REACH- University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL
ABOUT
REACH is a campus-based support program (CSP) specifically serving students with experience in foster care (SEFC) and other independent status.
It provides coordinated academic, financial, and personal support, including help navigating financial aid, counseling connections, and access to scholarship opportunities, an emergency fund, and a food pantry.
The program also emphasizes community-building through peer support, group activities, and mentoring, creating a consistent on-campus network that students can rely on throughout their time at UA.
CONTACT
Shannon Hubbard
Location: 343 Russell Hall
Phone: 205-348-5819
Email: shannon.hubbard@ua.edu
Unconquered Scholars Program- Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
ABOUT
The Unconquered Scholars Program at Florida State University supports students with experiences in foster care, homelessness, or similar circumstances by providing comprehensive academic, personal, and financial resources.
Through services like advising, coaching, tutoring, mental health support, and financial aid advocacy, the program helps students overcome barriers and persist toward degree completion.
Its goal is to promote long-term academic success and improve outcomes for students who are historically less likely to graduate.
CONTACT
Shannon Shannon
Phone: 205-348-5819
Email: sshannon2@fsu.edu
Knight Alliance Network – University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
ABOUT
The Knight Alliance Network provides coordinated academic and personal support through transition from high school to higher ed coaching, advocacy, mentoring, and help navigating financial aid and tuition waivers, alongside referrals to campus and community resources that support student well‑being.
The program emphasizes holistic success and belonging, creating a connected network of staff and peers who help students persist and complete their degrees.
CONTACT
Tammie Nadeau
Phone: 407-823-1832
Email: tammie.nadeau@ucf.edu
Website: https://scs.sswb.ucf.edu/foster/
Fostering Panther Pride (FPP) – Florida International University
Miami, FL
ABOUT
Fostering Panther Pride (FPP) offers tailored academic and personal support, including success coaching, coordination of DCF and homeless tuition exemptions, priority course registration, laptop loans, book stipends, housing scholarships, and connections to basic needs resources like food, counseling, and community partners.
The program’s goal is to promote stability, graduation, and long‑term success by surrounding students with a strong, university‑wide network of care.
CONTACT
Email: sas@fiu.edu
Website: https://sas.fiu.edu/fpp/
USF Pearls – University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
ABOUT
USF Pearls is a CSP at the University of South Florida that supports students with experience in foster care (SEFC) and other system‑involved backgrounds.
It provides care coordination, mentoring, educational activities, and advocacy, helping students connect with academic support services, housing resources, and financial aid while addressing barriers that might interfere with their progress.
Through ongoing mentoring and strategic referrals to campus and community partners, Pearls works to improve persistence, graduation, and overall well‑being for participants.
CONTACT
Jenelle Bell
Phone: (813) 974-6130
Email: jenelleb@usf.edu
Website: https://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/departments/pearls/index.aspx
Educate Tomorrow at MDC- Miami-Dade College
Miami, FL
ABOUT
ET@MDC supports MDC students impacted by the foster care system or homelessness and is housed in the Single Stop department across campuses.
Each ET@MDC student is assigned a College Coach to aid in the transition to college, with a unique focus on enrollment, retention, and completion.
Students are also paired with a Changemaker Peer Mentor for added support in navigating academic, personal, and life-skills development.
CONTACT
Janet Mapp
Location: North Campus Single Stop office, Room 1119 B
Phone: (305) 237-1444
Email: jmapp@mdc.edu
Website: https://www.mdc.edu/singlestop/services/educate-tomorrow-at-mdc/
RISE- St. Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL
ABOUT
The mission of the Road to Independence, Success, and Excellence program, better known as RISE, is to increase the graduation rate of students using the Florida Department of Children and Families Tuition and Fee Exemption and students using the Homeless Fee Exemption, as well as to enhance their overall academic experience through advocacy, mentorship, extracurricular opportunities, and streamlined connections to resources.
CONTACT
Austin Crawford
Phone: (727) 341-4464
The Emerging Eagles Program-Tallahassee Community College
Tallahassee, FL
ABOUT
The Emerging Eagles Program (formerly Fostering Achievement Fellowship Program) was established to address the overwhelming need for a comprehensive support structure to assist foster youth in making the transition from a structured foster care program to independent young adulthood.
The Emerging Eagles program will provide financial, academic, and social support to assist college-bound youth aging out of foster care to pursue a college education.
These supports come in many forms, including individual and group meetings, the creation of educational plans, as well as the continued linkage of resources both within the TCC community and the Tallahassee community at large.
CONTACT
Kayla Dover, MSW
Phone: (850) 201-6124
Email: casemanagement@tcc.fl.edu
Website: https://www.tcc.fl.edu/student-life/student-accessibility-services-sas/emerging-eagles/
Educate Tomorrow at FAU- Florida Atlantic University
Miami, FL
ABOUT
Educate Tomorrow at FAU (ET @ FAU) is a part of the First Year Experience (FYE) at Florida Atlantic University. It is a comprehensive program designed specifically for students who have experienced foster care or homelessness.
The program mirrors what is available for all students but takes into consideration their unique experiences and support needs.
The program provides students with wrap-around services from admission to graduation, with a goal of creating a strong foundation of support, academic coaching, career advising, and access to services on and off campus.
CONTACT
Joseph Murray
Location: 777 Glades Road
Email: educatetomorrow@fau.edu
Website: https://www.fau.edu/uas/educate-tomorrow/
Educate Tomorrow at MDC- Miami-Dade College
Miami, FL
ABOUT
ET@MDC supports MDC students impacted by the foster care system or homelessness and is housed in the Single Stop department across campuses.
