Postsecondary opportunities are important for establishing economic independence and well-being, particularly for foster youth ages 18-21 who are transitioning out of care. This grant will strengthen a partnership between the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) Social Science Research Institute Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF) to improve post-secondary educational outcomes for transition-age youth, especially Black youth who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. They will first examine state-level administrative data to better understand the barriers and supports to postsecondary enrollment and completion for transition-age foster youth. They will also use university-level data from across multiple Penn State campuses to develop an understanding of how well the Fostering Lions program, a campus support program run by the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, serves transition-age foster youth. Qualitative data collection will involve interviews with transition-age foster youth enrolled at Penn State, as well as faculty and staff, to identify ways to enhance the Fostering Lions program to better serve foster youth, for example by including a trauma-informed approach. The partnership will support OCYF in building staff capacity to use research evidence to inform state policy and support for transition-age foster youth. The Social Science Research Institute will spearhead a drive to revise tenure and promotion policies at the university level to recognize community engaged research and to develop supportive infrastructure and funding mechanisms.
This grant will strengthen the partnership between Pennsylvania State University Social Science Research Institute Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF).
