David Johnston, Connecticut Postsecondary Education Committee Chris Klefeker, Academic Adviser and Retention Specialist, Foster Care Liaison; Miami University Hamilton Alisha Hawkins , Coordinator Guardian Scholars Program; Ball State University Eileen McCaffrey , Executive Director; Orphan Foundation of America Columbus State Community College, May 12, 2009 How We Can Help Students Succeed

Higher Ed and Child Welfare as Partners Identify potential and current students Raise awareness of community resources for ALL students (i.e. housing, medical, food, transportation, child care, etc.) Forge relationships with people who have a history with your student and are familiar with his or her situation

Identify potential and current students

Raise awareness of community resources for ALL students (i.e. housing, medical, food, transportation, child care, etc.)

Forge relationships with people who have a history with your student and are familiar with his or her situation

First Steps Planning committee, representing relevant campus functions, creates a pilot. Designate a “champion” on campus; a "single point of contact for foster youth,” Create a “peer support group”, voluntarily attended, of foster youth on-campus – identified via ODJFS, foster parents, and quiet outreach on campus. Train campus staff about issues challenging foster youth on campus and over school breaks and vacations.

Planning committee, representing relevant campus functions, creates a pilot.

Designate a “champion” on campus; a "single point of contact for foster youth,”

Create a “peer support group”, voluntarily attended, of foster youth on-campus – identified via ODJFS, foster parents, and quiet outreach on campus.

Train campus staff about issues challenging foster youth on campus and over school breaks and vacations.

Open the Door to Their Future College visits FAFSA ETV funds GEAR UP: Gaining early awareness for undergraduate programs TRIO: First-generation college students AVID : Advancement via individual determination

College visits

FAFSA

ETV funds

GEAR UP: Gaining early awareness for undergraduate programs

TRIO: First-generation college students

AVID : Advancement via individual determination

College Recruitment Hold ILP classes on a college campus Send your foster care liaison to high school visits, or to group homes or transition housing Create posters and signs with Ohio Reach logo Hold advising appointments with the emancipation coordinator and the prospective or new student

Hold ILP classes on a college campus

Send your foster care liaison to high school visits, or to group homes or transition housing

Create posters and signs with Ohio Reach logo

Hold advising appointments with the emancipation coordinator and the prospective or new student

College Retention Better preparation Connections on campus Choosing a college closer to home OCOG and Pell Grant Peer Support Networks College Liaison Paired with a mentor in the community Connections amongst schools for smooth transfers or relocations

Better preparation

Connections on campus

Choosing a college closer to home

OCOG and Pell Grant

Peer Support Networks

College Liaison

Paired with a mentor in the community

Connections amongst schools for smooth transfers or relocations

Keys to Campus Survival Housing during breaks Transportation Support systems

Housing during breaks

Transportation

Support systems

What About Evaluation? Grades and GPA Courses taken On-Campus activities Transfers and reasons for doing so If dropped out, reasons for doing so Graduation Current status, whereabouts, activities – ideally at certain time intervals (e.g., 1,3, & 5 years)

Grades and GPA

Courses taken

On-Campus activities

Transfers and reasons for doing so

If dropped out, reasons for doing so

Graduation

Current status, whereabouts, activities – ideally at certain time intervals (e.g., 1,3, & 5 years)

Six Elements for Program Development: Designated leadership Internal and external champions Collaborations with community agencies Data-driven decision making Staff/peer support and professional development Sustainability planning

Designated leadership

Internal and external champions

Collaborations with community agencies

Data-driven decision making

Staff/peer support and professional development

Sustainability planning

Identifying College Students from Foster Care FAFSA data base queries (question #53) Work w/ your area independent living, child welfare/social workers, and agencies Brochures, posters, media spots Websites – both college, social services, and youth Foster care status question on applications & “sign in” forms Outreach to area high school counselors Use of Ohio Reach Symbol in your office and your Foster Care Liaison title on your business cards Word of mouth – student/youth networks

FAFSA data base queries (question #53)

Work w/ your area independent living, child welfare/social workers, and agencies

Brochures, posters, media spots

Websites – both college, social services, and youth

Foster care status question on applications & “sign in” forms

Outreach to area high school counselors

Use of Ohio Reach Symbol in your office and your Foster Care Liaison title on your business cards

Word of mouth – student/youth networks

Collaborative Student Support: ETV Colleges Emancipation/ ILP

Existing Models: Funded and Zero Budget

Funded Models Guardian Scholars - BSU Seita Scholars - WMU Dr. John Seita = foster care alum 2007 statewide conference initiated Scholarship covers tuition and FA covers most other expenses (*51 students) Campus Coaches Career plans; life skills Students on Planning Committee Initiated by Lumina Foundation approaching BSU Four campuses; three community colleges and one residential campus (*25-30 students) Life skills, tutoring, care packages, social programming Student Board

Guardian Scholars - BSU

Seita Scholars - WMU

Dr. John Seita = foster care alum

2007 statewide conference initiated

Scholarship covers tuition and FA covers most other expenses (*51 students)

Campus Coaches

Career plans; life skills

Students on Planning Committee

Initiated by Lumina Foundation approaching BSU

Four campuses; three community colleges and one residential campus (*25-30 students)

Life skills, tutoring, care packages, social programming

Student Board

Zero Budget Models Miami University All three regional campuses along with the new VOA site have named liaisons. The state does not provide additional assistance. Each liaison is linked with a different student support office: advising, learning assistance, transition/retention CA FYSI Schools 110 CA community colleges participating The state does not provide additional financial assistance Each campus has an appointed liaison, whom is typically associated with the Financial Aid Office or EOP

Miami University

All three regional campuses along with the new VOA site have named liaisons.

The state does not provide additional assistance.

Each liaison is linked with a different student support office: advising, learning assistance, transition/retention

CA FYSI Schools

110 CA community colleges participating

The state does not provide additional financial assistance

Each campus has an appointed liaison, whom is typically associated with the Financial Aid Office or EOP

Zero Budget Models Continued Miami University On the MU campuses the liaisons will work with an average of 1-4 FCA per year, in addition to recruitment and advocacy efforts Comprehensive Financial Aid package (based on a “O” EFC) Advising point of contact (*on three campuses) with their liaison CA FYSI Schools During 2007-2008 the smallest number of FCA seen by a campus was 1 student. The largest number seen was 495 students Comprehensive Financial Aid package and assistance with filling out forms Varying student supports i.e. counseling & advising

Miami University

On the MU campuses the liaisons will work with an average of 1-4 FCA per year, in addition to recruitment and advocacy efforts

Comprehensive Financial Aid package (based on a “O” EFC)

Advising point of contact (*on three campuses) with their liaison

CA FYSI Schools

During 2007-2008 the smallest number of FCA seen by a campus was 1 student. The largest number seen was 495 students

Comprehensive Financial Aid package and assistance with filling out forms

Varying student supports i.e. counseling & advising

Open Discussion