Each ET@MDC student is assigned a College Coach to aid in the transition to college, with a unique focus on enrollment, retention, and completion.
Students are also paired with a Changemaker Peer Mentor for added support in navigating academic, personal, and life-skills development.
CONTACT
Janet Mapp
Location: North Campus Single Stop office, Room 1119 B
Phone: (305) 237-1444
Email: jmapp@mdc.edu
Website: https://www.mdc.edu/singlestop/services/educate-tomorrow-at-mdc/
ASCEND- Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
ABOUT
The ASCEND Program is a campus-based support program (CSP) for students who have experienced homelessness, food insecurity, or foster care, aiming to ease the transition from high school into and through college.
Through CARE Services, ASCEND offers near‑peer mentoring, case management, academic and professional development workshops, cultural and education abroad enrichment activities, and financial assistance on a case‑by‑case basis, along with access to campus pantries and emergency housing.
The program also includes an ASCEND Living‑Learning Village, providing stable, community‑oriented on‑campus housing and a structured network of support so students can focus on their education while having their basic needs met.
CONTACT
Email: CAREservices@kennesaw.edu
Embark Georgia Center @ The University of Georgia
The mission of Embark Georgia is to increase college access and retention for youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness.
Check out their comprehensive guide: https://embarkgeorgia.org/
Extra Resource:
The Beacon Project- Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, KY
ABOUT
The Beacon Project focuses on providing holistic, wraparound support from before admission through graduation.
It offers admission and financial aid application assistance, career exploration and coaching, help applying for and maintaining employment, life skills training, personalized mentoring, and financial help with application/testing fees, transportation, and emergency needs.
Working in partnership with the Burch Institute, the Center for Child Welfare Education and Research, and Kentucky’s Department of Community Based Services, the Beacon Project aims to create a seamless transition from foster care to “finding a home on the Hill,” and serves as a long-term catalyst for college success for foster care alumni
CONTACT
Location: Downing Student Union 2122
Phone: 270-745-2683
Email: beacon@wku.edu
Website: https://www.wku.edu/beacon/
No programs able to be identified at this time.
If you would like your program added, please contact us at nrc.fahe@gmail.com
H.O.P.E. Emancipation Project- Livingston College
Salisbury, NC
ABOUT
H.O.P.E. at Livingstone College is a full‑support program for students who are aging out of foster care and want to go to college.
If you’re part of the H.O.P.E. cohort, you can receive up to $35,000 in support that covers tuition, on‑campus housing, a meal plan, and coordinated mental health services, plus a dedicated success coach who walks with you through school and into your career or grad school plans.
The program also offers year‑round housing and meals (including holidays and breaks), life‑skills workshops, internships and job connections, and a community focused on healing, opportunity, preparation, and empowerment so you don’t have to do college alone.
CONTACT
Nailah McDowell
Location: 701 W. Monroe St.
Phone: 704-216-6255
Email: nmcdowell@livingstone.edu
Website: https://livingstone.edu/h-o-p-e/
Fostering Bright Futures (FBF)- Wake Technical College
Raleigh, NC
ABOUT
Fostering Bright Futures is a student success program built specifically for young adults transitioning out of foster care, helping you move from the system into college and independent adulthood with real support.
The program covers tuition and fees for up to 20 students each year and offers mentoring, tutoring, career coaching, life‑skills workshops, and financial help with living and personal expenses, so you’re not trying to figure everything out alone.
Staff work with you one‑on‑one to tackle barriers like housing, transportation, and money, and connect you with community partners like the Hope Center, giving you a full team behind you as you earn your degree and build financial independence.
CONTACT
Ross Sinodis
Phone: 919-866-5485
Email: drsinodis@waketech.edu
Website: https://www.waketech.edu/student-services/fostering-bright-futures
The Former Foster Care Learners – Foster Care Program- Benedict College
Columbia, SC
ABOUT
The Former Foster Care Learners – Foster Care Program at Benedict College’s B.E.S.T. Lives Center is designed to give you a strong support team if you’ve experienced foster care and are now working on your degree.
Through the Center, you can get help connecting to on‑ and off‑campus resources, building a holistic support plan around your academic, career, and life goals, and accessing services that level the playing field no matter how you arrived at college.
The program is part of a broader learning hub that centers former foster care learners, military‑affiliated students, adult learners, and formerly incarcerated scholars, creating a community where you aren’t alone and where your pathway into college is honored rather than seen as a barrier.
CONTACT
Kayin Jones
Location: 1903 Two Notch Road
Phone: 803-705-4779
Email: kayin.jones@benedict.edu
Educational Opportunity Center- University of Tennessee
Chattanooga, TN
ABOUT
The Educational Opportunity Center at UTC provides free counseling and application support for foster youth and young adults who are aging out of foster care and want to start or continue postsecondary education.
For foster youth specifically, it can help with choosing a college, completing applications, filling out the FAFSA, and connecting to scholarships, grants, and financial counseling.
The program is designed to remove barriers and give students the academic, financial, and personal support they need to pursue college or career training. It also connects eligible students to additional services like GED referrals, tutoring, and career counseling.
CONTACT
Phone: 423-425-1702
Foster Care Liaison- Nashville State Community College
Nashville, TN
ABOUT
The purpose of this role is to support youth and young adults with foster care experience who are pursuing their post-secondary education and to increase retention and graduation outcomes.
Each participating school has an established liaison on campus that is ready and available to support individualized needs of students who experienced foster care as a teenager.
CONTACT
Courtney Woodard
Location: Room 1324, Southeast Campus
email: courtney.woodard@nscc.edu
Phone: 615-229-5586
Website: https://www.nscc.edu/student-experience/student-support-resources/health-and-wellbeing.php