“… foster care adults often return to postsecondary education in their mid-twenties in order to complete their education. This should be considered when exploring avenues to support these young adults” (ACPE, 2008)
Campus Champion Network
About
In the 2007 legislative session the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE) was asked to undertake a project to increase the support offered to foster care youth and young adults as they transition into, attend, and complete postsecondary education. The ACPE was asked to assume this responsibility by Representative David Bradley, a persistent champion of foster care youth. He required that the Commission focus on their needs and seek solutions to the challenges they face in achieving postsecondary education success.
The project began with the expectation of annual funding for an on-going mentoring/case management project to support foster care young adults through a successful postsecondary experience. The reality of limited resources forced a new approach to address the needs of these young people. This approach involved three steps: (1) assessing existing supports, (1) assessing existing supports, (2) expanding and strengthening supports by increasing connection, collaboration, and coordination of supports across sectors and systems, and (3) producing practical resources and building infrastructure that would enhance postsecondary education success in the future.
The result of this project includes
- The publication and dissemination of a report on the profile of Arizona youth in and out of foster care titled Supporting the Postsecondary Education Success of Arizona Foster Care Youth and Young Adults in July of 2008. You can order the hard copy of the publication by emailing us at acpe@azhighered.gov.
- Initiation of the Southern Arizona Foster Care Youth Mentoring Program housed at Pima Community College, Downtown Campus June 2008 through June 2009.
- Establishment at Maricopa County Community College District a Central Arizona Foster Care Youth Mentoring Program. The goal is to provide mentoring and academic support to youth in Central Arizona that are leaving the foster care system and transitioning into a postsecondary education experience.
Campus Champions are employees at postsecondary institutions, foster youth serving organizations, and mentors for youth and adults in or formerly in foster care, act as guides or mentors for individuals formerly in the foster care system who are seeking information, transition, and success in postsecondary education.
Campus Champions are to develop communication, and provide information to targeted staff members at their institution/organization that will help former foster care youth succeed in postsecondary education.
Campus Champions are encouraged to seek and establish partnerships with nonprofit organizations that provide services to current and former foster youth within campus area.