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.
Royel M. Johnson is associate professor of education and social work at the University of Southern California and director of the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates in the USC Race and Equity Center.
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
