WASHINGTON, D.C. – Casey Family Programs today released recommendations to improve the economic, health, and academic outcomes of foster youth. The national operating foundation convened the Higher Education and Child Welfare Summit in Washington, D.C., to address barriers to higher education for youth transitioning out of foster care, and to bridge the gap between the postsecondary education and child welfare communities. Participants included leaders from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, the Children’s Defense Fund, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others.
“This summit is a critical opportunity for the child welfare and higher education communities to come together to support the creation of new postsecondary educational opportunities for youth in foster care,” said Ruth Massinga, President and CEO of Casey Family Programs, the convening foundation.
Recommendations for the reauthorization of HEA are designed to improve the academic and economic outcomes of foster youth without creating new programs or increasing the authorization amount of HEA. The three recommendations are:
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Require the U.S. General Accounting Office to study how to expand the concept of “ability to benefit” to increase the number of deserving foster youth who have access to a higher education.
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Require the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance to provide recommendations for expanding foster youth access to federal financial aid.
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Encourage TRIO and GEAR UP programs to make foster youth a priority.
“With incremental, low-cost, and widely supported changes we can improve outcomes of foster youth,” said Massinga. “And we can better understand the barriers to success, provide high-quality services, and expand access to financial aid.”
Every year more than 20,000 teens turn 18 and must leave foster care. A recent study showed that a high percentage–70 percent–have a desire to attend college.
“Every youth in foster care should have the dream to go to college and the opportunities to make it a reality,” said Phu Nguyen, an alumnus of foster care. “I’m encouraged by the commitment of the higher education and child welfare communities to make sure the thousands of young adults transitioning from foster care have access to higher educational opportunities.”
A Working Group has been created to continue the efforts of the Summit.
Journalists may request a complete list of participants and/or a copy of the full report, available Dec. 1, 2003, by contacting Annemarie Hou, media@casey.org.