The reason for choosing this topic is that foster care students are often-overlooked student population according to American School Counselor Association (ASCA), 2018. School counselors implement school counseling programs to meet all students’ academic, career and social/emotional needs is my field of education from a professional perspective, (ASCA, 2018). 

 

What is foster care?

 

Foster care is a temporary living service provided by States for children who cannot live with their families and whose need for care has come to attention of child welfare agency. 

 

School Counselor Role

 

School Counselors are informed on the proper policies and procedures according to their state, local school districts, and local agencies on foster care students’ rights. School counselors advocate on efforts to improve the outcomes for foster care students on the importance of educational stability by bridging the communication between all involved that is focused on educating K-12 teachers on this important topic, (ASCA, 2018).

 

 

Reference:

 

American School Counselor Association. (2018). The school counselor and supporting students in foster care. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_FosterCare.pdf

 

S. Townsend, (2019, September 24). Personal Interview.

The American School Counselor Association (ASCA) supports students in Foster Care (2018) by implementing school counseling programs to meet the academic, career and social/emotional needs of all students.  

2.      Children’s Bureau https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb
The Children’s Bureau (CB) partners with federal, state, tribal and local agencies to improve the overall health and well-being of our nation’s children and families.                                           3. Child Welfare League of America https://www.cwla.org/

 CWLA is a powerful coalition of hundreds of private and public agencies that since 1920 has worked to serve children and families who are vulnerable. 

4.      The Legal Center for Foster Care & Education: http://www.fostercareandeducation.org/Home.aspx 
Established in 2007, advocates (American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, the Education Law Center, and the Juvenile Law Center) for the educational rights of children in foster care.

5.      U.S. Department of Education, ESSA Rules and Foster Care Toolkit   https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/new-foster-care-transition-toolkit-offers-tips-helping-foster-youth-succeed-adults
6.      Foster Care to Success: America’s College Fund for Foster Youth

The oldest and largest national nonprofit organization working solely with college bound foster youth. https://www.fc2success.org/knowledge-center/resources-for-students-state-workers/

Summary: Poverty, trauma, and high rates of mobility keep bright children in the foster care system from finding their way into academically rigorous courses and programs on the right track from high school through college in student success for foster care students. 
 Issues related to your topic:
1. Foster care students are at a disadvantage then  most students due to trauma.
2. More barriers for student success than other students.
3. Rise in the last three years of foster care students.
4. Most schools are delayed in the formulating school policies in helping foster care students.

Reference: Sparks, S, (2018). The Gifted Child in Foster Care: Lost in the Shuffle Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/03/07/the-gifted-child-in-foster-care-lost.html

 

Summary of the article: The Chronicle says that 162,000 foster children, about 37 percent of those in foster care nationally, are living in states where compliance is in question, (Klien, 2018).
Issues related to topic:
1. Districts are lacking in posting achievement data on foster care student graduations.
2. Not all 50 states are working with local school districts to comply with the law: 33/50 states are.

 Reference: Education Week: Reference: Klien, A., (2018). What’s New for Children in Foster Care Under ESSA Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2018/09/essa_questions_foster_children_transportation.html

 

Reference:

American School Counselor Association. (2016). The school counselor and supporting students in foster care. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_FosterCare.pdf

 

When foster care students “age out” of the system they have no support system and Casey Life Skills is a free tool that helps the behaviors and competencies youth needs to achieve their long-term goals for free.

Reference: 

Casey Family Programs, (2019). Casey Life Skills. Retrieved from https://caseylifeskills.secure.force.com/clsa_learn_provider

 

Recommendations and Best Practices for School Stability and Transitions for Foster Care Students:

 

1.     Create alternatives to keep children in their schools of origin.

2.     Improve decisions regarding keeping students in their schools of origin 

3.     Support Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) 20 U.S.C. 2016 supporting children in foster care that children remain in school of origin, unless it is determined that it is not in his/her best interest.

4.     Support timely enrollment when children initially enroll or change schools.

5.     Improve timeless and efficiency of transfer of accurate school records to new schools.

6.     Address issues with students lost of credits and improve credit transfer and recovery.

7.     Support and maintain increases in school attendance.

 

Reference:

 

American School Counselor Association. (2018). The school counselor and supporting students in foster care. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/PositionStatements/PS_FosterCare.pdf