In a recent report from UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools, three main findings are underscored regarding students with experience in foster care: students had a mix of experiences as they navigated the feeling of belonging while in the foster care system, they had a mix of experiences in high school when it came to support, belonging, and safety, and their support systems were critical when navigating college.
The mix of experiences is part of the issue the report, “Understanding Belongingness, Support, and Perseverance: An Exploratory Study of the Educational Experiences of Foster Youth in California,” seeks to highlight. As the authors state: “When the government assumes custody of children, it effectively steps into the roles of caregivers and parents, and bears a fundamental obligation to provide a safe and supportive living environment.”
Students included in the study were current and former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 26. The 165 surveys and 29 individual interviews were conducted during the summer and fall of 2022