Foster Care to College: A Crisis WE Can Solve | Robert R. Duke | TEDxAzusaPacificUniversity
TLDRThe speaker, a foster parent and college professor, addresses the stark reality that less than 4% of emancipated foster youth in the U.S. earn a college degree. He emphasizes the importance of community support in education and calls for societal and institutional efforts to provide foster children with the resources, guidance, and opportunities to pursue higher education. The talk highlights the need for early intervention, streamlined college applications, life skills training, and a nurturing environment to bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement for these vulnerable youth.
Takeaways
- 👨👧 The speaker became a foster parent six years ago to a six-day-old girl, highlighting the personal connection to the foster care system.
- 🎓 A concerning statistic: less than 4% of emancipated foster youth in the U.S. ever receive a college diploma, indicating a significant educational disparity.
- 🤔 The speaker, as a college administrator and professor, questions what higher education can do differently to better support foster youth.
- 🏠 There is a shortage of foster homes in the U.S., with a 52% decline from 2005 to 2015, which impacts long-term planning for foster children's education.
- 🔑 The importance of family support in education is underscored, with first-generation college students often having strong family backing.
- 🌟 A TEDx talk by Molly McGrath Tierney is mentioned, which challenges the foster care system and offers global perspectives on its issues.
- 🏫 The speaker calls for a massive overhaul of the foster care system and immediate attention to the educational needs of foster children.
- 📈 The desire for higher education among foster children is high, with 84% expressing a wish to attend college, yet only 50% graduate high school by age 18.
- 📉 The instability of foster children's lives, such as attending more than five different schools, hinders their ability to form relationships necessary for college attendance.
- 🏛️ The speaker suggests four key areas to resource foster children for college: meeting admission standards, streamlining applications, providing life skills, and creating a supportive family environment.
- 💪 A call to action for the audience to rethink their views on family, education, and societal responsibility to help foster children achieve their college aspirations.
Q & A
What significant event occurred six years ago that marked the beginning of the speaker's journey as a foster parent?
-The speaker received a phone call informing them that a six-day-old girl needed to be picked up and given a home, which marked the start of their journey as foster parents.
What is the statistic that the speaker finds particularly concerning regarding foster youth and higher education?
-The speaker is concerned about the statistic that less than 4% of emancipating foster youth in the United States ever receive a college diploma.
What is the common thread the speaker observes among first-generation college students?
-The common thread among first-generation college students is the strong family support they receive, with families encouraging them to attend college despite being the first in their family to do so.
What does the speaker suggest as a potential solution to help foster children envision a college education?
-The speaker suggests that society should start putting college on the radar for children from a young age, similar to how families do for their own children, to help them envision and aspire to a college education.
What is the percentage of foster children who express a desire to attend college according to the speaker?
-According to the speaker, 84% of foster children express a desire to attend college someday.
What is the decline in the number of foster homes in America from 2005 to 2015 as mentioned in the script?
-The number of foster homes in America declined by 52 percent from 2005 to 2015.
What are the 'A to G standards' mentioned by the speaker, and why are they important for foster children?
-The 'A to G standards' are college admission standards in California that ensure students are ready for California State or University of California. They are important for foster children to meet college admission requirements and be prepared for higher education.
What is the role of the speaker in the local community regarding college readiness for foster children?
-The speaker's university, in partnership with local organizations, is involved in initiatives like 'College Headed and Mighty Proud' to inspire and prepare local children, including foster children, for college.
What are the four items the speaker suggests to resource foster children for college?
-The four items are: 1) Ensuring all children meet college admission standards, 2) Streamlining the college application process, 3) Providing basic life skills education, and 4) Creating a supportive family environment for these children.
What is the consequence for foster youth who do not receive a college education or proper support after leaving the system?
-Without a college education or proper support, 25% of foster youth may become homeless, incarcerated, or face other negative outcomes such as early pregnancy and drug addiction.
How does the speaker propose to rethink the education process for foster children?
-The speaker proposes a partnership between various societal institutions such as the Department of Children and Family Services, local education institutions, and higher education to create a more inclusive and supportive process for foster children.
Outlines
👨🍳 Foster Care Reality and Educational Aspirations
The speaker reflects on becoming a foster parent six years ago and the stark reality of the foster care system in Los Angeles County. They highlight the alarming statistic that less than 4% of emancipated foster youth in the U.S. earn a college diploma, prompting a call to action for higher education professionals to consider their role in supporting these youths. The speaker emphasizes the importance of family support for first-generation college students and the need for a similar support system for foster children, many of whom are not given the opportunity to pursue higher education due to circumstances beyond their control.
📚 The Challenges of Foster Youth in Education
This paragraph delves into the difficulties foster children face in achieving educational milestones. The speaker points out that many foster children change schools frequently, disrupting the formation of crucial relationships necessary for college aspirations. Only 20% of those who earn a high school diploma actually attend college, leading to a mere 6% of emancipated foster youth pursuing higher education. The speaker underscores the societal responsibility to support these children, suggesting early interventions and the importance of envisioning college as part of their future.
🏢 Solutions for Foster Youth's Path to College
The speaker outlines four key areas to address the educational disparities faced by foster youth. These include ensuring they meet college admission standards, streamlining the college application process, providing basic life skills education, and fostering a supportive family environment. They advocate for community partnerships, early college exposure for children, and a reimagining of societal structures to better accommodate the unique challenges of foster youth, emphasizing the potential of these children to succeed with the right support.
🎓 Personal Commitment to Change the Statistics
In the concluding paragraph, the speaker makes a personal appeal to blend their professional experience in higher education with their commitment to foster care. They urge others to join them in addressing the less than 4% college graduation rate among foster youth. By sharing personal anecdotes and statistics on the negative outcomes for those who age out of the foster care system without a college education, the speaker calls for a collective effort to rethink and expand access to higher education for all, including those in foster care.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Foster Care System
💡Emancipating Foster Youth
💡First-Gen Students
💡College Aspiration
💡Foster Homes Decline
💡A-G Standards
💡College Application Process
💡Basic Life Skills
💡Family Environment
💡Molly McGrath Tierney
💡Community Partnerships
Highlights
Six years ago, a call to become foster parents became a reality for the speaker.
Foster care system's impact on education revealed through personal experience.
Staggering statistic: less than 4% of emancipated foster youth in the U.S. receive a college diploma.
The role of higher education in supporting first-generation college students.
The importance of family support for first-generation college students.
The need for a societal approach to foster children's education beyond their circumstances.
Molly McGrath Tierney's TEDx talk questioning the foster care system.
The decline in foster homes and its impact on long-term planning for foster children's education.
The desire of foster children to attend college despite systemic barriers.
The challenge of foster children graduating high school on time and its effect on college attendance.
The high rate of school changes for foster children and its negative impact on college aspirations.
The low percentage of foster youth who pursue college after obtaining a high school diploma.
The societal responsibility to support foster children's education and future.
The need for early college awareness and aspirations in children's lives.
Strategies to ensure foster children meet college admission standards.
The proposal for a streamlined college application process for foster children.
The importance of providing basic life skills to foster children for independence.
The call to action for society to create a supportive family environment for foster children.
The potential consequences for society if foster children do not receive proper support and education.
A personal call to action to join the speaker in changing the statistic for foster children's education.
Transcripts
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