
395,872
33.2%
335,725
28.1%
Academic
Year
Foster
Youth
Unduplicated
Students
Unduplicated Financial
Aid Current Year
%Financial Aid
Current Year
Unduplicated
Financial Aid
Consecutive
%Financial Aid
Consecutive Years
SAP
%SAP
2012-2013
Yes
15,307
12,722
83.1%
3,113
20.3%
10,515
68.7%
2012-2013
No
1,193,966
788,994
66.1%
228,315
19.1%
933,377
78.2%
all of the data-related resources being developed in California
are available at http://www.cacollegepathways.org/dataresources
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