Creating Successful Transitions for Foster Youth CSU Counselors’ Conference 2009

1. Creating Successful Transitions for Foster YouthCSU Counselors’ Conference 2009 Presented by CSU Foster Youth Campus Support Programs

2. National and State Data • 547,000 children are in foster care in the U.S. • 20,000 youth 16 or older age out of foster care each year. • 100,000 children reside in California.

3. Barrier: Access • Only 15% of youth in foster care are likely to be enrolled in college prep courses during high school compared to 32% of all students. • Only about 20% of former foster youth go on to college compared to about 60% of all high school seniors. • Only 3% will eventually graduate from college as compared to about 27% of the general adult population. • Over 70% of youth in foster care report that they desire to go to college.

4. College Completion Rates 6 Years Post Enrollment Overall – all students 52% Low socio-economic status 44% Hispanic students 40% First generation college students 43% African American students 38% GED completers 27% ‘Independent’ students 22% From foster care 20%

5. Changes to the CSU Mentor Application Page 3 Personal Information • Question: Are you a foster youth, orphan, or ward of the court or were you prior to age 18? Foster youth should mark yes to this question. • “Total Annual Family Income and Family Size”: Under federal regulations, you are considered a dependent student if you are under 24 years old unless you are a graduate student, are married or have dependents other than a spouse, are an orphan/ward of the court, or are a veteran or active duty member of the U.S. armed services. • If dependent, select parents’ 2009 total annual income (taxed and untaxed) and enter family size including your parents, yourself, and other dependents. • If independent, select the total annual income (taxed and untaxed) for you (and your spouse if married) and enter your family size including yourself, spouse, and other dependents. • Foster youth should complete under “independent” their income and family size. If they do not have any dependents, they should answer “1”.

6. Changes to the CSU Mentor Application Page 11 Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) • Please have foster youth mark yes when asked if they would like to apply to EOP • Question: Do you live with: Legal Guardian or Independently • A caregiver or other person with whom you are living is only considered a legal guardian if a court in your state of legal residence has established guardianship. Foster youth should mark one of these choices if they have a copy of a court order indicating that legal guardianship or foster care placement was established. Page 12 Application Fee Waiver • This section can only be completed once so please make sure to answer correctly. • Question: Are you a foster youth, orphan or ward of the court or were you prior to age 18? • Foster Youth should mark yes to this question.

7. Established Programs • CSU San Bernardino, EOP Foster Youth Program • CSU San Marcos, ACE Scholars • CSU Stanislaus, Promise Scholars • San Diego State University, Guardian Scholars • San Francisco State University, Guardian Scholars • San Jose State University, Connect, Motivate, Educate (CME) Society • CSU Dominguez Hills • CSU East Bay, Renaissance Scholars • CSU Fresno, Renaissance Scholars • CSU Fullerton, Guardian Scholars • CSU Los Angeles, Court Scholars • CSU Pomona, Renaissance Scholars • CSU Northridge, Resilient Scholars • CSU Sacramento, Guardian Scholars

8. Outreach and Recruitment Admissions assistance Financial assistance Housing assistance Orientation to college life (e.g., EOP Summer Bridge) Academic advising and monitoring Counseling and support Mentorship opportunities Life skills workshops Employment opportunities Social and quarterly celebrations Post-graduation career planning and assistance Student Drop-In Center Support Services May Include:

