A national collaborative of higher education researchers and practitioners gathered in Washington, DC to discuss foster care alumni in higher education. Dr. Lisa Schelbe, faculty at Florida State University, and I are began a longitudinal study in 2016 of Unconquered Scholars Program participants graduating with a bachelors degree to assess outcomes.  Campus-based support programs, like Unconquered Scholars, can foster student success. However, little is known about outcomes of students after graduation. How do students with a history of foster care or homelessness who participated in a campus-based support program fare after graduation? This study surveys students at graduation, 6 months post-graduation, and one-year post-graduation to explore their experiences. Findings indicate that at graduation, students have post-graduation plans and are optimistic. At follow-up, graduates identified obstacles including finances and lack of support. Study findings have implications for preparing students with a history of foster care and homelessness for life after graduation. This presentation highlights a few findings, thus far.

1. Looking beyond graduation:
Experiences of former foster youth and
homeless students who were involved in a
campus-based support program
Lisa Schelbe, Ph.D., MSW Florida State University
Lisa Jackson, LCSW, MSW Florida State University

2. Today’s Conversation
Campus Support Program Overview
Research Findings
Questions and Discussion

3. Unconquered Scholars
Program
• Foster Care Alumni
• Homelessness
• Relative Care
• Ward of the State
Provide qualified Florida State University students guidance, continual
mentor-ship, advocacy, security, and a voice to further ensure their
personal academic success and long-term independence.
Our Mission

4. Retention Barriers
Academics
Funding
Engagement
Essential Needs
Overall Health

5. Retention Strategies
• Alternate admission mechanism
– Reduced admission requirements
– Early identification
– Summer Bridge Program
• Academics
– Departmental and campus-wide academic support
• Funding
– Federal financial aid
– Department of Children and Families Tuition and Fee
Waiver
– Homeless Tuition and Fee Exemption
– Institutional funding

6. Retention Strategies
• Engagement
– Student Advisory Board
– Informs programming
• Essential Needs
– Gap housing
– Meal plans/food pantry
• Overall Health
– Medical care
– Psychotherapy

7. Unconquered Scholars
90% Retention  85% Graduation
2.9 Cumulative GPA

8. Background: Life after
Graduation Study
• The study seeks to understand graduates’
experiences after leaving college and having
been involved with Unconquered Scholars, a
campus-based support program.
• Additionally, the study seeks feedback from
graduates about Unconquered Scholars
Program and what could be done to improve
the program.

9. Evaluation Overview
• Online survey
– At graduation
– Six months after graduation
– One year after graduation
• Questions
– Survey questions
– Open ended responses
• Data collected starting 2016
– Issues with retention
– Incentives started 2018

10. Participants
• 29 graduating students participated at
baseline; 16 graduates participated at 6-
month follow-up
• Race/Ethnicity
African American/Black: 20 (69%)
White/Caucasian: 6 (21%)
Hispanic/Latino: 4 (14%)
• Gender
Female 25 (86%) Male 4 (14%)

11. At Graduation
• On average, students report being engaged
(frequently/many times using programs) with
programs and find the programs fairly to very
helpful.

12. At Graduation
• When it comes to feeling prepared for life
after graduation, there was a range in
responses.
– The vast majority of students feel fairly prepared
with a minority feeling completely, somewhat or
not at all.
– About half the students report feeling completely
competent that they will be able to find a job they
are suited for after graduation.

13. How did the program
help during college?
• Support
• Resources
• Guidance
• Inspiration
• Confidence

14. • “It offered my resources to make my college expiernece
[sic]. It provided me confidence to overcome all
obstacles. It offered me people I could lean on in time of
need. I was provided with success coaches, mentors, and
life saver I couldn’t have done it without Unconquered.”
• “It kept me on track and confidence that I can do more
than I originally believed.”
• “The Unconquered Scholars Program supported me
mentally and emotionally to know that I was not alone
during my undergraduate experience. It helped me to
know that I had somene [sic] behind me who wanted to
see me succeed rather than me just being another
number at Florida State.”
Graduates’ Words

15. Favorite thing about being
an Unconquered Scholar
• Support system
• Family away from home
– “It was a family right on campus”
• “Community of peers”
– “My favorite thing was having a group of students
around me that were familiar with my
circumstances…”
– “The feeling of unity and being around individuals
who have been in similar situations like mine”
• Safe space

16. At 6-month Follow-up
• Half of graduates were in graduate school
• 75% were employed (only 2 graduates were
working part time)
– 25% were looking for employment
• Approximately 1/3 felt completely prepared to
pay bills after college
• Most graduates lived with roommates or
family
• Almost all mentioned specific obstacles

17. Post-Graduation
Obstacles
• Money
• Limited social support
• Adjusting to working

18. What would help
prepare for life after
college?
• Develop money management skills
• Offer workshops on life after graduation
• Focus on career planning
• Assist with applying to graduate school
• Facilitate connections with graduates

19. Implications
• The launch from college can be challenging for foster
care alumni and students experiencing homelessness.
• In addition to providing support and resources to
students involved in campus-based support programs,
attention should be paid to developing life skills that
are needed after graduation.
• Campus-based support programs may be helpful for
graduate students, although they should be tailored to
their unique needs.
• Graduates from campus-based support programs may
benefit from support and resources during the first
year after graduation.

20. Thoughts on Findings
• Limited data exists about how foster care
alumni fare after graduating from college.
• Considering the small sample from only one
campus-based support program, we cannot
generalize the findings to all students who
graduate after being involved in a campus-
based support program.
• There is a need for more research to better
understand the needs of graduates as they
transition out of college.

21. Acknowledgements
• Unconquered Scholars
• Tadarryal Starke
• Pam MacDill
• Tom Herndon
• Florida Department of Children and Families
• Florida State University

22. Questions?
For more information:
Lisa Schelbe Lschelbe@fsu.edu
Lisa Jackson Lisa Jackson lisa.a.jackson@fsu.edu