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Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI)

Topic Areas
Scientific Rating
Child Welfare Relevance
Educational Interventions for Children and Adolescents in Child Welfare
NR  — Not able to be Rated
High

About This Program

Target Population: Current or former foster youth interested in, or already attending, a community college

For children/adolescents ages: 17 – 21

Program Overview

The purpose of the FYSI is to remove barriers that youth from foster care throughout the state often encounter when attempting to access or attend an institute of higher education. The program provides a statewide Foster Youth Liaison as well as many Foster Youth Liaisons at the community college level. At the college, the Foster Youth Liaison is specifically designated to guide current or former foster youth students, or prospective students, through processes such as financial aid, academic counseling, access to public benefits, and more. Overall, the FYSI aims to improve higher educational outcomes for foster youth students across the state such as:

  • Term-to-term retention rates
  • Academic performance
  • Completion of certificate and degree programs
  • Transfer rates to 4-year universities

Program Goals

The goals of Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) are:

  • Learn how to access and use student and academic support services and resources
  • Attend consecutive semesters of community college
  • Perform well academically
  • Achieve one or more of the following:
    • Complete a certificate program
    • Earn an associate's degree
    • Transfer to a 4-year university

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI).

Essential Components

The essential components of the Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) include:

  • Statewide initiative with a Statewide Foster Youth Liaison and campus Foster Youth Liaisons
    • Statewide Foster Youth Liaison:
      • Based in state's capital
      • Supports campus Foster Youth Liaisons by organizing:
        • Training sessions
        • Regional events
        • Statewide convenings
        • Web-based orientations
        • Other trainings and group events
    • Campus Foster Youth Liaisons:
      • On every community college campus in the state
      • Dedicated professionals
      • Guide current or former foster youth students/prospective students, through college-related processes such as
        • Financial aid
        • Academic counseling
        • Access to public benefits
        • Other challenges a college student may face

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

  • Current or former foster youth who is unfamiliar with navigation of higher education including financial aid such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); potentially experiences hunger; food insecurity; and/or housing issues

Recommended Intensity:

Frequency of contact varies by campus

Recommended Duration:

Generally for the duration of a student's time at the campus, may vary by campus

Delivery Setting

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

  • School Setting (Including: Day Care, Day Treatment Programs, etc.)

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Depends on what the campus program has to offer – each campus implements FYSI in its own way. Resources vary by campus.

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

Depends on individual campus hiring requirements.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

The manual citation is:

  • Tracy L. Fried & Associates. (2007). Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) manual: A guide for financial aid administrators. California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.

For more information on the manual, please contact the training contact below.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:
Training Type/Location:

Trainings are provided online via Webinar orientations once per term

Number of days/hours:

Varies per person

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI).

Additional References

No reference materials are currently available for Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI).

Contact Information

Brooke Ford
Title: Program Specialist
Agency/Affiliation: Foundation for California Community Colleges
Website: foundationccc.org/our-work/equity/lifting-up-communities-historically-underserved-by-education/foster-youth-support
Email:

Date Research Evidence Last Reviewed by CEBC: January 2024

Date Program Content Last Reviewed by Program Staff: December 2023

Date Program Originally Loaded onto CEBC: April 2012