This document summarizes a presentation given at NACADA in Portland, Oregon on March 19, 2012. The presentation focused on strategies to support college access and success for youth who have been in foster care. It provided statistics on the foster care population and poor outcomes for alumni. It also described the mission and objectives of the University of Washington Champions Program, which provides holistic support to foster care alumni to ensure their academic success and lifelong achievement. Partnerships the program has developed with other organizations in the community and on campus were also outlined.

1. NACADA
Portland, Oregon
March 19, 2012
Melissa Raap, MSW
Maddy Day, MSW
Janice Cole

2.  Begin to recognize community organizations
with which you can partner to support
student success in higher education.
 Understand strategies and models to assist
with making college access and success a
reality for youth who have been in foster
care.
 Identify concrete ways to prepare youth in
foster care for self advocacy in higher
education.

3.  463,000 children in foster care.
 53 % were male and 47 % were female.
 61% percent of youth in foster care are
children of color.
 9.8 years old is the median age of children
in foster care (foster care includes youth
from 0-18 years old).
 13.3 months is the median amount of time
children spend in foster care.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/foster.cfm#outcome

4.  5% of alumni of foster care have received their
Bachelor’s degree by the age of 26 compared to 36%
of the general population.
 79% female alumnae of foster care reported ever
being pregnant by the age of 26 and 32% reported
having been pregnant before age 18.
 42% of female and 74% of males was incarcerated for
some time by age 26. Compared to 6% of females and
23% of males in the general population.
 51% reported being unemployed.
 25-36% report having been or currently being
homeless.
 26-30% report receiving public assistance.
Courtney, M., Dworsky, A., Brown, A., Cary, C., Love, K., & Vorhies, V. (2011). Midwest evaluation of the adult functioning of former foster youth: Outcomes at age
26. Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Facts About Foster Care. www.fostercaremonth.org.

5. Mission: The mission of the University of Washington Champions
Program is to provide holistic support for youth and alumni of foster
care, ensuring academic success and preparation for lifelong
achievement after graduation from postsecondary education.
Objectives:
 Recruit diverse youth of foster care for University of Washington
undergraduate programs.
 Support established educational services for youth in foster care
in Washington State.
 Develop smooth transitions for students to and from the
University of Washington.
 Provide direct support for alumni of foster care, addressing their
unique circumstances and background.
 Build collaborative network of staff and faculty on campus to
support the needs of alumni of foster care.
 Eliminate the stigma of foster care on campus and create an
environment educated and aware about the culture of foster
care.

6. Winter 2012 Students (N=37)
Gender Mean Age Age Range 18-21 22-25 26-29 30-33 34-37 38-41
M F
41% 59% 22.3 18-41 70% 14% 3% 8% 3% 3%
Ethnic Description
AMERICAN-INDIAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASIAN CAUCASIAN HISPANIC NOT INDICATED
11% 11% 24% 38% 14% 3%
Class
FRESHMAN SOPHMORE JUNIOR SENIOR
14% 19% 32% 35%

7.  Current UW Champions  Current UW Champions
Student Alumni/Graduate Student
 Housing and Food Services  Seattle University
 Financial Aid Fostering Scholars
 Counseling Center  Vice President of Minority
Affairs/Vice Provost for
 First Year Programs- Diversity
Undergraduate Academic
Affairs  YMCA Young Adult Services
 Office of Merit  Office of Minority Affairs
Scholarships, Fellowships and Diversity Academic
and Awards Counseling Services
 Undergraduate Admissions  College Success
Foundation
 UW School Social Work
Faculty  Treehouse
 Casey Family Programs

8. Seattle
University
Fostering
Scholars
Seattle
Everett
Central
Community
Community
College
College
Vice
President of Campus-Based
Minority Support
Affairs and Programs
Diversity
Financial College Success
TRiO/EOP
Aid Foundation
Centralia Spokane Falls
Community Community • Governor's
College Scholarship
College • Passport Scholarship
• Destination
Office of Graduation
Merit
Scholarships UW Campus Counseling
and Awards Support Center
Scholarship
Food and Programs
First Year
Housing
Programs
Services
Outreach
and
Admissions
Education Casey Family
Advocacy Programs
Liason
Children's
Administration
Community
Agencies
UW School of
Social Work YMCA Center
Treehouse for Young
• High School Adults
Foster Care to and Middle
• Independent
21 Liason School
Prorgams Living Program
• SET-Up
Dean and
MSW Faculty
Practicum
Program

9.  What financial aid package is used for alumni of
foster care at your college?
 Does it consider the added costs of attending college
for foster youth (year-round housing, for example)?
 Is there an Independent Living Program alumni
of foster care can access?
 How do students affiliate with a program like the
Educational Opportunity Program or TRiO on
your campus?
 Are there other programs and resources that
would be beneficial to youth and alumni of
foster care on your campus?

11. Melissa Raap, MSW
Maddy Day, MSW
Janice Cole