Spring 2009
Committee:
President, Equity and Diversity Ad Hoc Committee
Whereas, College students who have come from foster care face many academic challenges and require additional support to allow them to receive educational and support services in order to secure better learning outcomes and be successful in completing education plans, career technical education and being prepared to transfer to a four-year university;
Whereas, According to the California College Pathways Annual 2008 Report, each year over 4,000 students age out of the foster care system, a 44% increase since 1998, and studies of California former foster youth have shown that these youth face significant challenges in their transition to young adulthood; of the many challenges former foster youth face, education is among the most significant;
Whereas, In the 2008 report prepared by Casey Family Programs and Wilder research noted 20% of foster youth will enter higher education and less than 5% will attain a degree and further noted that “To increase Foster Care youth success rates college campuses could be designated as ‘foster youth friendly’ in order to identify them;” and
Whereas, A designated foster care liaison and broad base foster youth support services team could be developed to assist with career guidance education, EOPS/CalWORKs, student health services, tutoring, employment, child care services, transportation, meal vouchers and social gathering, and college transfer centers should be used to assist foster youth with their transition from community colleges to four-year universities by encouraging them to take classes to prepare them for the transition;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community College work with the Chancellor’s Office to determine retention rates of foster care students;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with local senates, statewide organizations, community-based organizations, administrators, faculty, the Board of Governors, the Chancellor’s Office and policy makers in supporting foster care youth by allowing them to obtain targeted student support services and resources to improve their transfer rates to a four year university; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges support legislation such as AB 669 (Fong, 2009), which would establish residency for foster youth for purposes of enrollment in a higher educational institution.
Whereas, According to the California College Pathways Annual 2008 Report, each year over 4,000 students age out of the foster care system, a 44% increase since 1998, and studies of California former foster youth have shown that these youth face significant challenges in their transition to young adulthood; of the many challenges former foster youth face, education is among the most significant;
Whereas, In the 2008 report prepared by Casey Family Programs and Wilder research noted 20% of foster youth will enter higher education and less than 5% will attain a degree and further noted that “To increase Foster Care youth success rates college campuses could be designated as ‘foster youth friendly’ in order to identify them;” and
Whereas, A designated foster care liaison and broad base foster youth support services team could be developed to assist with career guidance education, EOPS/CalWORKs, student health services, tutoring, employment, child care services, transportation, meal vouchers and social gathering, and college transfer centers should be used to assist foster youth with their transition from community colleges to four-year universities by encouraging them to take classes to prepare them for the transition;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community College work with the Chancellor’s Office to determine retention rates of foster care students;
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges work with local senates, statewide organizations, community-based organizations, administrators, faculty, the Board of Governors, the Chancellor’s Office and policy makers in supporting foster care youth by allowing them to obtain targeted student support services and resources to improve their transfer rates to a four year university; and
Resolved, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges support legislation such as AB 669 (Fong, 2009), which would establish residency for foster youth for purposes of enrollment in a higher educational institution.