Campus support of foster care youth

1. Sullivan-Deckard Scholars
Opportunity Program
Cleveland State University
Cleveland, Ohio
Overview Presentation for Ohio Reach
Columbus, Ohio
December 8, 2015
Charleyse S. Pratt, PhD. Program Director
Cleveland State University 2015
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2. Program Overview
Seven Core Program Components
The Sullivan-Deckard Scholars Opportunity Program features seven programmatic components, customized to help students who are
aging out of foster care to make a smooth transition from high school to independent living and university life, academic success, and
degree completion.
1. Financial aid for tuition, books, fees and instructional resources
2. Year-round housing with an approved meal plan
3. Academic coaching and institutional support services
4. On-campus employment with Career advising, mentoring
5. Campus and community engagement with over 40 volunteers pledged to provide
additional student support
6. Peer assistance, mentoring, and support
7. A Structured Transition Plan to university life and academic success
Cleveland State University 2015
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3. Important Program Milestones
1. Program Development – Implementation = less than 12 months
2. Inaugural cohort of 10 scholarship recipients recruited and enrolled = Summer 2015
3. A Structured Transition Plan to university life and academic success
4. Recruitment of Village Resource Group = 40+ participants
5. Retention of 100% of inaugural cohort at end of Fall 2015 semester
• On-campus employment with career advising, mentoring
• Campus and community engagement with over 40 volunteers pledged to provide
additional student support
• Peer assistance, mentoring, and support
Cleveland State University 2015
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Sullivan-Deckard Scholars Opportunity Program

4. Program Success
• Donor meeting – Vision Sharing
• Research & Program Design
• Donor Gift Confirmed - August
• Announcement - December
• Faculty Senate Approval of Summer
Program
• Infrastructure Created
• Village Resource Group Established
• Recruitment and Selection Inaugural
Cohort – Jan to Mar
• Phase One – 2-week Workshop - June
Structured Summer Transition Program
• Phase Two – 6 week summer session - July
Structured Summer Transition Program
(enrolled in 7 credit hours)
• Begin Fall 2015 semester classes – Aug
(12-14 credit hours)
Jan 2014 – Dec 2014
Fall 2015 Outcomes
• Eight of ten Scholars ended summer session with
4.0 GPA & 7 credit hours; Two earned 3.78 GPA
& 7 credit hours
• Fall Semester, each Scholar has received:
• 8 hours of staff contact/coaching (1on1)
• 4 hours of Group training/coaching
• Scholars completed total of 1295.5
study-table hours; lowest individual
average = 5.5/week, highest average =
10.8 per week)
• Mid-term grades = 4 Scholars earned all
A & B grades; 4 Scholars earned A, B & C
grades; one Scholar earned 2 D grades, &
one scholar earned one Failing grade.
• 100% of inaugural Cohort retained
• Winter Break Activities Confirmed
• Spring 2016 Schedules Confirmed
Sullivan-Deckard Scholars Opportunity Program
Jan 2015 – Nov 2015
Cleveland State University 2015
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5. Four Emergent Challenges
Sullivan-Deckard Scholars Opportunity Program
1. Being Emancipated
2. Survivalist Self-Reliance
3. Multiple Eligibilities
4. Social and Emotional Support
Cleveland State University 2015
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