Creating Successful Transitions for Foster Youth

Fall 2010 Counselor Conference

Presented by

CSU Foster Youth Campus Support Programs

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 18th birthday.

Barrier: 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.

Common Barriers to College

• K-12 school and 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

Campus 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

Campus Support Services May Include:• Outreach and Recruitment• Admission 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

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)

www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

California Student Aid Commission California Chafee Grant Program

• 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.

Additional Programs• Foster Youth Services (FYS)

• 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) • Developed by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to

provide a system-wide framework to support former foster youth by designating a FYSI Liaison at all 112 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 Educational Planning GuideWhat’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 Jenny Vinopal jvinopal@calstate.edu or (562)951-4734.

Applying for Admission

• Apply online at www.csumentor.eduThe Online Undergraduate Admission Application to be completed by the student

Admission Application: Step 3

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

Applying for Admission

Admission Application: Step 11

** Encourage students to apply for EOP. NOTE: students must first submit an online Undergraduate admission application before completing the online EOP application.

Applying for Admission

Admission Application: Step 12

** This section can only be completed once so please make sure the student answers correctly. Foster Youth should mark “yes” to the question that asks, “Are you a foster youth, orphan or ward of the court or were you prior to age 18?”

What You Can Do• 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 it offers.

CSU Foster Youth Support Contact List

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

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

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

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

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

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

CSU Los AngelesBecky Hopkins, DirectorEducational Opportunity Program5151 State University DriveLos Angeles, CA 90032(323) 343-3200bHopkin@CSLANET.CalStateLA.edu

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

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

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

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

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

CSU San MarcosJim Mickelson, DirectorACE Scholars Services333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd.San Marcos, CA 92096(760) 750-4869jsm@csusm.edu

CSU 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 UniversityJosephine Mojica, Assistant DirectorGuardian Scholars Program5500 Campanile DriveSan Diego, CA 92182-4735(619)594-0140mojica@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

Visit

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

the 23 California State University campuses

www.calstate.edu