
Course Summary
In this course, you can expect to learn:
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The unique challenges and barriers foster youth encounter when pursuing higher education
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The challenges foster parents face with creating a “college-going” culture, and how to overcome them
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How to encourage and support foster youth--at home and in school--in their pursuit of higher education

Step 1 (5 min)
Watch Marquis, a former foster youth, share his inspiring story and journey (14 different homes and 15 different schools in a four-year period), culminating in graduation from the University of Cal State Northridge.
Step 2 (20 min)
Learn the unique challenges and barriers foster youth face in pursuing higher education, and how a new piece of legislation (HEASHFY) may help remove some of the barriers.
Step 3 (15 min)
Discover some of the challenges confronting foster parents in their efforts to support a young person’s educational goals; and how Kayla, a former youth in care, excelled in school and became a straight-A student once she was placed with a supportive foster parent.
Step 4 (10 min)
Read and watch how PrepNOW, a web-based curriculum and interactive learning tool, is helping foster parents better prepare foster youth for college by creating a “college-going” culture at home (Click on both the video and infographic). Their online curriculum (paid subscription if interested) not only shows parents how to support and guide youth through the college admissions and financial aid processes, but also steps to ensure academic success.
Step 5 (10 min)
Get a head start on encouraging and preparing foster youth for post-secondary education. Read how Fostering Success Michigan’s College Application Toolkit is helping foster parents and high school-aged foster youth prepare for college enrollment (Click on the links within the article for more detailed information).
Step 6 (10 min)
See how the College Preparation Checklist (Downloadable PDF) from the U.S. Department of Education provides a helpful to-do list in preparing youth for higher education.
Step 7 (5 min)
Briefly review the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Other Financial Aid Resources for Foster Youth.
Step 8 (5 min)
Join the Discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:
As a current or prospective foster parent, what do (did?) you perceive as the greatest barriers to creating a "college-going" culture at home? If applicable, how did you overcome/remove these barriers? For those trying to build/help a family build a "college-going" culture, what advice would you give them?
Course Discussion
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