Foster Care Students & Paying for College by Denise Pickett https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470 en-us 2023-07-17 19:20:42 UTC 2026-02-24 21:32:21 UTC hello@padlet.com Slide #1-Professional Perspective dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647528767 As a Foster Care Liaison and Future Academic Advisor in Higher Education, foster care students and paying for college are two important subjects with my higher education background.  There are many benefits, opportunities, and resources for foster care students in college and beyond. 
The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services(DFPS) issues foster students' tuition and fee waivers to attend college for free.  This fee waiver is available for life to all foster and adopted students who qualify.  This is a benefit that unfortunately some foster students are not aware of. 
These types of programs are breaking barriers and obstacles for our foster young adults in order for them to be successful in living and working independently as well. Having supportive relationships and caring individuals to support this student population is very necessary for their current and future academic and career goals. ]]> 2023-07-19 01:44:31 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647528767 Slide #2-Summary of Topic dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647529763 This Legal Guide is important in my future role as an Academic Advisor in order to provide support, care, and guidance to foster youth on their educational journey. I would like to assist and advocate for those foster students attending college and the barriers or obstacles while trying to graduate from college.  I feel that it is very necessary to connect this particular student population with the necessary vital campus and community resources. There is also a retention issue and advisors do play a key role in helping students persist and succeed in college. ]]> 2023-07-19 01:45:47 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647529763 Slide #3-Education Reach for Texans dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647530595 One of the Professional Associations associated with foster care students in college is called Education Reach for Texans. I was able to attend this conference in my current role as a Campus Champion and Foster Care Liaison for the Financial Aid Office at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.  Education Reach for Texans seeks to eliminate barriers to success and build support programs for alumni of care attending public colleges and universities in the state of Texas.  There is an annual conference held each year and those that attend are post-secondary educators, foster care liaisons, social services workers, and foster alumni. 


]]> 2023-07-19 01:46:49 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647530595 Slide #4-News Article dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647531035 This article from Walsh (2021) talks about the affordability challenges that foster youth face in higher education today. The circumstances discussed in this article are the following:
*There needs to be more federal research done specifically on the foster youth population. 
*Foster youth aging out of the system are at a greater disadvantage than many first-generation college students when it comes to navigating the world of college applications, the FAFSA, and paying for college.
*State, federal, and local governments have an obligation to ensure adequate resources and a path into adulthood for youth with experience in foster care
*Students that are foster youth face disproportionate barriers when seeking a degree in comparison to their peers.
*Less than 3 percent of foster youth receive a bachelor's degree. 
*If foster youth are to thrive in college and beyond, they will need targeted support before, during, and for a transition period after college.


Walsh, A.(2021) College Affordability Challenges Facing Youth with Experience in Foster Care. The Century Foundation. https://tcf.org/content/report/college-affordability-challenges-facing-youth-experience-foster-care/]]> 2023-07-19 01:47:26 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647531035 Slide #5-News Article dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647531430 Tiano (2022) highlights in the following article:
*Yet of all states, Texas has long been among the most willing to invest in foster youth interested in going to college, waiving tuition and requiring only minimal conditions of students who enroll with the subsidies.
*The tuition waiver program in Texas also has produced results for thousands of budding scholars: Recipients are 3.5 times more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree than their foster care peers who attend college with no such support, according to a 2020 study.
*The Lone Star State is one of 37 states that offer some sort of tuition waiver for youth with foster care experience, and it was among the first to create such a benefit.
*Today, roughly 3,000 Texas foster youth use the waivers each year.



Tiano, S. (2022). Texas Foster Youth Get Free College Tuition, but Nearly Half of the State's Eligible Students Don't Use It. The Imprint. https://imprintnews.org/foster-care/texas-college-tuition-waiver-underused/62905

]]> 2023-07-19 01:47:47 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647531430 Slide #6 Constitutional Law - Foster Child Bill of Rights dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647532433 Tex. Family Code Ann. § 263.008; 2011 Tex. Gen. Laws, HB 2170, Chap. 791
The Foster Child Bill of Rights was created for children in foster care to include rights to food, shelter and education; medical, dental, vision and mental health services.  Participation in school-related extra-curricular activities or community activities.  Contact and communication with case workers, guardians and court-appointed special advocates. This law also requires that DFPS provides the foster child a written copy and oral review of the Bill of Rights to each child


Link: https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/-foster-care-bill-of-rights#table1

]]> 2023-07-19 01:49:06 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647532433 Slide #7-Statutory Law dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647533734 College for All Texans is an additional resource to foster students in order to assist these students financially towards getting their college education.

