Understanding Belongingness, Support, and Perseverance: An Exploratory Study of the Educational Experiences of Foster Youth in California
Introduction
Foster youth in California face systemic barriers that can interfere with their educational success, from K-12 instability to college challenges, with graduation rates and college enrollment far below state averages.
In this study, our research team partnered with young leaders with foster care experience from California Youth Connection to center their lived experiences and answer the following research questions:
How did foster youth experience the foster care system?
What were the high school experiences of foster youth?
What were the college-going experiences of foster youth?
Key Findings
Students who experienced foster care had contrasting experiences of support and isolation while seeking belonging in the foster care system.
Lilana, a student with foster care experience, said:
“I always saw other families being supportive, showing up to events, doing events together. I felt alone all the time. Not having that support system or family, my body still craves my mom being there. That itself affected my whole life because it affected the way I saw myself, which affected my focus, which affected the way I learned.”
Students who experienced foster care experienced a mix of support, belonging, and safety in high school, with some contrasting aspects.
Jamal, from Los Angeles County, said:
“With foster kids, checking in matters. I had one teacher; he would always check up on us. I think every two weeks or something. I had a really good connection with him. We would always talk. He would always offer assistance, if I needed it, from when I was doing track and he offered to get some things I needed to compete. That was a really good connection. He would give us little gift cards every now and then, if we were doing good, he’d always congratulate us if we were doing good.”
Support systems are critical for students who experienced foster care in navigating college choices and persistence.
Marcela, from Los Angeles, said:
“My [foster youth support program (FYSP)] understood the need for a safety net and the need for family. I’ve always said, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have made it through college because anything and everything I needed, things that you go to your mom and dad for, I had the [FYSP]…. I looked to them for everything, mental health support, financial support, housing support, academic support. And the good thing about the program was that they had people on their advisory committee that worked at the university and were able to support us in different capacities.”
Recommendations
Foster Care and Child Welfare Systems
Redirect funding that promotes keeping children with their biological/legal families.
Mandate trauma-informed training for foster care caregivers, social workers, and other child welfare personnel.
Increase investments in Department of Children and Family Services collaboration and data-sharing to better track the educational outcomes of students with experience in foster care.
Mandate that case managers learn about foster care resources and legislation.
K-12 Education
Increase funding to support school personnel who work with students with experience in foster care.
Increase investment toward creating high school foster youth support programs.
Rethink secondary education disciplinary policy.
Provide training for all school staff on trauma-informed practices.
Higher Education
Expand dual enrollment opportunities for students with experience in foster care.
Revisit California Assembly Bill 854 – Educational Services to incorporate intentional mentorship and support networks into types of educational services provided.
Offer tuition-free college for students who experienced foster care attending public postsecondary institutions.
Related Work
