Most former foster youth unaware of college aid programs

Across the country, youth who leave the foster care system often aspire to complete a college degree, but only a fraction will enroll in college, and even fewer attain a credential. Among those who do enroll, they’re more likely to have low food and housing security and to be stressed about their finances, according to a recent report from Trellis Strategies.

The research highlights gaps in effective supports offered to former foster youth as they pursue higher education and ways that colleges and universities can better serve students with foster care experience.

What’s the need: One of the primary challenges to enrollment is financial difficulties. The cost of higher education is a barrier for the average student considering postsecondary education, but youth with foster care experience are more likely to need assistance attending and completing college.

A fall 2023 survey by Trellis Strategies found 83 percent of youth formerly in foster care (YFFC) face financial difficulties while in college, compared to 71 percent of their peers. Three in five students with foster care experience said financial difficulties negatively impacted their ability to concentrate on schoolwork as well. In addition, 45 percent of former foster youth have very low food security and 69 percent are housing insecure.

One significant trend the report found was former foster youth have higher rates of help-seeking behaviors, with three-quarters saying they’ve reached out to an adviser or staff member for assistance with their financial struggles, compared to 64 percent of their peers.

Students were not aware of available supports, if offered, however. Only 39 percent of former foster youth reported their institution was aware of their financial challenges. Seven in 10 respondents were not aware if their college or university provided YFFC-specific programs, and 63 percent didn’t know if their state had aid programs for them. Colleges and universities often rely on students self-identifying on tuition and fee waivers to provide assistance, which demonstrates a gap in students who are not benefiting from available resources and services.

Among the 18 percent of students who said their institution has YFFC-specific aid programs, around three in five participated. Similarly, of the 25 percent who knew about state aid programs for YFFC, only half (54 percent) participated.

Recommendations: Researchers outline four recommendations for helping former foster youth thrive academically and personally in college and beyond.

1. Designate campus liaisons. A full-time, funded and trained liaison position can provide tailored support and guidance for learners. Texas colleges and universities are required to have at least one university representative who acts as a foster care liaison, and Texas State University is home to Foster Care Alumni Support, which provides students with experience in the foster care system with support and connection to their peers.
2. Create communication lines for awareness. Many students do not know the full suite of offerings available to them at their institution, so raising awareness among campus stakeholders about the unique challenges former foster youth have and available programs can help connect them to services. Guidance from knowledgeable individuals, one-on-one attention and consistent reminders can help former foster care youth be more aware of funding sources available to them, according to an August report from the Urban Institute.

3. Build out free supports. Former foster youth can benefit from trauma-informed counseling, tutoring, peer mentoring and dedicated support centers. The California State University system offers Guardian Scholars, which gives students year-round on-campus housing, priority registration, coaching, study spaces and community activities that promote their success.
4. Provide housing and meal assistance. College leaders should allocate housing spaces for students with foster care history and provide financial support for meals to alleviate basic needs insecurity. This financial aid should also be easy to access, as bureaucratic challenges can reduce the number of students who benefit from aid.

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