Hi all,
I promised that I would keep you updated on my Internship working towards the creation of a Guardian or Renaissance type program on campus at Humboldt State University. For those of you who don't know what these programs are: basically they are specific programs designed to support retention of Former Foster Youth students by helping them with barriers specific to this population.
I just got back from a conference in Los Angeles titled : Creating a Blue Print: Supporting Former Foster Youth in Higher Education. I heard about this late September--quickly went after grants on campus so that I could take Former Foster Youth (FFY) students with me--And we (two students and I) just got back. It was phenomenal--empowering--and gave us a lot of useful information and inspired a collective vision for the future.
I began my internship as sort of a ship sailing with one sail out there in the big silo world on campus. I did not know what existed on campus in the way of support for former foster youth students. I was placed at the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Humboldt State University, with the understanding that this was a very busy time for them so I would need to keep myself busy.
In the beginning I spent my time researching programs on other campuses, trying to establish a FFY club through outreach efforts, creating letters to mail out to students, going after grants to attend this conference, and making myself available to FFY students in the EOP program. Several students were referred to me for various issues and I diligently connected them to resources or found answers to their questions. Working with students with needs has become a passion of mine. It is completely rewarding and humbling to be in a position to respond to people by developing relationships with them. I have found all the students I have ever worked with to be inspiring, bright, and amazing people who are working towards a goal of completing their education as a way to brighten their future.
Many people on campus do not understand that students who are from the Foster Care system were placed due to their parents issues not because of any fault of their own. Many people don't know the common issues that foster care children face. It's common for foster kids to be moved from placement to placement and from school to school. This in itself is very demoralizing and creates a lack of trust and lack of self-esteem. When you can't trust your own parents who can you trust? From past abuse and trauma from being removed from a family home; and then passed around from foster home to foster home, often without anyone ever really understanding or caring like a parent does --- foster youth often develop mental health and deep trust issues. Then to top of this whole experience, the system historically has not provided necessary life skills and the kids are cut off the system at age 18. Many are not prepared and become homeless and enter into the criminal system out of no fault of their own except for making understandable mistakes. The good news is that current legislation is mandating systems to work with foster kids at a young age to prepare them for higher education, and provide independent living skills. In addition newer legislation is mandating liaisons on campus at community colleges, we still need to also carry this over to Universities. Our local Judge, Chris Wilson, just helped with these processes by allowing appropriate sharing of information to ensure foster kids are getting access to higher education.
Back in 1965 an educational act (Higher Education Act of 1965) was declared in order to attend to disadvantaged students. This is when EOP, Talent Search, Upward Bound and TRIO type programs were developed. The population that was forgotten were the kids from the foster care system. At my internship, through connecting with many people I uncovered the efforts of many working towards the development of support on campus for this population. Yet, I also uncovered a clear understanding of the need mixed with unsuccessful efforts to really get a program off the ground. A lot of hard work has been done to lay the groundwork by directors on campus through relationship building and networking off campus--but time and funds have been major barriers as well as the a clear understanding of support from those in power.
As you may guess these barriers are complicated with the silo structures. Not all players on campus are working together as is necessary. My role is interesting because I am not in a position of power, yet I have put out a lot of effort and passion for this need.
The outcome of a meeting I had-- developed into another meeting and it was decided to bring all the key players together with a social worker who has been working with other college campuses across the nation on similar projects with little funding available. At this meeting the missing key players were identified and the clear need from all present to have the endorsement from upper power positions. It was agreed to move forward and begin the process of identifying a key person on campus as the FFY liaison, find a space, and involve all key players at on-going meetings.
My efforts have now shifted. My main focus at this time is to continue empowering practices with the club members (FFY students currently at Humboldt State University in their efforts, goals and voice in this whole process and to ensure sustainability of these efforts so all does not fall flat as it has over the past five years. To be continued...