Encourage foster youth currently or formerly under the conservatorship of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and those adopted from DFPS to pursue higher education in Texas by providing eligible students free tuition at state-supported colleges or universities.


Citation: TEC 54.001
Link: http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=551]]> 2023-07-19 01:50:39 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647533734 Slide #8-Judicial Law dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647536547 Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

Brief bulleted list of the law and legal requirements:

Ø  Emphasis on school stability 
Ø  The need for coordination between state and regional child welfare
Ø  Assurance that the placements take into account the appropriateness of the current education setting


Citation: Public Law 110-351
Link: //www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-110publ351/pdf/PLAW-110publ351.pdf

]]> 2023-07-19 01:54:11 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647536547 Slide #9 - Administrative Law dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647537383 Last year, the Texas Legislature passed a new law that also allows foster youth to lock in the waiver benefit by participating in the state’s Preparation for Adult Living program, which earns them college credit.

The PAL Program
The Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) program was implemented in 1986 to ensure that older youth in substitute care are prepared for their inevitable departure from the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ care and support.
Preparing youth for adulthood is much more than teaching them how to balance a checkbook and sign a lease. PAL services include involvement in programs aimed at improving youths' self-esteem and improving their ability to make responsible decisions. PAL helps youth face the challenges of adulthood and independence.


Section 264.121 https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/pdf/HB00700E.pdf]]> 2023-07-19 01:55:14 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647537383 Slide #10-Designation of Liaison Officer to Assist Students Who Are or Were in Foster Care dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538256 Each institution of higher education shall designate at least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer for current and incoming students at the institution who are or were formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Service

Citation: TEC Tex. Educ. Code Section 51.9356

Link: https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex._educ._code_section_51.9356]]> 2023-07-19 01:56:05 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538256 Slide #11-Ethical Principle dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538456 In reading more specifically about the ethical standards from The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) Principle III - Beneficence We engage in altruistic attitudes and actions that promote goodness and contribute to the health and welfare of others. We treat others courteously. We consider the thoughts and feelings of others. We work toward positive and beneficial outcomes. (CAS Statement of Ethical Principles).  
As a future Academic Advisor, I would specifically integrate this ethical standard into my work. I would keep a professional demeanor and ask the student several questions about their situation and about their past in order to help me identify the tools and resources necessary to point the student in the right direction. I feel that in my current role as a Foster Care Liaison and in my future role as an academic advisor with each student, you must always assess the situation, advocate for the student, follow up with resources, and document every situation. 

]]> 2023-07-19 01:56:20 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538456 Slide #12 Non-Source Law dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538833 The Foster Scholars:

A community of scholars with lived experience in foster care committed to transforming the narrative and outcomes for college-going foster youth through practice, research,
and advocacy. 


These are a group of individuals who previously grew up in the foster care system and are very well educated and have gone on to do scholarly work in their educational and career fields.

Link:
https://www.thefosterscholars.org/about
]]> 2023-07-19 01:56:48 UTC https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647538833 Slide #13 List of Recommendations dpickett14 https://padlet.com/dpickett14/ic8ofa8snddfd470/wish/2647539144 In order to fully support the foster students in paying for college and best practices, the following are necessary:
1) Helping students prepare for their transition to successful adulthood. 
2) College support networks and college support programs.
3) Creating post-secondary pathways
4) Offering post-secondary educational opportunities
5) Encourage and engage in mentoring relationships
6) Become a volunteer
By bridging the gaps and overcoming these growing concerns for these foster youth from succeeding both academically and professionally in life is the overall goal.  
By having supportive relationships and caring individuals to support these foster youth is a critical component for the successful outcomes of this generation. 

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