1. A Foster Youth’s Journey…
from Middle School to Post-Secondary Education
2. Middle School Experience
• Did family problems negatively impact on
your school experience / attendance?
• Did you ever feel judged or labeled?
• Did you have adults in your life that you
could turn to with problems?
3. Best and Worst
Practices
• What does it look like when a school-related staff
member responds to the needs of a foster youth in
middle school in a way that is LESS than helpful?
• "What does it look like when they do it right?"
5. High School Experience
• How many school changes did you
have?
• Did the schools use the same textbook?
• Did your credits transfer?
6. Barriers to College Preparation
• Foster youth attend five high schools on average
• 65% percent change schools mid-year
• With each transfer, lose 4-6 months of progress
• Only 15% enrolled in college prep courses in high
school
7. Recommendations from Casey
Family Programs
• Expect students in foster care to be
successful in school and prepare them
for postsecondary education or training.
• Know your students coming from foster
care, meet their caregivers and social
workers, and commit to school stability
for the student whenever possible.
• Arrange for students to participate in
course work and activities that maximize
their postsecondary education and
training options.
8. Recommendations from Casey
Family Programs
• Arrange for career/vocational
assessments, work experiences, and
career exploration type experiences.
• Help students learn about and apply for
colleges and/or training programs that
are of interest and appropriate
(academically, financially, career wise,
supportive, geographically, etc.) –
follow through with the enrollment
process.
9. • Steps to take
• Order to take them in
• Resources available
10. Best and Worst
Practices
• Who, if anyone helped you during your time in high
school to prepare for college?
• What more could have been done to help you to
prepare in order to succeed?
11. Tips On Choosing A College
• College visits
• “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”
• Out-of-state tuition is much higher
• Consider housing situation (dorm vs. apartment)
• Does this school have an Ohio Reach Liaison?
13. • Ohio Reach is a statewide initiative to
increase the number of foster care youth
who enroll in and graduate from college.
• Part of how we do this is by establishing
Foster Care Liaisons at Ohio universities
and community colleges.
14. Ohio College Opportunity Grant
(OCOG)
Available for Former Foster Youth
At Community Colleges
Eligibility Requirements
ETV eligibility form
Students must provide Financial Aid Office with
that form. Financial Aid office must double-check
that student is listed on their roster as eligible for
OCOG.
The amount will reflect $0, but the Ohio Board of
Regents will override that after receiving the ETV
notification.
15. Ohio College Opportunity Grant
(OCOG)
If School Doesn’t Know About the OCOG
Or How to Apply It
Questions About the OCOG?
Contact the Ohio Board of Regents
Financial Aid Help Desk
1-888-833-1133
http://regents.ohio.gov/sgs/ocog
18. What Can ETV pay for?
* ETV funds pay for college and vocational school
related costs.
However, with fewer funds to award, ETV’s first
priority is to award funds to remaining tuition,
books. An effort is ALWAYS made to supersede loans
when possible.
• Then, if not paid by other stipends, ETV attempts to
pay requests for rent, living expenses, and
computers. Almost every student’s situation
is different.
For more information on the federal definition of “cost
of attendance,” visit www.ed.gov/policy.
19. What Forms Are Required
for OH ETV?
1. Financial Aid Release Form: Student should take
the ETV to the financial aid office, where it is
completed and faxed to OH ETV.
2. Cashier’s Statement: Student should take the ETV
to the
cashier/bursar’s office, where it is completed and
faxed along
With dated copy of the student’s ITEMIZED BILL for
that term.
Students cannot be funded without completed ETV
forms
and a current school bill.
21. Students can view check
disbursements made to them or a third
party.
22. Staying in touch with OFA
to receive/maintain ETV
1. Stay in touch with OFA: If they lose touch with a
student after 5 attempts by phone and email, the
youth’s application is “made inactive” until OFA
hears from them.
2. Keep track of user name/password: Students
should watch their STATUS Page, which shows
them term by term, what forms and transcripts
are received or missing. They can see what checks
have been issued for them, or to them, term by
term.
Students can update their personal information 24/7,
so that they will get their checks at the right
place, and OFA can write and call them monthly.
Did you ever act out negative feelings about family life at school? How did you want to be treated by staff at school – teachers, guidance counselors….
For this topic, I am going to share a horror story: What I am thinking that teachers might need in order to live out the heart of your message is a roadmap / role-play / example."What does it look like when a teacher responds to the needs of a foster youth in middle school in a way that is LESS than helpful?"and"What does it look like when they do it right?"
Jump activity – not only do THEY (youth) need to know, but WE (adult supporters) need to know: the steps to take, the order to take them in, and the resources available Hand them gameboard
College preparation starts in high school – who is the young person’s educational advocate? Whose job is it to care about our education?
Improving Postsecondary Education and Training Preparation, Access & Completion for Students in Foster Care “ 10” Actions Independent Living Personnel, Social Workers, High School Counselors/Advisors, and Caregivers/Foster Parents Can Take to Make a Difference!
Improving Postsecondary Education and Training Preparation, Access & Completion for Students in Foster Care “ 10” Actions Independent Living Personnel, Social Workers, High School Counselors/Advisors, and Caregivers/Foster Parents Can Take to Make a Difference!
Jump activity – not only do THEY (youth) need to know, but WE (adult supporters) need to know: the steps to take, the order to take them in, and the resources available Hand them gameboard
Dragon Lady Lyons was my high school English teacher.I was the only Junior in Senior English class, because I had always (since elementary school) been ahead in that subject.Every English teacher I had before Mrs. Lyons was an Easy A. But maintaining an A+ average in Dragon Lady Lyons class was anything but easy. She made you work for it -- and I did.It was HER letter to the University of Kentucky that convinced Randy Mills that I had what it takes to succeed in college as a 16-year-old student. Randi Mills served as College Admissions Counselor at the University of Kentucky. When I came in as an uncertain 16-year-old whose credits deemed her worthy of entering college, Randy sprang into ACTION.- He bypassed the one credit I needed (Math) to enter college.- He walked me down the hallway to Financial Aid and told them: "This girl needs GRANTS -- she has NO family income!"It was because of his availability and advocacy that I was not only admitted into college, but ended up with a Bachelors and Masters degree.
College preparation starts in high school – who is the young person’s educational advocate?
NAME THAT RESOURCE
Break it down into simple steps – so it’s not overwhelming
Print sample copies of Financial Aid Release Form & Cashier’s Statement
Print sample copies of Financial Aid Release Form & Cashier’s Statement
- ETV Student Applicants must be a current, or former foster youth who: Was in foster care on their 18th birthday and aged out at that time; OR Was adopted from foster care with the adoption finalized AFTER his/her 16th birthday; OR Will have his/her foster care case closed between the ages of 18 and 21. - Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen. - Be at least 18, but younger than 21, to apply for the first time. - Have been accepted into or be enrolled in a degree, certificate or other accredited program at a college, university, technical, vocational school. - To remain eligible for ETV funding, students must show progress toward a degree or certificate.
Print sample copies of Financial Aid Release Form & Cashier’s Statement
Print sample copies of Financial Aid Release Form & Cashier’s Statement
Print sample copies of Financial Aid Release Form & Cashier’s Statement
Jump activity – not only do THEY (youth) need to know, but WE (adult supporters) need to know: the steps to take, the order to take them in, and the resources available Hand them gameboard