9. Cal State Bakersfield Keith Powell, Director Educational Support Services 9001 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93311-1099 (661) 654-2276 kfpowell@csub.edu Cal State Chico Joshua Whittinghill, EOP Advisor Renaissance Scholars 400 West First Street Chico, CA 95329-0710 (530) 898-6831 jwhittinghill@csuchico.edu Cal State Dominguez Hills Martha Clavelle, Student Support Services 1000 E. Victoria Street Carson, CA 90747 (310) 243-3646 mclavelle@csudh.edu Cal State East Bay Kevin Bristow, Coordinator Renaissance Scholars Program 25800 Carlos Bee Boulevard Hayward, CA 94542-3056 (510) 885-4426 kevin.bristow@csueastbay.edu Cal State Fresno Kizzy Lopez, Coordinator Renaissance Scholars Program 5150 N. Maple Ave., M/S/ JA 62 Fresno, CA 93740-8026 (559) 278-5055 kizzyl@csufresno.edu Cal State Fullerton Grace Johnson, Director Guardian Scholars Program P.O. Box 6828 Fullerton, CA 92834 (714) 278-4900 gjohnson@fullerton.edu Cal State Los Angeles Mitch Eisen, Professor Court Scholars KH C3060 Los Angeles, CA 90032 (323)343-5006 meisen@calstatela.edu Cal State Long Beach Andy Espinoza, Director Educational Opportunity Program 1250 Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90840 (562) 985-5637 aespinoz@csulb.edu Cal State Monterey Bay Berj Amir, Retention Advisor Educational Opportunity Program 100 Campus Center, Bldg. 47 Seaside, CA 93955-8001 (831) 582-5148 Berj_amir@csumb.edu Cal State Northridge Jose Luis Vargas, Director EOP Resilient Scholars 1811 Nordoff St. Northridge, CA 91330 (818) 677-4151 Jose.luis.vargas@csun.edu Cal State Sacramento Dr. Joy Salvetti, Director Guardian Scholars Program 6000 J. Street, Sacramento Hall 3014 Sacramento, CA 95819 (916) 278-3643 jsalvetti@csus.edu Cal State San Bernardino Tristan Garcia, Coordinator EOP Foster Youth Program 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407 (909) 537-3051 tgarcia@csusb.edu Cal State San Marcos Jim Mickelson, Director ACE Scholars 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd. San Marcos, CA 92096 (760) 750-4869 jsm@csusm.edu Cal State Stanislaus Wanda Bonnell, Coordinator Promise Scholars 801 West Monte Vista Ave. Turlock, CA 95382 (209) 667-3108 wbonnell@csustan.edu Cal Poly Pomona Sara Gamez, Coordinator Renaissance Scholars 3801 West Temple Ave. Pomona, CA 91768 (909) 869-3169 sigamez@csupomona.edu Humboldt State University Adrienne Colegrove-Raymond Academic Support Programs 1 Harpst Street Arcata, CA 95521 (707) 826-4791 abc1@humboldt.edu San Diego State University Wendy Craig, Assistant Director Guardian Scholars Program 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego, CA 92182-4735 (619) 594-4276 wcraig@mail.sdsu.edu San Francisco State University Xochitl Sanchez-Zarama, Director Guardian Scholars Program 1600 Holloway Ave. San Francisco, CA 94132-4028 (415)405-0546 xvsz@sfsu.edu San Jose State University Connie Hernandez-Robbins, Director CME (Connect, Motivate, Educate) Society One Washington Square San Jose, CA 95192-0031 (408) 924-1089 connie.hernandez-robbins@sjsu.edu CSU Office of the Chancellor Jenny Vinopal, Assistant Director Foster Youth Programs 401 Golden Shore, 6th Floor Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 951-4734 jvinopal@calstate.edu CSU Foster Youth Support Contact List

10. California Student Aid Commission California Chafee Grant Program • This is a federally funded program administered through the California Student Aid Commission. • Gives up to $5000 to eligible former foster youth to use for career and technical training or college courses at California Community Colleges, Cal State Universities and University of California campuses, etc. www.chafee.csac.ca.gov

11. Foster Youth Scholarship Programs • Foster A Dream (Bay Area) • Fostering Futures (Bay Area) • Larkin Street (Bay Area) • Orphan Foundation of America (National) • Orangewood Children’s Foundation (Orange County) • Silicon Valley Children’s Fund – YES Scholars • United Friends of the Children (Los Angeles County) • Promise 4 Kids (San Diego County) • Board of Governors Fee Waiver- BOG (Community Colleges)

12. Foster Youth Services (FYS) • Foster Youth Services (FYS) was established to support the education needs of foster youth in K-12. FYS provide support services to help youth transition through their educational journey while in care. • FYS programs are located in 57 of 58 counties and provide local higher education agencies a natural bridge to partners who address the K-12 challenges facing foster youth.  Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) • Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) was developed by the CA Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) to provide a system-wide framework to support former foster youth by designating a FYSI Liaison at all 110 California Community Colleges. The FYSI produced a manual and resource guide to educate the Liaisons on how to work with students from foster care.

13. Foster Youth Educational Planning Guide What’s Inside? • This planning guide contains checklists, tips and information to support foster youth from 7th grade through 12th grade who have a dream of a college education. Who should have one? • Foster youth, caregivers, social workers, educators and advocates. Why should I need it? • To monitor and track the educational progress of foster youth to career and college preparation. How can I get more? • If you would like additional printed copies of the Planning Guide, please contact me at Jenny Vinopal jvinopal@calstate.edu or (562)951-4734.

14. What You Can Do • Connect with the Foster Youth Services (FYS) liaison in your school district or the Foster Youth Success Initiative at the community colleges. • Identify foster youth at your school and advocate for school stability (for foster youth to remain in the same school K-12). • Prepare and encourage your students to pursue higher education and track their progress closely. • Advise students to complete the a-g requirements and get them on the college track early. • Find out more information about the county independent living program and the resources they offer.

15. This presentation will be available on the web! Visit www.calstate.edu/fosteryouth for specific programs available to foster youth at the 23 California State University campuses. Questions & Answers