Spring 2020
Committee:
Legislative Affairs Committee Committees
WHEREAS, the NextUp program (also known as Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support (CAFYES), is available at just 45 of 115 community college campuses and these programs provide service coordination, counseling, tutoring, career guidance, child care and transportation assistance, and grants to assist with the cost of books, housing, and other non-tuition costs;
WHEREAS, the current statute of age restrictions on foster youth campus programs and services, as well as state and federal grants, is 26 [1], and on average the composition of students age 26 or over is 42.3% at California Community Colleges (CCC), which in Spring 2019 equated to well over half-a-million students, and many foster youth don’t reach stability in their lives and re-enroll into post-secondary education until age 26 or later;
WHEREAS, there exists an equity challenge within the foster youth community wherein many are not attaining their educational goals due to financial limitations, and being unprepared for college-level coursework due to being tracked into basic education [2] rather than college preparatory courses; and
WHEREAS, on average, former foster youth have greater risks of behavioral health and academic challenges than that of their peers and do not have the same means of emotional support to cope with the academic demands and social stresses related to college life; and former foster youth have a higher need for academic counseling as they cannot count on assistance with college exploration or applying to college from their caseworkers, foster parents or other caregivers [3][4]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College (SSCCC) advocate for the financial support and equity for all CCC’s students at any age and pursue a legislative priority to diminish the age limit to include more students within California grants that apply to CCC’s foster youth population;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College advocate with national organizations such as the American Student Association for Community College regarding legislative priorities to remove the age limits on all federal and state grants for current and former foster youth Community College students; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College advocate in partnership with the Chancellor's Office to implement NextUp departmental programs at every CCC campus and pursue increased funding for foster youth programs and services statewide.
Citation 1: https://www.ccleague.org/sites/default/files/pdf/webinar-materials/cclc_webinar_financialaid.pdf
Citation 2: https://www.higheredtoday.org/2017/12/11/foster-care-youth-postsecondary-education-long-road-/
Citation 3: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Key-Facts
Citation 4: https://youthtoday.org/2019/01/california-foster-students-get-patchwork-of-college-support/
WHEREAS, the current statute of age restrictions on foster youth campus programs and services, as well as state and federal grants, is 26 [1], and on average the composition of students age 26 or over is 42.3% at California Community Colleges (CCC), which in Spring 2019 equated to well over half-a-million students, and many foster youth don’t reach stability in their lives and re-enroll into post-secondary education until age 26 or later;
WHEREAS, there exists an equity challenge within the foster youth community wherein many are not attaining their educational goals due to financial limitations, and being unprepared for college-level coursework due to being tracked into basic education [2] rather than college preparatory courses; and
WHEREAS, on average, former foster youth have greater risks of behavioral health and academic challenges than that of their peers and do not have the same means of emotional support to cope with the academic demands and social stresses related to college life; and former foster youth have a higher need for academic counseling as they cannot count on assistance with college exploration or applying to college from their caseworkers, foster parents or other caregivers [3][4]; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College (SSCCC) advocate for the financial support and equity for all CCC’s students at any age and pursue a legislative priority to diminish the age limit to include more students within California grants that apply to CCC’s foster youth population;
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College advocate with national organizations such as the American Student Association for Community College regarding legislative priorities to remove the age limits on all federal and state grants for current and former foster youth Community College students; and
RESOLVED, that the Student Senate for California Community College advocate in partnership with the Chancellor's Office to implement NextUp departmental programs at every CCC campus and pursue increased funding for foster youth programs and services statewide.
Citation 1: https://www.ccleague.org/sites/default/files/pdf/webinar-materials/cclc_webinar_financialaid.pdf
Citation 2: https://www.higheredtoday.org/2017/12/11/foster-care-youth-postsecondary-education-long-road-/
Citation 3: https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Key-Facts
Citation 4: https://youthtoday.org/2019/01/california-foster-students-get-patchwork-of-college-support/