How do youth placed in foster care aspire to and access college? This book chronicles the lives and experiences of 49 college students navigating the challenging terrain of the United States’ foster care system. Through in-depth interviews, Johnson provides insight into the harsh realities of how our nation’s educational and welfare systems often intertwine in ways that diminish the potential and opportunities for these young people. Yet amidst the adversities, these stories resonate with themes of hope, resistance, and possibility. Guided by resilience theory and other asset-based concepts, Johnson sheds light on the protective mechanisms that enable postsecondary access and success, even in the face of towering barriers. Beyond providing an exposition, this book serves as a clarion call to educators, school and university leaders, and child welfare champions to stand tall and act decisively. The goal? To transform the precarious circumstances of young people in foster care and dismantle the obstacles that thwart their educational pursuits and dreams.
Book Features:
Employs critical and asset-based theories and concepts that recognize the agencies, desires, and possibilities of youth in foster care.
Brings attention to the intersectionality of identities and social structures that shape students’ educational pathways.
Identifies system failures across education and child welfare sectors and how they interact with one another.
Presents findings from empirical research about risks and protective factors that influence success at critical junctures along the college-going pipeline.
Offers recommendations for various stakeholders who seek to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of youth in foster care.
Contents
Foreword Tyrone C. Howard ix
Series Foreword James A. Banks xiii
Acknowledgments xix
1. Introduction 1
Setting the Stage 1
Purpose and Scope 4
Conceptual Scaffolding 5
The Students 6
More than an Intellectual Exercise: My Journey to this Work 8
Reading From Foster Care to College 9
Person-Centered Language: A Note About Terms 12
Chapter Overview 12
2. System Failure: Navigating and Resisting Foster Care 14
The Foundations of American Foster Care 15
In Their Own Words: Life in Foster Care 20
Common Threads: The Challenges of Stability, Care, and Safety 24
Navigating Systemic Failures with Resilience 28
Conclusion 29
3. “A Hope in the Unseen”: Navigating K–12 Education and Fostering College Dreams 31
K–12 Educational Challenges 32
Fostering and Sustaining College Dreams: Barbie’s Story 39
Conclusion 43
4. Choosing College as a Matter of Belonging 45
College Choice as a Matter of Belonging 46
Transitioning to College: Navigating New Beginnings 51
Conclusion 55
5. “Bridges” to Postsecondary Retention, Persistence, and Success 57
Dylan’s Story 58
Conclusion 68
Conclusion 69
1. Ensure Placement Stability and Decrease School Mobility with Attention to Equity 71
2. Extend Foster Care Nationally 72
3. Prepare K–12 Educators to Support Youth in Foster Care 72
4. States Should Appoint Ombuds Officers for Children and Families 73
5. Implement Early College Awareness and Preparation Programs 73
6. Provide Year-Round Campus Housing 74
7. Invest in Campus Support Programs for Youth in Foster Care 75
8. Address Family Privilege and Educational Traditions 75
Final Thoughts 76
Appendix: An Overview of the Study 77
References 83
Index 89
About the Author 93
Height:229
Width:156
Spine:6
Weight:170.00