A Foster Youth’s Journey…from Middle School to Post-Secondary Education

Middle School Experience

• Did family problems negatively impact on your school experience / attendance?

• Did you ever feel judged or labeled?• Did you have adults in your life that you

could turn to with problems?

Best and Worst Practices

• What does it look like when a school-related staff member responds to the needs of a foster youth in middle school in a way that is LESS than helpful?

• "What does it look like when they do it right?"

Extra-Curricular Activities

High School Experience

• How many school changes did you have?

• Did the schools use the same textbook?

• Did your credits transfer?

Barriers to College Preparation• Foster youth attend five high schools on average

• 65% percent change schools mid-year

• With each transfer, lose 4-6 months of progress

• Only 15% enrolled in college prep courses in high school

Recommendations from Casey Family Programs

• Expect students in foster care to be successful in school and prepare them for postsecondary education or training.

• Know your students coming from foster care, meet their caregivers and social workers, and commit to school stability for the student whenever possible.

• Arrange for students to participate in course work and activities that maximize their postsecondary education and training options.

• Arrange for career/vocational assessments, work experiences, and career exploration type experiences.

• Help students learn about and apply for colleges and/or training programs that are of interest and appropriate (academically, financially, career wise, supportive, geographically, etc.) – follow through with the enrollment process.

Recommendations from Casey Family Programs

• Steps to take

• Order to take them in

• Resources available

Best and Worst Practices

• Who, if anyone helped you during your time in high school to prepare for college?

• What more could have been done to help you to prepare in order to succeed?

Tips On Choosing A College• College visits

• “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”

• Out-of-state tuition is much higher

• Consider housing situation (dorm vs. apartment)

• Does this school have an Ohio Reach Liaison?

Name That Logo

• Ohio Reach is a statewide initiative to increase the number of foster care youth who enroll in and graduate from college.

• Part of how we do this is by establishing Foster Care Liaisons at Ohio universities and community colleges.

Available for Former Foster Youth At Community Colleges

Eligibility RequirementsETV eligibility form

Students must provide Financial Aid Office with that form. Financial Aid office must double-check that student is listed on their roster as eligible for OCOG.

The amount will reflect $0, but the Ohio Board of Regents will override that after receiving the ETV notification.

Ohio College Opportunity Grant Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)(OCOG)

If School Doesn’t Know About the OCOGOr How to Apply It

Questions About the OCOG?Contact the Ohio Board of RegentsFinancial Aid Help Desk1-888-833-1133http://regents.ohio.gov/sgs/ocog

Ohio College Opportunity Grant Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)(OCOG)

Students complete an online application once a year at www.statevoucher.org

Ohio ETV Program Home PageOhio ETV Program Home Page

What Can ETV pay for?What Can ETV pay for?

* ETV funds pay for college and vocational school related costs. However, with fewer funds to award, ETV’s first priority is to award funds to remaining tuition, books. An effort is ALWAYS made to supersede loans when possible.

• Then, if not paid by other stipends, ETV attempts to pay requests for rent, living expenses, and computers. Almost every student’s situation is different.

For more information on the federal definition of “cost of attendance,” visit www.ed.gov/policy.

1. Financial Aid Release Form: Student should take the ETV to the financial aid office, where it is completed and faxed to OH ETV.

2. Cashier’s Statement: Student should take the ETV to the

cashier/bursar’s office, where it is completed and faxed along

With dated copy of the student’s ITEMIZED BILL for that term.

Students cannot be funded without completed ETV forms

and a current school bill.

What Forms Are Required What Forms Are Required for OH ETV?for OH ETV?

Students can check on the Students can check on the status of their paperwork.status of their paperwork.

Students can view check Students can view check disbursements made to them or a disbursements made to them or a

third party.third party.

1. Stay in touch with OFA: If they lose touch with a student after 5 attempts by phone and email, the youth’s application is “made inactive” until OFA hears from them.

2. Keep track of user name/password: Students should watch their STATUS Page, which shows them term by term, what forms and transcripts are received or missing. They can see what checks have been issued for them, or to them, term by term.

Students can update their personal information 24/7, so that they will get their checks at the right place,

and OFA can write and call them monthly.

Staying in touch with OFA Staying in touch with OFA to receive/maintain ETVto receive/maintain ETV

Ohio Reach Game Board

College Experience

• What was your biggest challenge?

• What are you most proud of?