This resource, co-created with young people who experienced foster care, is the culmination of a three-year collaborative effort to develop core principles around supporting young adults as they prepare to exit the foster care system. The playbook includes information about education, employment, permanency, community connections, housing, health, and extended foster care. This initiative was led by the National Collaborative for Transition-Aged Youth formed by three organizations: American Public Human Services Association, FosterClub, and Youth Villages.

This research project is a promising example of how researchers can inform state-level recommendations to support youth pursuing higher education. Based on a review of published research, in-depth interviews, focus groups, and quantitative data analysis, this study reported on barriers to success for students experiencing foster care in higher education. The report included recommendations to improve policies and programs for students experiencing foster care in higher education, including expanding the Texas tuition and fee waiver; increasing the cost of attendance calculation; and creating paid foster care liaison positions across all higher education institutions.

This FosterClub toolkit provides a comprehensive, youth-led approach to developing a unique transition plan. It includes planning worksheets, record keeping, detailed maps, and resources to help youth with their journeys. Of note, there is an education planning sheet for students (p. 23) and a message to supportive adults (p. 6). 

A Legal Center for Foster Care and Education brief highlighting key federal laws supporting students in foster care from early childhood to postsecondary, including data systems and information sharing.

This Child Welfare Information Gateway factsheet is designed for young people who have experienced foster care to learn why campus support programs are important, the types of supports they offer, and how to find them. It was developed in partnership with young people with lived experience in foster care who have used campus support programs.  

For information on how state policies can support postsecondary education for students with foster care experience, see JBAY & FAAN's Building Bridges report. 

For advocates looking to support youth in foster care plan for and pursue postsecondary education and training, see these tips from Journey to Success and Youth Law Center.

To see a full state-by-state list of college-based support programs for youth with foster care experience, visit the National Research Collaborative for Foster Alumni & Higher Education’s Campus Based College Support Program Guide. 

There are various federal programs that might be available to support youth at-risk of dropping out of school, including the TRIO Programs and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). 

In Washoe County, Nevada, Achievements Unlocked matches students in foster care with tutors and educational advocates, resulting in more students on track to graduate. This multidisciplinary team model changes the educational trajectory of students in foster care by providing advocacy, tutoring, mentoring, and case management to high school-aged foster youth. In addition to being paired with a tutor who comes directly to the foster home, each youth is also paired with an Educational Advocate (EA) to ensure educational services and interventions match the youth’s needs.