Priorities

Develop evidence-informed training for middle and high school counselors regarding unique needs
Be a source of resources for foster care youth in pursuing post-secondary education
Develop evidence-informed training for on-campus college personnel regarding unique needs and resources for foster care youth and alumni pursuing post-secondary education
Develop evidence-informed framework for on-campus support programs for foster care youth and alumni
Enhance on-campus support programs, services, and resources for foster care youth and alumni, and provide support to expand programming across colleges and universities
Improve access to and retention in post-secondary education for foster care youth and alumni

Use qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods to examine processes and outcomes of post-secondary support programs for foster care youth and alumni
Examine pathways to higher education for foster care youth
Conduct longitudinal analyses of educational, vocational, and psychosocial outcomes of foster care youth and alumni
Assess student satisfaction with post-secondary support programs for foster care youth and alumni
Facilitate data sharing across institutions to examine and compare outcomes
Evaluate pre-college programs for foster care youth
Examine the implementation of policies impacting foster care youth and alumni in higher education

Policy Priorities

Advocate for the expansion of tuition and fee waivers nationwide
Advocate for funding to support post-secondary education options for foster care youth and alumni
Advocate for increased and allocated funding from Chafee Program to support pre-college and on-campus support programs and the evaluation of these programs
Advocate for year-round Pell Grants and extension of Pell Grans for students who are foster care youth and alumni
Advocate for funding, support, and directives regarding data collection related to foster care youth and alumni in higher education