I promised that I would keep you updated on my Internship working towards the creation of a Guardian or Renaissance type program on campus at Humboldt State University. For those of you who don't know what these programs are: basically they are specific programs designed to support retention of Former Foster Youth students by helping them with barriers specific to this population.
I just got back from a conference in Los Angeles titled : Creating a Blue Print: Supporting Former Foster Youth in Higher Education. I heard about this late September--quickly went after grants on campus so that I could take Former Foster Youth (FFY) students with me--And we (two students and I) just got back. It was phenomenal--empowering--and gave us a lot of useful information and inspired a collective vision for the future.
I began my internship as sort of a ship sailing with one sail out there in the big silo world on campus. I did not know what existed on campus in the way of support for former foster youth students. I was placed at the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Humboldt State University, with the understanding that this was a very busy time for them so I would need to keep myself busy.
In the beginning I spent my time researching programs on other campuses, trying to establish a FFY club through outreach efforts, creating letters to mail out to students, going after grants to attend this conference, and making myself available to FFY students in the EOP program. Several students were referred to me for various issues and I diligently connected them to resources or found answers to their questions. Working with students with needs has become a passion of mine. It is completely rewarding and humbling to be in a position to respond to people by developing relationships with them. I have found all the students I have ever worked with to be inspiring, bright, and amazing people who are working towards a goal of completing their education as a way to brighten their future.
Many people on campus do not understand that students who are from the Foster Care system were placed due to their parents issues not because of any fault of their own. Many people don't know the common issues that foster care children face. It's common for foster kids to be moved from placement to placement and from school to school. This in itself is very demoralizing and creates a lack of trust and lack of self-esteem. When you can't trust your own parents who can you trust? From past abuse and trauma from being removed from a family home; and then passed around from foster home to foster home, often without anyone ever really understanding or caring like a parent does --- foster youth often develop mental health and deep trust issues. Then to top of this whole experience, the system historically has not provided necessary life skills and the kids are cut off the system at age 18. Many are not prepared and become homeless and enter into the criminal system out of no fault of their own except for making understandable mistakes. The good news is that current legislation is mandating systems to work with foster kids at a young age to prepare them for higher education, and provide independent living skills. In addition newer legislation is mandating liaisons on campus at community colleges, we still need to also carry this over to Universities. Our local Judge, Chris Wilson, just helped with these processes by allowing appropriate sharing of information to ensure foster kids are getting access to higher education.
Back in 1965 an educational act (Higher Education Act of 1965) was declared in order to attend to disadvantaged students. This is when EOP, Talent Search, Upward Bound and TRIO type programs were developed. The population that was forgotten were the kids from the foster care system. At my internship, through connecting with many people I uncovered the efforts of many working towards the development of support on campus for this population. Yet, I also uncovered a clear understanding of the need mixed with unsuccessful efforts to really get a program off the ground. A lot of hard work has been done to lay the groundwork by directors on campus through relationship building and networking off campus--but time and funds have been major barriers as well as the a clear understanding of support from those in power.
As you may guess these barriers are complicated with the silo structures. Not all players on campus are working together as is necessary. My role is interesting because I am not in a position of power, yet I have put out a lot of effort and passion for this need.
The outcome of a meeting I had-- developed into another meeting and it was decided to bring all the key players together with a social worker who has been working with other college campuses across the nation on similar projects with little funding available. At this meeting the missing key players were identified and the clear need from all present to have the endorsement from upper power positions. It was agreed to move forward and begin the process of identifying a key person on campus as the FFY liaison, find a space, and involve all key players at on-going meetings.
My efforts have now shifted. My main focus at this time is to continue empowering practices with the club members (FFY students currently at Humboldt State University in their efforts, goals and voice in this whole process and to ensure sustainability of these efforts so all does not fall flat as it has over the past five years. To be continued...
I appreciate all you are doing, especially the perseverance you've shown when meeting challenges and power differentials within systems. And what a great learning experience! Keep it up Kelda. I'm glad I'm on your team for the video.
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