Majoring in Success: Supporting TAY in Higher Education

Presented by:

Tracy Schiro, Assistant Director, San Luis Obispo County DSS

Marie Hughes, Education Services Manager, Family Care Network, Inc.

Presenters

Tracy Schiro currently serves as the Social Services Assistant Director of San Luis Obispo County.

She oversees the Child Welfare Services, Adult Services, Participants Services (CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, Food Assistance, General Assistance, and Foster Care) and the Workforce Investment (WIA) Program

Committees she has served on include: First 5 Commission, California Welfare Directors’ Children’s Committee, CSEC Action Team, Child Death Review Board, Workforce Investment Board Leadership, Cuesta College Advisory Panel , Children’s Services Network Truancy and Dropout Taskforce, Independent Living Program Advisory Board

Tracy’s leadership goals are to eliminate poverty, ensure accessible health care, and secure permanency and well-being for children.

Presenters

Marie Hughes is the Education Service Manager for Family Care Network, Inc. & Supervisor for the San Luis Obispo County Independent Living Program.

Served as coordinator for the Transitional Age Youth Financial Assistance Program for nearly four years.

Has worked in a variety of mental health, social service, and foster care positions for nearly 15 years.

Awarded the 2014 Champion of Youth award from the San Luis Obispo Community Foundation for her work with the TAY population.

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Learning Objectives

Participants will learn the causes & barriers to foster youth succeeding in higher education

Participants will learn the Best-Practices & solutions for promoting foster youth success in college

Participants will learn about a model program in California and how to replicate it

Participants will learn about other successful models

Multiple Barriers to Participation in Higher Education

Educational

disruption

Effects of past trauma

Financial

resources

Personal support

8% of foster youth attain

a post secondary degree by

age 26 compared to 47% of same

age peers

M. Courtney. “Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age 26.” 2011

Factors that impact foster youth success

Little to no support Limited role models with college

education Choosing between working to meet basic

needs and education Limited knowledge on educational and

career pathways

Best Practices-Interventions that work

Pre-enrollment/attendance strategies

Providing housing and other basic needs

Campus-based services & supports

Social integration and leadership opportunities

Financial assistance

Transitional Age Youth Financial Assistance Program (TAY-FAP)

Why TAY-FAP?

Increased awareness that local foster youth face financial barriers to attending post-secondary education, and often times lack personal connections and support systems as well.

Most youth continue receiving assistance from parents until the age of 26 years, we felt a responsibility to the youth in our care to support them in pursuing their education.

Purpose of TAY-FAP

To provide financial support to ILP eligible TAY with needs related

to enrolling in or maintaining enrollment in school or

employment that enhances their ability to achieve independence

and self-sufficiency.

Transitional Age Youth Financial Assistance Program (TAY-FAP) ELIGIBILITY

Core Requirements for Eligibility

Eligible for ILP** in San Luis Obispo County (this includes THPP, THP+ and THP+FC youth in SLO county) and:

Attending or enrolled in a California University (CSU or UC), California Community College or Vocational Program

Has exhausted all other financing options covered by Financial Aid, Chafee Grants, etc.

Funds will enhance TAY’s ability to achieve independence and self-sufficiency

**Exception: If a youth is currently receiving TAY-FAP funds and enrolled in school beyond the age of 21, they may

receive funds continuing support until they graduate (not to exceed 24 years of age)

Who is involved?

Key Collaborators

County DSS

Provides funding through WRAP

reserve funds

Family Care

Network

Implements program,

tracks data,

provides case

management

ILP

Refers eligible youth &

help them apply

College Counselo

r

Provides 1:1

support to foster youth

TAY-FAP Results

70 youth currently enrolled

21 Confirmed graduates

1 attended graduate

school

TAY-FAP has served 170 youth

since July 2010

119 attended community college and 20 attended a 4

year university

What Does TAY-FAP Provide?

Housing in a dormitory or apartment

Transportation

School supplies, textbooks, lab fees

Urgent or essential needs

Savings match <$100 a month

Mentorship

Case management past age 21

Budgeting Form and Teaching Tool

Non-financial Support

Case management support Regular check-in (phone, email, in-

person) Notes of encouragement and

acknowledgement Linking to campus and community

resources Monthly email reminders that

include empowering quotes and thought provoking questions (see sample email)

Non-financial Support

Tutoring & Mentoring Support youth in obtaining tutoring

through their school or one of our screened agency tutors

Discuss study habits and strategies for success

Link youth with a mentor through our agency or support them in connecting with a mentor in their area

• Name• Phone Number• Email• Mailing address/school address• Dependency status (300, 302, NMD)• Type of school (Vocational, 2 yr, 4 yr)• Local/out of area• Estimated graduation date• Enrollment status• Completion status• FY participation• Extended FC eligibility• TAY-FAP status (active, inactive,

ineligible)• Transfer status

• Degree goal• ILP eligibility• TAY-FAP case management

support• Mentor/tutor

request/assignment• Start date for TAY-FAP support• Savings Match participation• Alumni follow up • Employment status • Housing status after graduation• Marital status of current

participants• Parenting• End date for participation

Demographic and Outcome Data Tracking

Financial Tracking

• Books, materials, fees

• Rent/deposits, utilities

• Gas, bus passes, car repairs and purchases

• Medical needs (glasses, contacts)

Education

Housing

Transportation

Groceries

Others

Lessons Learned

Partnering with the community Collaboration and role

clarification Finding the teachable moments-

looking for solutions Empowering & coaching youth to

take responsibility and the lead on their lives

Other Programs Improving Foster Youth Higher Education Success

California’s Foster Youth Success Initiative

http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/StudentServices/FosterYouthSuccessInitiatives.aspx

Guardians Scholars Program

http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov/pdfs/guardianscholars.pdf

College Foster Youth Liaisons

References

Day, A., Dworsky, A., Fogarty, K., & Damashek, A. (2011). An examination of post-secondary retention and graduation among foster care youth enrolled in a four- year university. Children and Youth Services Review,

33, 2335-2341. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.004

Family Care Network (2012). Lifebook: For transitional age youth. http://www.amazon.com/Lifebook-transitional-age-youth-1/dp/0988524805/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437763540&sr=8-1&keywords=family+care+network+Life+book

Freundlich, M., Greenblatt, S., Walters, D., Tiede, L., Toth, B., Berkley, K….& Stangler, G. (2011). The adolescent brain: New research and its implications for young people transitioning from foster care. (Research Report).Retrieved from http://www.jimcaseyyouth.org

Rassen, E., Cooper, D.M., & Mery, P. (2010). Serving special populations: A study of former foster youth at California community colleges. Journal

of Applied Research in the Community College, 17(2), 24-34.

Unrau, Y.A., Font, S.A, & Rawls, G. (2012). Readiness for college engagement among students who have aged out of foster care. Children and

Youth Services Review, 34, 76-83. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.09.002

Contact Information

San Luis Obispo County Department of Social

Services

www.slocounty.ca.gov/dss

(805) 781-1600

“We partner with the community to enhance self-sufficiency while

ensuring that safety and basic human needs are

met for the people of San Luis Obispo County.”

Family Care Network, Inc.www.fcni.org

(805)781-35351255 Kendall Rd.

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

“To enhance the wellbeing of children and families, in

partnership with our community.”