Definition
“…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)
In 2007, two thousand one hundred and fifty-two (2,152) Arizona youth ranging 18 - 21 were identified as “likely to leave” foster care system.
Of those, only 138 were attending community colleges, and only 30 were attending four-year colleges or universities. Therefore, in 2007 only 7.8% of foster care alumni were attending postsecondary education, and even many fewer managed to complete their postsecondary education goals because of a host of different factors (ACPE, 2008).
According to Arizona Department of Economic Security,
children are allowed to stay in foster care system until they are 18, and voluntary extend the stay until they are 21.
Foster care means 24-hour substitute care for children placed away from their
parents or guardians and for whom the State agency has placement and care responsibility.
This includes, but is not limited to, placements in foster family homes, foster homes of
relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, child care institutions,
and preadoptive homes. [Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 45, Volume 4, Parts
1200 to End] [Revised as of October 1, 2000]
* National Resource Center for Youth Development. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services